New Shoreham, RI to Pawtucket, RI is 55.4 miles and takes about 1h 54m via Point Judith – Block Island, I 95, and Col Rodman Highway, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Rhode Island, moving from a coastal island community to an inland city. With a low highway share, expect a good portion of your drive to be on surface roads. This route is best suited for a single day, offering a straightforward transition across the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
27.7 miles from New Shoreham, RI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Point Judith – Block Island
14.6 mi
55m
I 95
14.5 mi
20m
Col Rodman Highway
10.1 mi
13m
Tower Hill Road
7.4 mi
11m
Point Judith Road
4 mi
6m
Galilee Escape Road
1.1 mi
1m
Main Street
1 mi
1m
Galilee Connector Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Point Judith – Block Island
— 14.6 mi, about 55m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 231 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~4,496 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~370 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 49 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Shoreham, RI and Pawtucket, RI.
1
Start on Water Street
131 ft·3 sec·Water Street
2
Enter roundabout onto High Street
44 ft·1 sec·High Street
3
Continue on High Street
255 ft·17 sec·High Street
4
Turn left
72 ft·5 sec
5
Keep slight right at fork
493 ft·39 sec
6
Turn right
101 ft·7 sec
7
Continue on Point Judith – Block Island
15 mi·55 min·Point Judith – Block Island
8
Continue
30 ft·2 sec
9
Turn right
124 ft·11 sec
10
Turn right onto Great Island Road
0.1 mi·11 sec·Great Island Road
11
Turn left onto Sand Hill Cove Road
0.2 mi·15 sec·Sand Hill Cove Road
12
Keep slight left at fork onto Galilee Connector Road
0.3 mi·32 sec·Galilee Connector Road
13
Turn right onto Great Island Road
379 ft·7 sec·Great Island Road
14
Turn right onto Galilee Escape Road
1.1 mi·1 min·Galilee Escape Road
15
At end of road, turn left onto RI 108
4.0 mi·6 min·Point Judith Road
16
Enter roundabout
289 ft·4 sec
17
Continue
0.1 mi·18 sec
18
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·15 sec·this road
19
Merge onto US 1
6.5 mi·9 min·Tower Hill Road
20
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
0.9 mi·1 min·Tower Hill Road
21
Turn straight onto RI 4
10 mi·13 min·Col Rodman Highway
Use the straight lane.
22
Merge onto I 95
2.6 mi·3 min·I 95
Toward I 95 North: ProvidenceUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95
9.5 mi·13 min·I 95
Toward I 95 North: ProvidenceUse the straight / slight left lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
0.1 mi·12 sec·I 95
25
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·45 sec
Exit 38A-BToward RI 146 North: State OfficesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
485 ft·11 sec
Toward I 95 North: Boston, MassachusettsUse the slight right lane.
27
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·19 sec
Toward I 95 North: Boston, Massachusetts
28
Merge onto I 95
2.2 mi·3 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Exit 40Toward RI 122: Lonsdale Avenue, Main StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Continue on Thurston Street
0.1 mi·12 sec·Thurston Street
31
Continue on Main Street
0.9 mi·1 min·Main Street
32
Continue on Park Place
447 ft·10 sec·Park Place
33
At end of road, turn right onto Main Street
0.1 mi·23 sec·Main Street
34
Turn left onto Roosevelt Avenue
0.1 mi·12 sec·Roosevelt Avenue
35
Arrive at destination
Roosevelt Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 54 minutes, you can easily complete this trip in one day. Consider departing mid-morning to avoid the busiest commuter traffic around Providence. You won't need to plan for overnight stays. While there are no mandatory stops suggested, the longest stretch before a major road change is 14.6 miles, so you might want to stretch your legs then. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $9.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 27.7 miles from New Shoreham, RI, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 14.6 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 12 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 27.7 miles or 1h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pawtucket, RI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving New Shoreham, RI so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from New Shoreham, RI
This is one driving day of about 55.4 miles and 1h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 12 miles from New Shoreham, RI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Point Judith – Block Island for about 14.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 25
5 decision points cluster between mile 41.1 and 53.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
41.1 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|I 95
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95 toward I 95 North: Providence
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 95 North: Providence
8
50.7 mi into trip|~1h 47m in
Keep slight right at fork toward RI 146 North: State Offices
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 38A-B
Toward RI 146 North: State Offices
7
51.4 mi into trip|~1h 48m in
Take the exit toward I 95 North: Boston, Massachusetts
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 95 North: Boston, Massachusetts
7
51.5 mi into trip|~1h 48m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: Boston, Massachusetts
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95 North: Boston, Massachusetts
8
53.9 mi into trip|~1h 51m in
Take the exit toward RI 122: Lonsdale Avenue, Main Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 40
Toward RI 122: Lonsdale Avenue, Main Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.79 one way
$19.59 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg19 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$10.73
$21.45
premium
$5.29
$11.54
$23.07
diesel
$5.35
$11.67
$23.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
16.6
0
$5.82
$2.66
Efficient EV
13.9
0
$4.85
$2.22
EV Truck/SUV
22.2
0
$7.76
$3.55
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jun 2, 2026
Origin
New Shoreham, RI
Afternoon
in New Shoreham on Wednesday
Local time
3:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Sunny
W 5 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Pawtucket, RI
Afternoon
in Pawtucket on Wednesday
Local time
3:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 2 to 6 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
8 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 54m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The Blackstone River powered America's entry into the Age of Industry. The success of Samuel Slater's cotton spinning mill in Pawtucket, RI touched off a chain reaction that changed how people worked...
"I acknowledge that to molest any person, Jew or Gentile, for either professing doctrine, or practicing worship meerly religious or spiritual, is to persecute him, and such a person (whether his doctr...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive covers 55.4 miles with about 26% on highways. The longest continuous stretch without a major road change is 14.6 miles on the Point Judith – Block Island ferry. After the ferry, you'll transition to surface roads like Col Rodman Highway and I-95. Be prepared for merging traffic as you approach urban areas around Providence.
Only 26% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.6 mi on Point Judith – Block Island.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 41.1 miles in near I 95.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55.4 miles you will encounter 25 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 41.1 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 51.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
135 ft0 ft
Total Climb
287 ft
Total Descent
268 ft
Highest Point
135 ft
~39.6 mi in
Elevation Range
135 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from New Shoreham, RI to Pawtucket, RI, road signs begin pointing toward Massachusetts along the way.
Massachusetts
51.4 mi in|~1h 48m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
During the winter months Block Island is the very picture of a sleepy, seaside New England town, with a local population of around 900 people. In summer, the island's population explodes to nearly 10,000 at any given time, and many thousands more on busy weekends or holidays.
Pawtucket is a Rhode Island city of 75,604 (2020) founded in 1671. It is a diverse city home to many cultures resulting in a spectrum of sights, sounds, and flavors. With an emerging interest and concentration on the arts, Pawtucket has introduced performing arts and visual arts into the community.
Top landmarks
•Pawtucket Congregational Church — Pawtucket, Rhode Island
•Deborah Cook Sayles Public Library — library
•Foster-Payne House — historic house in Rhode Island, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 54m. Total distance: 55.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.6 miles on Point Judith – Block Island. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Pawtucket, RI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 41.1 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 51.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park and Roger Williams National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Pawtucket, RI before heading back.
