Origin
Newport, RI
Night in Newport on Saturday
Local time
9:28 PM
EDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Trip from Newport, RI to Providence, RI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
48m
Distance
33.7 mi
54 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Newport, RI
Wikimedia Commons
Providence, RI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Newport to Providence is a straightforward 33.7-mile journey that typically takes about 48 minutes. Because this is a short trip within the Northeast, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Your route primarily utilizes RI 138, the Col Rodman Highway, and I-95 to navigate between these two Rhode Island hubs. With a fuel budget of approximately $5, this is a very economical excursion. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a quick change of scenery, the simplicity of this drive makes it a stress-free option for your itinerary.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 12.2 mi | 16m |
| Col Rodman Highway | 10.1 mi | 13m |
| RI 138 | 8.8 mi | 12m |
| Farewell Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Tower Hill Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| JT Connell Highway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Grand Army of the Republic Highway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Dorrance Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 12.2 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Newport, RI and Providence, RI.
1
Start on Court House Street
198 ft
·
10 sec
·
Court House Street
2
Continue on Farewell Street
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
Farewell Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto RI 138A
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Farewell Street
4
Continue on RI 138A
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
JT Connell Highway
5
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
6
Merge onto RI 138
8.8 mi
·
12 min
·
RI 138
Toward RI 138: Jamestown
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 1 North: Providence
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto US 1
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
Tower Hill Road
9
Turn straight onto RI 4
10 mi
·
13 min
·
Col Rodman Highway
Use the straight lane.
10
Merge onto I 95
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
I 95
Toward I 95 North: Providence
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95
9.5 mi
·
13 min
·
I 95
Toward I 95 North: Providence
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Exit 37B-C-D
Toward US 6 West, RI 10: Downtown, Hartford, Connecticut
Use the slight right lane.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 37B
Toward Downtown, Memorial Boulevard
14
Turn right onto US 1
302 ft
·
7 sec
·
Francis Street
15
Continue on US 1
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Dorrance Street
16
Turn right onto Fulton Street
139 ft
·
4 sec
·
Fulton Street
17
Arrive at destination
Fulton Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 33.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.8 miles from Newport, RI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 9.9 and 33.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
9.9 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward US 1 North: Providence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 1 North: Providence
6
20.8 mi into trip
|
~30m in
|
I 95
Merge onto I 95 toward I 95 North: Providence
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North: Providence
7
23.5 mi into trip
|
~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
9
33 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
US 6 / Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 / Grand Army of the Republic Highway toward US 6 West, RI 10: Downtown, Hartford, Connecticut
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 37B-C-D
Toward US 6 West, RI 10: Downtown, Hartford, Co...
7
33.2 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Take the exit toward Downtown, Memorial Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 37B
Toward Downtown, Memorial Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.43 one way
$10.85 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $5.97 | $11.94 |
| premium | $4.86 | $6.45 | $12.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.44 | $14.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.54 | $1.62 |
| Efficient EV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.95 | $1.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.72 | $2.16 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Providence, RI
Night in Providence on Saturday
Local time
9:28 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Road read
48m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 62% of this 33.7-mile drive is spent on major thoroughfares. You will navigate a mix of local connectors and faster interstate segments, with your longest uninterrupted stretch being a 12.2-mile run on I-95. The transition from the coastal character of Newport onto the faster pace of the highway system is seamless. While the drive is efficient rather than winding, you will notice the rhythm of the road change as you leave the Col Rodman Highway and merge into the busier flow of the interstate system toward Providence.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.2 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Col Rodman Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 33.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 48m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 9.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.8 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.5 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 48m. Total distance: 33.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (62%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.2 miles on I 95. 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 Providence, 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 9.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.8 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.5 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Providence, RI before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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