Origin
North Providence, RI
Night in North Providence on Saturday
Local time
9:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Providence, RI to Charlestown, RI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
59m
Distance
40.9 mi
66 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 54m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 9m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Providence, RI
Wikimedia Commons
Charlestown, RI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
North Providence to Charlestown is 40.9 miles and takes about 59 minutes via South County Trail and I-295, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, single-day trip entirely within Rhode Island, connecting the Northeast region of the state to its southern coast. Given its relatively short distance and duration, it's an easy drive for a weekend getaway or a quick trip to the shore. You'll experience a mixed drive that transitions from more suburban-feeling roads to quicker highway travel. Consider this route when you want a simple, predictable journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South County Trail | 16.4 mi | 24m |
| I 295 | 8.5 mi | 9m |
| RI 4 | 6 mi | 8m |
| I 95 | 3 mi | 4m |
| Dennis J. Roberts Expressway | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Fruit Hill Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Killingly Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Ten Rod Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
South County Trail
— 16.4 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Providence, RI and Charlestown, RI.
1
Start on this road
464 ft
·
28 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Fruit Hill Avenue
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Fruit Hill Avenue
3
Enter roundabout onto Fruit Hill Avenue
24 ft
·
0 sec
·
Fruit Hill Avenue
4
Continue on Fruit Hill Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Fruit Hill Avenue
5
At end of road, turn left onto Fruit Hill Avenue
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Fruit Hill Avenue
6
Turn right onto Manton Avenue
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Manton Avenue
7
Continue on Greenville Avenue
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Greenville Avenue
8
Turn left onto RI 128
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Killingly Street
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward US 6 West
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward US 6 West
11
Merge onto US 6
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Dennis J. Roberts Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 295 South: Warwick
13
Merge onto I 295
8.5 mi
·
9 min
·
I 295
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 95
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto RI 4
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
RI 4
Exit 24B
Toward RI 4 South: North Kingstown
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 3B
Toward RI 102 North, RI 2 South: Exeter
Use the slight right lane.
17
Turn straight onto RI 2; RI 102
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Ten Rod Road
18
Turn left onto RI 2
16 mi
·
24 min
·
South County Trail
19
Take the ramp
297 ft
·
8 sec
20
Merge onto US 1
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
Post Road
21
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
22
Merge onto US 1
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
·
Post Road
23
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
24
Turn left onto RI 1A
208 ft
·
4 sec
·
Old Post Road
25
Arrive at destination
RI 1A
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.5 miles from North Providence, 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 195 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 22.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Fruit Hill Avenue
Enter roundabout onto Fruit Hill Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Manton Avenue
Turn right onto Manton Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
2.8 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 6 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 6 West
8
16.9 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
RI 4
Keep slight left at fork onto RI 4 toward RI 4 South: North Kingstown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 24B
Toward RI 4 South: North Kingstown
8
22.9 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward RI 102 North, RI 2 South: Exeter
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 3B
Toward RI 102 North, RI 2 South: Exeter
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.58 one way
$13.17 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $7.24 | $14.49 |
| premium | $4.86 | $7.83 | $15.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.03 | $18.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.29 | $1.96 |
| Efficient EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.58 | $1.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.73 | $2.62 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Charlestown, RI
Night in Charlestown on Saturday
Local time
9:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
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
59m 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?
This trip offers a mixed drive, with 47% of the route being highway. You'll begin on South County Trail for a stretch of 16.4 miles, which likely provides a more local feel before merging onto I-295 and RI 4 for faster travel. Expect a blend of slower, potentially more scenic sections followed by periods of higher-speed driving. The transition between these road types is something to anticipate as you make your way south. It's not a monotonous interstate grind, but rather a journey that changes pace.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.4 mi on South County Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Fruit Hill Avenue.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 19 decision points packed into just 40.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 59m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Fruit Hill Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.4 miles (Manton Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 59m. Total distance: 40.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (47%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.4 miles on South County Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Charlestown, 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 0.2 miles (Fruit Hill Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.4 miles (Manton Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Charlestown, 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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