Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
13m
Distance
7 mi
11 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Providence, RI
Wikimedia Commons
Cranston, RI
Wikimedia Commons
If you are looking for a quick and straightforward transit between North Providence and Cranston, this 7.3-mile trip is an ideal candidate. Expect to spend about 17 minutes on the road, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day journey. You will navigate entirely via local roads like Fruit Hill Avenue, Evans Park, and Smith Street, as this route features zero highway travel. Budgeting just $1 for fuel makes this one of the most economical trips you can take in the Northeast. Since the entire drive is localized within Rhode Island, you won't need to worry about overnight logistics or complex itinerary planning.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Huntington Expressway | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Smith Street | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| 6/10 Connector | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Reservoir Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Raymond Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Dean Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Pleasant Valley Parkway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Oakland Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between North Providence, RI and Cranston, RI.
Start on this road
Turn right onto Fruit Hill Avenue
Turn sharp left onto Evans Park
At end of road, turn right onto US 44
Turn right onto Oakland Avenue
Continue on Raymond Street
Continue on Pleasant Valley Parkway
Continue on Dean Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 6; RI 10
Keep slight left at fork onto RI 10
Take the exit
Turn left onto RI 2
Turn left onto RI 12
Turn left
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 6.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Fruit Hill Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn sharp left onto Evans Park
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Keep slight left at fork onto RI 10 / Huntington Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward RI 2: Reservoir Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto RI 12 / Park Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$1.13 one way
$2.25 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $1.24 | $2.48 |
| premium | $4.86 | $1.34 | $2.68 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.55 | $3.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 50% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.1 | 0 | $0.74 | $0.34 |
| Efficient EV | 1.8 | 0 | $0.61 | $0.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 2.8 | 0 | $0.98 | $0.45 |
Gas CO2
2 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (50% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in North Providence on Tuesday
Local time
5:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Sunny
Destination
Late night in Cranston on Tuesday
Local time
5:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you navigate through the heart of the region. Because there is no highway driving involved, you will experience a constant shift in pace rather than the monotony of an interstate cruise. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 0 miles on Fruit Hill Avenue, meaning you should anticipate frequent stops and intersections throughout the duration of your travel. This route offers a purely urban experience, requiring you to stay alert at every turn. It is a practical, no-frills way to move between these two Rhode Island destinations.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Fruit Hill Avenue.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 7 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.1 miles (Fruit Hill Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Evans Park): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 3.8 miles (RI 10 / Huntington Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
124 ft
Total Descent
250 ft
Highest Point
228 ft
~0.5 mi in
Elevation Range
202 ft
North Providence is a town in the Providence County area of Rhode Island. There are seven villages that make up the town of North Providence; Allendale, Centerdale, Fruit Hill, Greystone, Lymansville, Marieville, and Woodville/Geneva. North Providence is the second smallest town in the smallest state of the country. It has an area of nearly six square miles and has nine schools; six elementary, two middle schools, and one high school. North Providence was established in the late 1700s by farmers, who were originally from Providence, and wanted to form a separate town because government officials in Providence favored merchants over farmers. The town has everything you need in one place; markets, banks, gas stations, several gyms, convenience stores, and small shops. There are two main roads that run through the whole town; Mineral Spring Avenue and Smith St.
Cranston is the second largest city in Rhode Island by population with 83,000 residents in 2020. It lies north of Warwick and south of Providence.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 13m. Total distance: 7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (37%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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