This 58.8-mile drive from Westerly, RI to Woonsocket, RI will take you about 1 hour and 3 minutes, making it a perfect single-day trip. You'll navigate primarily using local roads like High Street and Ashaway Road, as this route has no highway mileage. With a projected fuel cost of around $9, it's an economical journey. The overall feel is a turn-heavy local drive through the Northeast region of Rhode Island. This route is ideal for a leisurely day trip, allowing for flexibility and exploration along the way.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
26.7 mi
31m
I 295
18.6 mi
21m
Main Street
3.4 mi
5m
Eddie Dowling Highway
1.5 mi
1m
Ashaway Road
1.5 mi
2m
Park Avenue
1.4 mi
2m
RI 146A
1.4 mi
2m
High Street
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 26.7 mi, about 31m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 92 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,861 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~186 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 48 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 Westerly, RI and Woonsocket, RI.
1
Start on RI 3
0.2 mi·19 sec·Grove Avenue
2
Continue on RI 3
0.8 mi·1 min·High Street
3
Continue on RI 3
1.5 mi·2 min·Ashaway Road
4
Continue on RI 3
3.4 mi·5 min·Main Street
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·57 sec
Toward I 95 North: Providence
6
Merge onto I 95
27 mi·31 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295
19 mi·21 min·I 295
Exit 28AToward I 295 North: WoonsocketUse the slight left / straight lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 18BToward RI 146 North: WoonsocketUse the right lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward RI 146 North: Worcester Massachusetts
10
Merge onto RI 146
1.5 mi·1 min·Eddie Dowling Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit onto RI 146A
1.4 mi·2 min·RI 146A
Exit 10Toward RI 146A North: North Smithfield, WoonsocketUse the straight lane.
12
Turn right onto Park Avenue
1.4 mi·2 min·Park Avenue
13
At end of road, turn left onto RI 122
417 ft·6 sec·Hamlet Avenue
14
Continue on RI 122
0.2 mi·17 sec·Court Street
15
Continue on RI 122
502 ft·14 sec·High Street
16
Turn left
275 ft·20 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 28.7 miles from Westerly, 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.4 and 54.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
6.4 mi into trip|~10m in|I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
33.1 mi into trip|~41m in|I 295
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295 toward I 295 North: Woonsocket
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 28A
Toward I 295 North: Woonsocket
7
51.6 mi into trip|~1h 3m in
Take the exit toward RI 146 North: Woonsocket
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 18B
Toward RI 146 North: Woonsocket
5
52.7 mi into trip|~1h 5m in|RI 146 / Eddie Dowling Highway
Merge onto RI 146 / Eddie Dowling Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
54.2 mi into trip|~1h 7m in|RI 146A
Take the exit onto RI 146A toward RI 146A North: North Smithfield, Woonsocket
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Exit 10
Toward RI 146A North: North Smithfield, Woonsoc...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.01 one way
$18.02 round trip
$3.99/gal25.4 MPG avg20 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$10.12
$20.23
premium
$4.81
$10.87
$21.75
diesel
$4.80
$10.84
$21.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
17.2
0
$6.03
$2.76
Efficient EV
14.4
0
$5.02
$2.30
EV Truck/SUV
23
0
$8.04
$3.67
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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 Jul 14, 2026
Origin
Westerly, RI
Night
in Westerly on Saturday
Local time
9:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Sunny
SW 9 to 15 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 14 at 1:51AM EDT until July 15 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 13 at 11:47PM EDT until July 15 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA
Destination
Woonsocket, RI
Night
in Woonsocket on Saturday
Local time
9:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
95°F
Sunny
W 8 to 13 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 14 at 1:51AM EDT until July 15 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 13 at 11:47PM EDT until July 15 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA
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
10 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 12m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for the entirety of this 58.8-mile journey, with zero highway share. The route progresses through a series of local roads, including High Street and Ashaway Road, meaning you'll be making frequent turns rather than settling into long, straight stretches. The longest uninterrupted stretch is not specified, but the 'turn-heavy' profile suggests a consistent need for attention and navigation. This drive offers an intimate experience of Rhode Island's local byways, eschewing the speed of interstates for a more connected feel to the communities you pass through.
79% 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: 26.7 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and I 295. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.4 miles in near I 95.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 57.4 miles you will encounter 10 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 6.4 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.1 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 51.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Westerly is a town on the southwestern shoreline of Washington County, Rhode Island. First settled by Elder John Crandall in 1661 it is believed that John Crandall named the town after his birthplace in Westerleigh, England. Today Westerly has many references to his name. In 2010, this community had a population of 23,000, which covers 30.1 square miles (78 km²) of land and 44.7 square miles (116 km²) of water.
Westerly has a friendly atmosphere. Visitors from all over enjoy the calm beaches and the unique shops that the downtown area has to offer.
Top landmarks
•Watch Hill — village in Westerly, Rhode Island
•Westerly Downtown Historic District — historic district in Rhode Island, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 12m. Total distance: 57.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.7 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 rest areas or service plazas 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 Woonsocket, 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 6.4 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.1 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 51.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Roger Williams National Memorial and Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park. 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 Woonsocket, RI before heading back.
