Woonsocket, RI to Williamstown, MA is 139.7 miles and takes about 3h 10m via Massachusetts Turnpike and Providence Pike, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route takes you from the Northeast region of Rhode Island into Massachusetts. You'll spend a good portion of your time on the highway, making for a relatively straightforward trip. With a drive under four hours and a modest fuel cost, this is a manageable one-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
69.8 miles from Woonsocket, RI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Massachusetts Turnpike
82.8 mi
1h 35m
Providence Pike
7.7 mi
8m
Worcester Providence Road
7 mi
9m
Cold Spring Road
4.1 mi
7m
Williamstown Road
3.8 mi
5m
New Ashford Road
3.5 mi
5m
South Main Street
3.2 mi
5m
South Street
2.9 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Massachusetts Turnpike
— 82.8 mi, about 1h 35m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 30 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,968 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,593
Quietest
2 AM
~175 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Woonsocket, RI and Williamstown, MA.
1
Start on this road
275 ft·25 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto RI 122
0.1 mi·20 sec·High Street
3
Turn left onto Arnold Street
0.2 mi·24 sec·Arnold Street
4
Turn right onto RI 104
1.1 mi·2 min·Main Street
Use the right lane.
5
Turn slight right onto RI 146A
1.5 mi·2 min·Great Road
6
Turn straight onto RI 146A
0.2 mi·23 sec·Victory Highway
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward RI 146 North: Worcester MA
8
Merge onto RI 146
1.5 mi·1 min·North Smithfield Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on MA 146
0.2 mi·17 sec·Purple Heart Highway
10
Continue on MA 146
7.7 mi·8 min·Providence Pike
11
Continue on MA 146
0.3 mi·18 sec·Purple Heart Highway
12
Continue on MA 146
7.0 mi·9 min·Worcester Providence Road
13
Continue on MA 146
0.9 mi·1 min·Purple Heart Highway
14
Continue on MA 146
1.8 mi·2 min·Worcester-Providence Turnpike
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 90, US 20: Boston, Springfield
16
Turn left
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward I 90
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 West
18
Merge onto I 90
15 mi·17 min·Massachusetts Turnpike
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
68 mi·1 hr 18 min·Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
20
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 10Toward US 20: Lee, Pittsfield
21
Keep slight right at fork
376 ft·9 sec
22
Merge onto US 20
0.5 mi·1 min·Housatonic Street
23
Continue on US 20
0.1 mi·18 sec·Park Street
24
Turn slight right onto US 20
0.4 mi·1 min·Main Street
25
Turn left onto US 20
0.2 mi·12 sec·West Center Street
26
Continue on US 20
1.2 mi·2 min·Laurel Street
27
Continue on US 20
1.2 mi·2 min·Lee Road
28
Continue on US 7; US 20
2.2 mi·2 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
29
Continue on US 7; US 20
2.5 mi·4 min·Pittsfield Road
30
Continue on US 7; US 20
2.9 mi·6 min·South Street
31
Keep slight right at fork onto US 7
0.2 mi·26 sec·Bank Row
32
Turn left onto US 7
0.8 mi·2 min·First Street
33
Continue on US 7
2.6 mi·5 min·North Street
34
Continue on US 7
3.2 mi·5 min·South Main Street
35
Continue on US 7
3.8 mi·5 min·Williamstown Road
36
Continue on US 7
1.2 mi·1 min·New Ashford Road
37
Continue on US 7
2.2 mi·3 min·Route 7
38
Continue on US 7
2.3 mi·3 min·New Ashford Road
39
Continue on US 7
4.1 mi·7 min·Cold Spring Road
40
Continue on MA 2; US 7
500 ft·17 sec·Main Street
41
Continue on MA 2
0.3 mi·44 sec·Main Street
42
Turn right onto Spring Street
150 ft·4 sec·Spring Street
43
Arrive at destination
Spring Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 10m estimated drive time, leaving Woonsocket in the morning allows ample time to reach Williamstown before evening. The longest stretch without a major road change is 82.8 miles on the Massachusetts Turnpike, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before you embark on that segment. While the overall trip is short enough for one day, the flexibility means you could easily stop for a meal or a brief break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $25, and refueling options may become less frequent on the later surface road sections.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69.8 miles from Woonsocket, RI, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.8 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 31 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.8 miles or 1h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Williamstown, MA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Woonsocket, RI so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Woonsocket, RI
This is one driving day of about 139.7 miles and 3h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Woonsocket, RI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Massachusetts Turnpike for about 82.8 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 107 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|RI 122 / High Street
Turn left onto RI 122 / High Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Arnold Street
Turn left onto Arnold Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|RI 104 / Main Street
Turn right onto RI 104 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
38.9 mi into trip|~51m in|I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
107 mi into trip|~2h 10m in
Take the exit toward US 20: Lee, Pittsfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 10
Toward US 20: Lee, Pittsfield
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.70 one way
$49.39 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$27.05
$54.10
premium
$5.29
$29.09
$58.18
diesel
$5.35
$29.43
$58.85
Estimated Tolls: $5.09
Massachusetts Turnpike
(82.8 mi)$4.96
Worcester-Providence Turnpike
(1.8 mi)$0.13
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.9
0
$14.67
$6.71
Efficient EV
34.9
0
$12.22
$5.59
EV Truck/SUV
55.9
0
$19.56
$8.94
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Forecast as of Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Woonsocket, RI
Afternoon
in Woonsocket on Wednesday
Local time
3:11 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Rain Showers
NW 3 mph11% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Williamstown, MA
Afternoon
in Williamstown on Wednesday
Local time
3:11 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Patchy Fog
0 mph2% chanceLive forecast
72°F
Southampton, MA
70 mi in
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
4 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 10m 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 is mostly highway, with 63% of the 139.7 miles on high-speed roads. You'll experience an 82.8-mile stretch on the Massachusetts Turnpike, which means extended periods of highway cruising. After that, expect a shift to surface roads like Providence Pike and Worcester Providence Road, likely bringing denser traffic and more frequent exits as you approach your destination.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
43 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 82.8 mi on Massachusetts Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Massachusetts Turnpike and Providence Pike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near RI 122 / High Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 139.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (RI 122 / High Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Arnold Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (RI 104 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,508 ft192 ft
Total Climb
2,200 ft
Total Descent
1,707 ft
Highest Point
1,508 ft
~99.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,316 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Woonsocket, RI and Williamstown, MA, road signs point toward Springfield and Pittsfield.
Williamstown is a town in the Berkshires at the northwest corner of Massachusetts. It shares a border with New York and Vermont. It is a true college town, having hosted Williams College since 1793.
Top landmarks
•Williams College Museum of Art — art museum in Williamstown, Massachusetts
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 10m. Total distance: 139.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 82.8 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $5.09 in tolls one way, starting with Massachusetts Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 7 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 Williamstown, MA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 7 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (RI 122 / High Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Arnold Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (RI 104 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park and Roger Williams National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Williamstown, MA, but most travelers stay overnight.
