Origin
Bristol, RI
Evening in Bristol on Tuesday
Local time
8:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Trip from Bristol, RI to Providence, RI
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
27m
Distance
16.8 mi
27 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 25m
★
6 AM
0h 28m
8 AM
0h 32m
10 AM
0h 29m
12 PM
0h 29m
3 PM
0h 29m
5 PM
0h 32m
8 PM
0h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bristol, RI
Wikimedia Commons
Providence, RI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel between Bristol and Providence, Rhode Island, you can expect a quick, straightforward journey spanning 17.8 miles. This drive typically takes about 28 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip that requires no overnight stops. Budgeting approximately $3 for fuel covers the entire 17.8-mile distance comfortably. Because both towns are located within the Northeast region, you will remain in a familiar coastal environment for the duration of the trip. The route is highly practical for those who prefer avoiding major interstates, as it relies entirely on local roads to get you to your destination efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
8.4 miles from Bristol, RI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 14m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel rather than a monotonous highway experience. You will navigate primarily via Franklin Street, Metacom Avenue, and Kickemuit Road throughout the 28-minute duration. With a highway share of 0%, you won't encounter any high-speed stretches, as the road configuration focuses on local connectivity. Interestingly, there is no significant highway cruising involved, with the longest stretch being 0 miles on Franklin Street. You should prepare for a constant series of turns that define the character of this Rhode Island transit.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 195 is the longest continuous segment at about 7.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 27m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Franklin Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.8 miles (I 195): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Franklin Street
Turn left onto Franklin Street
Navigation decision point
5
7.8 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
I 195
Merge onto I 195
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
15.5 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
US 1A; US 44
Take the exit onto US 1A; US 44 toward US 44 West: South Main Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1C
Toward US 44 West: South Main Street
5
16.7 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
Dorrance Street
Turn right onto Dorrance Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 195 | 7.7 mi | 10m |
| Metacom Avenue | 3.8 mi | 6m |
| Market Street | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| US 1A | 1 mi | 2m |
| James Reynolds Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Franklin Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Kickemuit Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Westminster Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 195
— 7.7 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bristol, RI and Providence, RI.
1
Start on this road
301 ft
·
24 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
115 ft
·
14 sec
3
Turn left onto Franklin Street
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Franklin Street
4
Turn left onto RI 136
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Metacom Avenue
5
Continue on RI 136
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Kickemuit Road
6
Continue on RI 136
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Market Street
7
Continue on MA 136
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
James Reynolds Road
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward I 195 West: Providence Rhode Island
9
Merge onto I 195
7.7 mi
·
10 min
·
I 195
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto US 1A; US 44
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
US 1A; US 44
Exit 1C
Toward US 44 West: South Main Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto College Street
299 ft
·
11 sec
·
College Street
12
Continue on Westminster Street
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Westminster Street
13
Turn right onto Dorrance Street
260 ft
·
16 sec
·
Dorrance Street
14
Turn left onto Fulton Street
139 ft
·
4 sec
·
Fulton Street
15
Arrive at destination
Fulton Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, 17.8-mile commute, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time and pace. You won't need to plan for any scheduled stops, though keeping a small reserve of $3 for fuel ensures you reach Providence without any logistical stress. Given the local nature of the roads, keep a close watch on your navigation as you transition between Metacom Avenue and the other local routes. Because there are no long highway stretches, you can easily manage the drive in under half an hour. Use this efficiency to your advantage by planning your arrival in Providence to align perfectly with your daily schedule.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 8.4 miles from Bristol, RI, or about 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 7.7 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 16.8 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 8.4 miles or 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Providence, RI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bristol, 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 Bristol, RI
This is one driving day of about 16.8 miles and 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Bristol, RI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 195 for about 7.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 8.4 mi from Bristol, RI · 14m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
8 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 16.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 8.4 miles from Bristol, RI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Providence, RI
The final approach into Providence, RI usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Providence, RI.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.70 one way
$5.41 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $2.98 | $5.95 |
| premium | $4.86 | $3.22 | $6.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.71 | $7.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5 | 0 | $1.76 | $0.81 |
| Efficient EV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.47 | $0.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.35 | $1.08 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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
Evening in Providence on Tuesday
Local time
8:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Brookhaven, NY
8 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.
Road read
27m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Bristol, RI to Providence, RI covers 16.8 miles and takes about 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 195, Metacom Avenue, Market Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.4 miles from Bristol, RI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.70 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 27m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Franklin Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.8 miles (I 195): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Bristol, RI to Providence, RI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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