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Trip from Foster, RI to Providence, RI

Data updated 2 hours ago

Drive Time

29m

Distance

19.9 mi

32 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

12 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 7 min
4 AM
0h 27m ★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 31m
12 PM
0h 31m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 34m
8 PM
0h 28m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States

Foster, RI

Wikimedia Commons

capital city of Rhode Island, United States

Providence, RI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This short 19.9-mile journey from Foster to Providence, Rhode Island, is easily manageable within a single day, taking approximately 29 minutes to complete. The route primarily utilizes Hartford Pike and US 6, also known as Hartford Avenue in sections. With a modest estimated fuel cost of $3, this drive is an economical option for a quick trip. The mixed drive profile suggests a blend of road types, offering a bit of variety without being overly taxing. Given its brevity, no overnight stays are recommended; you can easily fit this into your schedule as a single-day excursion within the Northeast region.

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

10 miles from Foster, RI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 14m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

Expect a mixed driving experience on this route, with about 30% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is about 9.9 miles along Hartford Pike, offering a sustained period of travel before potential turns or changes in road type. As you transition onto US 6 and then Hartford Avenue, the character of the road will likely shift, moving from potentially more open stretches to more developed or urban environments closer to Providence. This blend means you'll experience both steadier-paced driving and more varied conditions.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Hartford Pike is the longest continuous segment at about 9.9 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 19 miles in.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 29m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 19 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.5 miles (US 1 / Francis Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.6 miles: Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7
19 mi into trip | ~26m in

Take the exit toward Memorial Boulevard, Downtown

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward Memorial Boulevard, Downtown
6
19.5 mi into trip | ~27m in | US 1 / Francis Street

Turn left onto US 1 / Francis Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
19.6 mi into trip | ~27m in

Turn left

Navigation decision point

5
19.6 mi into trip | ~28m in | US 1 / Francis Street

Turn right onto US 1 / Francis Street

Navigation decision point

5
19.9 mi into trip | ~29m in | Fulton Street

Turn right onto Fulton Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Hartford Pike 9.9 mi 14m
US 6 5.9 mi 8m
Hartford Avenue 3.2 mi 3m
Francis Street 0.2 mi <1m
Dorrance Street 0.1 mi <1m
Fulton Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Hartford Pike — 9.9 mi, about 14m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Foster, RI and Providence, RI.

1

Start on RI 101

9.9 mi · 14 min · Hartford Pike
2

Continue on US 6

3.2 mi · 3 min · Hartford Avenue
3

Continue on US 6

5.9 mi · 8 min · US 6
Exit 9A Toward US 6 East: Providence Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward Memorial Boulevard, Downtown Use the slight right lane.
5

Turn left onto US 1

438 ft · 16 sec · Francis Street
Use the left lane.
6

Turn left

57 ft · 31 sec
7

Continue on this road

57 ft · 6 sec · this road
8

Turn right onto US 1

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Francis Street
9

Continue on US 1

0.1 mi · 31 sec · Dorrance Street
10

Turn right onto Fulton Street

139 ft · 4 sec · Fulton Street
11

Arrive at destination

Fulton Street

Trip Plan

For this short 29-minute drive, flexibility is key. You can depart at any time, but leaving mid-morning or early afternoon might help you avoid the heaviest local traffic, especially as you approach Providence. There are no recommended stops for this brief trip, and with only 19.9 miles, you won't need to worry about extensive refueling. Keep an eye on your speed on US 6, as it can vary. Given the short duration and low fuel cost of around $3, this trip is best treated as a single, straightforward segment rather than requiring any complex planning.

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 10 miles from Foster, RI, or about 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 9.9 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 19.9 miles or 29m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 10 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 23m

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 Foster, 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 Foster, RI

This is one driving day of about 19.9 miles and 29m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Foster, 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 Hartford Pike for about 9.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 10 mi from Foster, RI · 14m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Brookhaven, NY

10 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

Brookhaven, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 19.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Brookhaven, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 10 miles from Foster, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Roger Williams National Memorial

Roger Williams National Memorial

National Memorial

"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...

0 mi from route ~1 min detour Free near mile 19.9
View on nps.gov
Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park

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...

4 mi from route ~10 min detour Free near mile 19.9
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$3.20 one way

$6.41 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 7 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $3.52 $7.05
premium $4.86 $3.81 $7.62
diesel $5.61 $4.39 $8.79

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: 7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

12 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Neon Marketplace - Tesla Supercharger

Providence, RI

Tesla

8 DCFC

2050 Plainfield Pike

Cranston, RI

SHELL_RECHARGE

4 DCFC

North Providence Marketplace

Providence, RI

eVgo Network

4 DCFC

525 Killingly St

JOHNSTON, RI

SHELL_RECHARGE

2 DCFC

777 Cranston St

Cranston, RI

SHELL_RECHARGE

2 DCFC

PICK & PAY DCF EV2

Johnston, RI

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

PICK & PAY DCF EV 1

Johnston, RI

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

OCEAN STATE HD DCFASTHOG

Warwick, RI

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 6 SHELL_RECHARGE: 3 Non-Networked: 1 eVgo Network: 1 Tesla: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 6 0 $2.09 $0.96
Efficient EV 5 0 $1.74 $0.80
EV Truck/SUV 8 0 $2.79 $1.27

Gas CO2

7 kg

EV CO2

2 kg (71% 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 data refreshed 3 years ago

Origin

Foster, RI

Night in Foster on Tuesday

Local time

10:05 PM

EDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Providence, RI

Night in Providence on Tuesday

Local time

10:05 PM

EDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

49°F

Brookhaven, NY

10 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

6 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

29m 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 Foster, RI to Providence, RI covers 19.9 miles and takes about 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Hartford Pike, US 6, Hartford Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10 miles from Foster, RI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.20 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 29m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 19 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.5 miles (US 1 / Francis Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.6 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from Foster, RI to Providence, RI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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