[mikeandaija2009]

Just wondering if anyone out there lives in a CT border town and makes a commute to Providence. Of course looking at maps online shows towns like Thomaston or North Stonington, only a short distance "as the crow flies". Wanted to get some feedback by someone who actually drives there. Thanks!

[LRPct]

Thomaston is NO WHERE near the border. Maybe youre thinking of Thompson. Either way its about 45 minute drive with not so bad traffic, but not the smoothest roads around.

[mikeandaija2009]

Originally Posted by LRPct

Thomaston is NO WHERE near the border. Maybe youre thinking of Thompson. Either way its about 45 minute drive with not so bad traffic, but not the smoothest roads around.

Sorry about that. I did mean to say Thompson

[willow wind]

North Stonington is an easy drive to Providence. From Clark's Falls, North Stonington entry onto 1-95, no traffic until you hit the RI Rt 4 merge on 1-95 just as you get to Warwick . Then you'll get typical, heavy commuter traffic for the last 10 miles into Providence. Maybe 45-50 minutes overall

[BPt111]

How Providence compare to other cities in CT like Things to dos, attractions.

[mr2448]

Originally Posted by mikeandaija2009

Just wondering if anyone out there lives in a CT border town and makes a commute to Providence. Of course looking at maps online shows towns like Thomaston or North Stonington, only a short distance "as the crow flies". Wanted to get some feedback by someone who actually drives there. Thanks!

you don't say what end of the state you are leaving from north or south of Providence. From the south it is I-95. Going from more northerly points it is routes 14, 6, 101 and 44. These can be subject to school buses and are definitely affected by snow. For the most part they are 2 lane roads. No matter where you are coming from it will be about 45-50 minutes, add 15 during snow and ice situations. The worse road is 101. It freezes up quite quickly during the winter.

[mr2448]

Originally Posted by BPt111

How Providence compare to other cities in CT like Things to dos, attractions.

check out Waterfire, restaurants, Roger Wms Zoo, First Congregational Church, RISD Museum, and Children's Museum. Downtown has a large Mall, Providence Place with Norstrom's, Macy's and the usual mall shops. It has over 50 restaurants in a one square mile area. It has Shula's, Flemings, Ruth Steak House, the original Capital Grill and other steak houses. El Forno's is the home of grilled pizza. It has been rated number 1 for burgers by Travel Magazine this year and repeatedly makes the top 5 food cities in the country. Reaching number 1 on occassion. Downtown Providence did not experience (suffer) with the urban renewal that Ct. downtowns went thru in the 60's. Much of it is on the National Historical Registry. 2000 hotel rooms have been added in downtown Providence since 2000. New Haven with its restaurants and night life are the closest to Providence for the city experience. Hartford has its history, but not the night life and activity, although improving, Providence has on a daily basis.

btw, I didn't even mention the Italian Restaurants because I felt it was a given.

[JayCT]

Sorry but I do not agree with Willow Wind on the time it would take to commute from Connecticut to Providence. It is 45 miles from Stonington to Providence so without traffic it is at least 45 minutes. Add 10 miles of traffic to the commute and you are talking at least an hour. Of course this depends on where you are commuting from and commuting to.

Commuting into Providence on I-95 is probably the best option until you hit rush hour traffic as you get closer to the city. The other routes mentioned (6, 14, 101 and 44) are not good. These are narrow local roads with a lot of traffic. Many of these roads are poorly paved and not maintained well. Add school buses and traffic signals, the going is even slower. Jay

[htfdcolt]

As one who has started a frequent commute to the Providence suburbs from the Hartford area, I am appalled that there is no direct interstate-quality link between the two capitals. At the very least, the 15 miles of Rt 6 on the RI side could be upgraded (to similar standard as the connector to 395 on the CT side) which would help a lot. And I must say it's funny to have to get off 395S, and make my way through traffic lights to get to Rt 2 westbound at Norwich!

Fortunately, I've found a couple of route options which get me there in 90-95 min, with really very little traffic.

[willow wind]

No, Jay- you misread my post. I was not giving times from Stonington but from North Stonington- a different town and the entry/exit I noted is far further up 1-95 than Stonington.

The OP asked specifically about North Stonington. I do that drive frequently and my time estimate is about how long it takes. Obviously how far you have to drive once into Providence can vary.