Trip from Boston to Newport. Does This Sound Do-able?

After researching into day trips around Boston, I%26#39;m interested in going to Newport. Is it doable as an overnight trip? This is what I%26#39;m thinking of doing: taking a Peter Pan bus from Boston in the morning to Newport, then spending the whole day in Newport, and then coming up to Providence to spend the night. (I still have to figure out how to get to Providence from Newport. Any advice?) Then the next morning, head up from Providence to Boston via the commuter train. Does this sound reasonable and doable? Can I take something else as an alternative to the Peter Pan bus to Newport in the morning, such as the commuter train to Providence, and then take some other public transportation to Newport? Let me know. Thanks.

Trip from Boston to Newport. Does This Sound Do-able?

Totally doable. The distances are short. I believe the Peter Pan bus is the best Bos-New route and departs from Boston%26#39;s South Station. It brings you directly to the Visitor%26#39;s Center in the central downtown newport area.

As for the Newport- Providence trip, if the weather is fine and you like water travel, I suggest the ferry from Newport to Providence. Check out www.nefastferry.com for price and schedule. You can also take a RI Public Transportation (RIPTA) bus. The depart Newport 9:50 am, 1:50 pm, 4:50 pm, 7:25pm, 7:50 pm and 12:10 am (Saturdays only). The trip is 65 mins.

In addition to the Mass Bay Transit Authority (MBTA), Amtrak has a train from Providence to Boston. I checked thir website %26amp; the cheapest weekday fare was $12. I%26#39;m sure the MBTA is less expensive.

Check to see if there is an evening waterfire event when you plan to be in Providence (usually weekends). Great Italian food on Federal Hill.

Enjoy your trip!

Trip from Boston to Newport. Does This Sound Do-able?

Definitely doable. The ferry runs back to Prov pretty late too. If you%26#39;re into biking, renting one is a great way (no hills here) to see Newport and avoid tourist traffic and see some sights like Ocean Drive, Mansions, etc.

Hey guys,

I posted this below in the Boston forum, but I was wondering if you guys have any input on my questions below. And one change, I will be renting a car now, so I will have more flexibility.

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Thanks for the input. One change in my trip to Newport: after calculating the costs, I realize that renting a car is a viable alternative to using public transportation, so I might as well do that so I can have more flexibility. So is it really only an hour to get to Newport from Boston? And what kind of traffic should I expect out of Boston in the late morning, and what kind of traffic should I expect coming into Boston from Newport (or Providence) in the morning on a weekday (most likely a Friday morning)?

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In addition, how much can I do in one day? If I get there around noon, is it possible to go in and check out one mansion and the tennis hall-of-fame, and maybe do some walking around? Or is that too much? Or will I have to cram it all in? Let me know. Thanks.

Boston is about 80 miles from Newport, so it would depend on your driving speed. It%26#39;s usually over an hour. Traffic would likely be clear on your way out, although there could be backups on the way in, though Fridays are usually lighter. Have fun.

I%26#39;m a native Bostonian living in the Newport area. I routinely make the Boston- Newport commute, at least a couple times per week for work. It should not take you more than 90 minutes, depending upon where you are coming from in Boston, especially if it is late morning. The heaviest traffic is on the 9 mile stretch between Boston and Braintree (if you come down the Expressway). After that, it%26#39;s an easy trip, a straight shot down Rte. 24. I would allow more time going in on a Friday morning, although it%26#39;s usually lighter that other weekdays. School will be out soon so this will also help your commute.

I seem to remember if you purchase a mansion tour ticket at the Gateway Visitors Center in Newport and head over to the Breakers (which I recommend if you are only planning to see one mansion, it is the grandest) you can skip the line (?) You can ask about this at the visitors center or maybe someone else can confirm this(?) Lines can be long to enter during the summer months. Given your limited time, I%26#39;d hate to see you standing in line for an hour.

You may save tine by purchasing a ticket in advance at Newportmansions.org. An adult admission is $16.50. Tickets are non-refundable. You can call 401-847-1000 to verify hours. They also may be able to tell you how to avoid the line. I believe parking is validated at the visitors center and a quick trolley or bus service to the mansions is offered. There is a parking lot across from the Breakers but I think it may be tight ( buses, etc.). The walk from the Breakers to the Tennis Hall of Fame is a pleasant 15 mins. You could take another stroll from there back to your car at the visitors center along the main drag, Thames Street.

All the best planning your trip. I%26#39;d be happy to attempt to answer any additional questions you may have. Enjoy Newport!

Thanks Hillside68 and MGPNewport_RI,

It looks like the drive will be easy to Newport. My only worry for traffic coming back on Friday is that I%26#39;ll probably rent the car on Thursday late morning, and I want to be able to get back to the rental office by Friday let morning so I%26#39;m not charged an extra day. That%26#39;s why I%26#39;m concerned with the Friday morning traffic.

I posted this question in the Boston forum, and I was wondering if you could chip in: how is driving on the freeway in the New England area (or from Boston to Newport)? I%26#39;m from San Francisco and went to college in LA, so I know well how the freeways are, and I%26#39;ve driven in Chicago, between Washington DC and Philadelphia, and on the autobahn in Germany. How does New England freeway driving compare? And do freeway-drivers tend to drive at the speed limit, or above? Will the police care if I drive 5-10 MPH over the speed limit? (In LA, they drive way over the speed limit.) Let me know. Thanks.

Boston/Mass drivers are notoriously speedy. The same goes for RI. You can easily drive a bit above the speed limit just going with the flow of traffic. I%26#39;d be surprised if you see many actually following the posted limits! I will caution you about your speed on Rte. 24 as you cross from Mass over the RI border. The road narrows to 2 lanes. The speed limit drops to 50 mph and there are are a few spots the police like to hang out to catch speeders (just beyond the crest of a hill or after a long row of trees in the median). Just use your common sense and you';ll be fine.

Listen to AM 1030 radio Friday morning on your drive back up to Boston. They broadcast Boston traffic conditions every 8 minutes. Listen for the ';expressway or 93 north'; report into Boston from the south. It may help to reassure you%26#39;ll make in time. I think you will be fine returning a car late morning Friday.

Have a great trip!

Thanks Hillside68 and MGPNewport_RI. I feel like I%26#39;m ready to make it out there now.

Our family is doing New England this summer and would love to go to Newport, but only for one day (one our way to Acadia National Park). Do you think it is too ambitious to try to go to Newport for only a day?

It depends on where you are coming FROM, and where your destination later that night might be....

You can get a feel for Newport in one day, but if you%26#39;re heading up to Maine right after that, it would make for a very loooong day IMO. It would take about 7 - 8 hours to get to Acadia from Newport.