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Major city · United States

Bristol, Rhode IslandBristol

Give Bristol one full day plus a morning: waterfront walk, Colt State Park, Herreshoff museum. Two nights if you want the bike path and Blithewold without rushing.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
May–Oct
avoid Jan–Feb (cold, many seasonal places shut); July 4 week if you want quiet
Airports
PVD · BOS
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Bristol is a small East Bay peninsula town of about 22,000 people, 30–40 minutes from Providence by car and roughly an hour from Boston. It is walkable in the centre, best from May to October, and its headline event is the oldest continuous Fourth of July parade in the United States, dating to 1785. Costs are moderate by New England standards; a car or the hourly RIPTA bus is how you arrive.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Bristol, Rhode Island, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$3–6
  • Sit-down mealDinner main, mid-range seafood restaurant$22–38
  • Street or quick mealBreakfast plate at a diner$10–18
  • BeerDraught beer at a pub$7–10
  • Museum or sight ticketBlithewold Mansion entryConfirm current hours and price.$10, under 15 free
  • Budget bedFamily room or suite (up to 4), a night, per roomUS$220
  • Mid-range bedInn or motel double room, a night, per roomUS$220
  • High-end bedInn or motel double room, a night, per roomUS$380

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$110 · Mid US$190 · High US$320

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Fourth of July parade (since 1785)Colt State ParkHerreshoff Marine Museum and America's Cup Hall of FameBlithewold Mansion and gardensEast Bay Bike Path
Airports
PVD Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport, Warwick (Closest airport; about 30–40 min by car to Bristol. Check current airline list.) · BOS Boston Logan International (Larger, more international flights; about 1–1.5 h by car, longer in traffic.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Bristol, Rhode Island: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

4°C

−5°C

9 rd

Feb

5°C

−4°C

8 rd

Mar

9°C

0°C

9 rd

Apr

15°C

5°C

9 rd

May

20°C

10°C

9 rd

Jun

25°C

15°C

9 rd

Jul

28°C

18°C

8 rd

Aug

27°C

18°C

8 rd

Sep

23°C

14°C

8 rd

Oct

17°C

8°C

8 rd

Nov

12°C

3°C

9 rd

Dec

7°C

−2°C

10 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The centre is small enough to walk: shops, restaurants and the waterfront sit within about 15 minutes on foot. The East Bay Bike Path starts at Independence Park and runs 14.5 mi (23 km) to Providence along the shore; Bristol Bikes at Thames Street Landing rents. RIPTA bus 60 runs roughly hourly along Route 114 between Providence and Newport and stops in Bristol. A car helps for Colt State Park, Blithewold and Mt. Hope Farm.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Providence

go

Door to door: 40–50 min by car; about 1 h by bus

Car via I-195 and Route 114, or RIPTA bus 60

Half day for the East Side and Waterplace Park; the bus is hourly, so check the last return.

Newport

go

Door to door: 45–60 min by car

Car south on Route 114 through Portsmouth, then Route 138 over the Jamestown or Sakonnet bridge (check which bridge suits your start point), or RIPTA bus 60

Full day for the harbour and Cliff Walk; summer traffic on the bridges is heavy.

Warren, Rhode Island

go

Door to door: 10–15 min by car; about 20 min by bike

Car or bike north on Route 114 / the East Bay Bike Path

Smaller waterfront town with its own restaurant strip; easy add-on.

Barrington, Rhode Island

go

Door to door: 10–15 min by car

Car or bike south on Route 114 / the bike path

Good for a coastal walk and a coffee stop.

Prudence Island

caution

Door to door: About 1 h including the crossing

Ferry from Bristol, about 25 min

Mostly undeveloped nature reserve; no overnight beds, so treat it as a day trip and check the ferry timetable.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Downtown / Thames Street and Hope Street

Walk to the harbour, restaurants and shops; the inns here are the priciest and book out for July 4.

Route 114 / Metacom Avenue strip

Motels and chain hotels with parking; 5–10 min drive from the centre, cheaper, no atmosphere.

Colt State Park and Ferry Road side

Quieter, near Blithewold and the park; you need a car for everything.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$90–140 excl. bed
Mid
$150–240 excl. bed
High
$250+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Inn or motel double room1 × 2 nights × US$220US$440
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$190US$760
RIPTA bus 60, Providence to Bristol, one way2 × US$2US$4
East Bay Bike Path bike rental, one day2 × US$45US$90
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$25US$50
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$134
Trip total≈ US$370 per person per day, bed includedUS$1,478

2026 estimate; check current rates.

2026 estimate in US dollars; prices are shown before sales tax. Flights excluded. Lodging figures are 2026 estimates — check current rates. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$3–6
Breakfast plate at a diner$10–18
Lunch sandwich or grinder$10–16
Dinner main, mid-range seafood restaurant$22–38
Draught beer at a pub$7–10
Blithewold Mansion entryConfirm current hours and price.$10, under 15 free
Herreshoff Marine Museum entryOpen May–Oct in recent seasons.$18 adult, $15 senior/student, free under 10
Coggeshall Farm entryOpen spring to fall.$10 adult, $5 ages 4–17, free under 3
Prudence Island ferry, round trip$10.80 adult, $3.80 child

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Bristol is a low-crime small town and safe to walk in the centre by day and evening. The real issues are seasonal: summer sun on exposed waterfront walks, cyclists and skaters on the shared bike path, and July 4 crowds and post-fireworks traffic.
  • July 4: Hope Street closes to traffic; parade seating cannot be set out before 5AM or it may be confiscated, and alcohol is banned along the route.
  • After the fireworks, traffic out of town jams for a while — plan to wait or walk.
  • Many waterfront restaurants are seasonal and close in winter; check before you drive out.
  • Prudence Island has no overnight accommodation — do not miss the last ferry back.
  • Summer garden visits at Blithewold get hot and exposed; go at opening.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Bristol, Rhode IslandBristol

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Embassy

No embassies in Bristol; consulates are in Boston and New York. Check your country's list before you travel.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • RIPTA bus 60, Providence to Bristol: about $2 one way, roughly hourly
  • Taxi or rideshare, Providence airport to Bristol: about $45–65
  • Prudence Island ferry, round trip: about $10.80 adult

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Where is the waterfront? — Where is the waterfront?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • One ticket, please — One ticket, please

Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% for taxis.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Bristol, Rhode Island. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Oct · avoid Jan–Feb (cold, many seasonal places shut); July 4 week if you want quiet · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for PVD: taxi and rideshare bands, RIPTA connection, late-arrival fallback.
  2. Four walking clusters with anchors: Thames Street waterfront, Hope Street parade route, Independence Park and the bike path, Colt State Park.
  3. Place pages with verified hours and prices (Blithewold, Herreshoff, Coggeshall Farm) and eat pages with seasonal closures.
  4. July 4 fixture: parade timing, seating rules, road closures and fireworks-night exit plan.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources