One of the main concerns you might have about your next vacation is the traffic, as no one wants to spend their time away from work waiting in their vehicle. Of course, like most popular summertime destinations, you could encounter some slow-moving traffic in some spots around South County, but it all depends on when you travel and where you’re going.
The area’s main highways could experience some bottlenecks you should be aware of when the beaches get busy in the morning and afternoon, but this isn’t New York City, so traffic isn’t much of a concern for significant parts of the day. Here are some tips on dealing with traffic during your Rhode Island vacation.
Places With Heavy Traffic
South County is a spread-out region with only about 130,000 permanent residents. However, most towns’ populations double or triple during the summer, leading to increased traffic between June and September.
Some places experience more traffic than others, though, so there are a few highways and intersections you’ll want to avoid as much as possible. For example, Route 4 in North Kingstown tends to be slow-moving every morning and evening because it’s the highway people commuting to and from Providence take to South County and Jamestown. You could spend significant time waiting near the highway’s interchanges, so it’s best to avoid these areas if you’re in a hurry.
Route 1 also gets quite busy in the morning and evening because it’s the highway visitors take to many of South County’s beaches. You’ll find traffic is slow-moving around downtown Westerly, Wakefield-Peacedale, and Point Judith, as well.
Once again, the traffic in these areas isn’t comparable to a major city, but it will slow you down if you hit a gridlock. However, you can typically avoid these slowdowns by carefully planning your outings.
When to Travel
The great thing about South County is that although the population swells in the summer, the region is still large enough geographically and has enough roadways to accommodate everyone. However, you’ll need to be strategic about when you travel to avoid other vacationers.
If you’re heading to the beach, getting there before 9:00 AM or after 5:00 PM is best to escape traffic. You can typically pull right up to the beach at those times, saving significant time in the vehicle.
Even if you aren’t going to the beach, leaving early in the morning or around dinnertime can help you avoid traffic and run your errands quicker. That way, you won’t spend a significant chunk of your vacation waiting at exits or trying to get into parking lots.
How to Avoid Traffic
Another tip for avoiding traffic is to stay off the main highways. For example, taking Matunuck School House Road between Matunuck and Charlestown keeps you away from Route 1 and can speed up your trip, despite the road’s lower speed limit.
When traveling from downtown Westerly to Weekapaug, you can cut through Misquamicut instead of taking Route 1, too, which could cut down on the traffic you’ll encounter. There are tons of alternate routes available, so do some research before leaving your vacation rental and avoid as much beach traffic as possible.
If you’re planning a trip to Providence, consider taking the train from Westerly, Kingston, or Wickford. These trains ensure you won’t hit any highway traffic and can speed up your excursion considerably.
Book Your Rental Close to the Beach
It’s highly recommended that you choose a beach you plan to frequent and book your vacation rental as close to it as possible, as well. Selecting a vacation rental by the beach is the best way to avoid traffic because you can stroll to the water whenever you wish and plan any other excursions against the traffic flow.
South County’s traffic isn’t overly crazy, but it can still cause stress throughout your vacation if you aren’t prepared for it. Do everything possible to plan ahead to ensure you spend little time waiting in your car and more time experiencing everything this area has to offer.