Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

A State-Federal Partnership Program

>> Getting to Prudence Island

This webpage provides information on getting to Prudence Island by ferry. The same information, including driving directions to the ferry landing in Bristol can be downloaded in printable PDF format here.


Getting to Prudence Island

The Prudence Island ferry leaves from the Church Street Wharf in Bristol, R.I. The ferry dock is located at the intersection of Thames Street and Church Street across from Aiden's Pub. (Driving directions are here in PDF format .) The Prudence Island ferry serves passengers, bicycles, and vehicles. If you elect to bring your own vehicle to the island, you will need to make a reservation on the ferry well in advance for both legs of the journey (to and from the island). To make a vehicle reservation, contact the Prudence Ferry at 401-253-9808. Generally, the ferry office is open one hour before scheduled departures from Bristol. Please arrive at least 15 minutes before the ferry departs to park and buy ferry tickets!


Ferry Schedule

The ferry takes 30 minutes to travel between Bristol and Prudence Island. It leaves Bristol daily at 6 and 8 a.m. and arrives at the Prudence Island ferry landing (Homestead) at 6:30 and 8:30 a.m. The next ferry leaves Homestead daily at 4 and 6 p.m. and arrives in Bristol at 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. On Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout the year there is an extra boat that leaves Bristol at 10 a.m., arrives at Homestead at 10:30 a.m., and returns to Bristol by 11:00 a.m. There are also extra boats scheduled during the busy summer season. Check the current ferry schedule (available below) to plan for your visit.

The current Prudence Island Ferry schedule is below. It is also available in a printable PDF format here. ***Please note the schedule below is good through April 2008.



Parking

Visitors who are coming to the island for a day trip have two parking options: • You can pay to park in the ferry parking lot for $10/day. You must pay for parking before you leave Bristol on the ferry and you must display a parking pass in the window of your vehicle. • If you do not want to pay for parking, generally speaking any distance of two blocks or greater from the ferry landing will allow unlimited on-street parking. You will need to allow extra time (10 – 15 minutes) to find parking and to walk back to the ferry landing. If you are leaving a vehicle overnight in Bristol for one or more nights you can park on High Street (parallel with Thames Street, two blocks uphill) or you can park in the lot off of Bristol Common which is between High Street and Wood Street, along State Street. Please pay particular attention to parking limitation signs, as both the Town of Bristol and the Prudence Island Ferry have been known to ticket and tow cars for parking violations (although this is far more common in the summer months).

Ferry Tickets

Round-trip tickets to the island may be purchased at the small kiosk located on the ferry dock adjacent to the ferry access ramp (furthest end from the street). The cost of a round-trip passenger ticket is approximately $6.20 (prices fluctuate). A round-trip car ticket costs approximately $32.00 which includes passage for the driver but not for additional passengers. Tickets should be purchased at least ten minutes before the scheduled departure. Be sure to buy a round-trip ticket in Bristol as ferry tickets cannot be purchased on Prudence Island.

Food and Lodging on Prudence Island

Although Prudence Island has a small store, there is a limited food selection. Anyone visiting Prudence Island will need to bring most of their food supplies for the duration of their stay. The only overnight accommodations are seasonal rental properties listed through local realtors and on the community message boards at the Homestead Ferry Landing. Many families rent a cottage on Prudence Island for some downtime in the summer. Camping is not allowed anywhere on Prudence Island or in the Narragansett Bay Research Reserve.

Driving Directions to the Prudence Island Ferry Dock in Bristol, RI

From Newport: 1: Travel north on RI-114/W Main Rd. 2: Merge onto RI-24N toward I-195/Fall River/Providence 1.9 mi 3: Take the Boyd Lane exit – exit number 2- toward Island Park 0.1 mi 4: Turn LEFT onto RI-138/Boyds Lane. Continue to follow Boyds Lane. 0.6 mi 5: Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto RI-114/MT Hope Bridge. Continue to follow RI-114N. 2.0 mi 6: Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto RI-114/Hope Street. 0.7 mi 7: Turn LEFT onto Church Street. <0.1 mi 8: Turn RIGHT onto Thames Street. <0.1 mi 9: Prudence Island Ferry is immediately on your LEFT. Estimated Driving Time: 35 minutes (from start of RI-114) From Providence: 1: Travel east on I-195. 2: Merge onto MA-136 S via exit number 2 toward Warren R.I. /US-6 E/Newport R.I. 3.6 mi 3: Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto RI-136/Metacom Ave. 3.7 mi 4: Turn RIGHT onto State Street. Continue to end of State Street. 1.0 mi 5: Turn LEFT onto Thames Street. 0.2 mi 6: Prudence Island Ferry will be on your RIGHT. Estimated Driving Time: 35 minutes (from junction of I-195 E and I-95) From Fall River: 1: Travel south on RI-24 S toward Newport 2: Take the exit – exit number 2 – toward Bristol/MT Hope Bridge 0.1 mi 3: Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto Boyds Lane 0.5 mi 4: Go over the Mt Hope Bridge. Continue to follow RI-114 N. 2.0 mi 5: Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto RI-114/Hope Street 0.7 mi 6: Turn LEFT onto Church Street <0.1 mi 7: Turn RIGHT onto Thames Street <0.1 mi 8: Prudence Island Ferry is immediately on your LEFT Estimated Driving Time: 25 minutes (from junction of 24 S and I-195)

>> Getting to Prudence Island