Newport Transportation

Getting There

Air

T.F. Green Airport (PVD) +1 888 268 7222 http://www.pvdairport.com/

PVD is 25 miles from Newport and services the following airlines:

Air Canada (+1 888 247 2262/ http://www.aircanada.com/en/home.html) American Airlines/ American Eagle (+1 888 247 2262/ http://www.aa.com/) Cape Air (+1 800 352 0714/ http://www.flycapeair.com/) Continental (+1 800 525 0280/ http://www.continental.com/) Delta (+1 800 221 1212/ http://www.delta.com/) Independence (+1 800 359 3594/ http://www.flyi.com/) Northwest (+1 800 225 2525/ http://www.nwa.com/) Southwest (+1 800 435 9792/ http://www.southwest.com/) Spirit (+1 800 772 7117/ http://www.spiritair.com/) United (+1 800 241 6522/ http://www.united.com/) US Airways (+1 800 428 4322 / http://www.usair.com/) Sata International / Azores Express (+1 800 762 9995/ http://www.sata.pt/)

From the Airport

There are a number of transit options from the airport.

Bus: Public transportation is provided by Bonanza Bus Lines (+1 401 751-8000/ http://www.bonanzabus.com/) and the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA, +1 800 244 0444/ http://www.ripta.com/).

Taxi: Taxis are all metered and can be easily located outside the terminal. Some of the more prominent companies include:

Providence Shuttle Service (+1 401 737-2868/ http://www.airporttaxiri.com/) Cozy Cab, Inc. (+1 800 846 1502) Yellow Cab (+1 401 846 1500)

Car Rental: Alamo (+1 800 462-5266/ http://www.alamo.com/) Avis (+1 800 831 2847/ http://www.avis.com) Budget (+1 800 527 0700/ http://www.budget.com) Dollar (+ 1 800 365-5271/ http://www.dollar.com/) Enterprise (+1 800 736 8227 / http://www.enterprise.com/) Hertz (+1 800 654 3131/ http://www.hertz.com) National (+1 800 227 7368/ http://www.nationalcar.com) Payless (+1 800 729-5377/ http://www.paylesscarrental.com/) Thrifty (+1 800 847-4389/ http://www.thrifty.com)

Limo: Lands End Limousine (+1 401 847 4883) Al's Classic Limousines (+1 401 846 5562)

Train

Amtrak (+1 800 872 7245/ http://www.amtrak.com/) provides service to Newport to destinations throughout the Northeast and beyond.

Bus

Greyhound Bus Lines (+1 800 231 2222/ http://www.greyhound.com/) provide service to and from Newport.

Highway

Interstate 95 and 195 offer access to most of Rhode Island's major cities. Routes 136 and 114 provide an easy drive through Bristol County straight to Newport.

Getting Around

Ferry

Block Island: The Interstate Navigation Company Rhode Island: (Galilee) 401-783-4613. From Providence, Newport, and New London: seasonal. From Galilee State Pier: year-round. Travel time, dock-to-dock: Galilee - 1 hour, 10 minutes; Providence - 4 hrs; Newport - 2 hours; New London- 2 hours.

Bus

Public transit is provided by the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (+1 800 244 0444/ http://www.ripta.com/).

Planning a Trip

Getting There

From New York City, take I-95 to the third Newport exit, picking up Route 138 east (which joins briefly with Rte. 4) and crossing the Newport toll bridge slightly north of the downtown district. From Boston, take Route 24 through Fall River, picking up Route 114 into town.

T. F. Green/Providence Airport (tel. 401/737-8222) in Warwick, south of Providence (exit 13, I-95), handles national flights into the state. Major airlines serving this airport include American (tel. 800/433-7300), Continental (tel. 800/525-3273), Delta (tel. 800/221-1212), Northwest (tel. 800/225-2525), Southwest (tel. 800/435-9792), United (tel. 800/864-8331), and US Airways (tel. 800/428-4322). A few of the larger Newport hotels provide shuttle service, as does Cozy Cab (tel. 401/846-2500).

The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, or RIPTA (tel. 800/244-0444 or 401/781-9400; www.ripta.com), runs up to 28 buses a day on the 70-minute ride between Providence's Kennedy Plaza and the Newport Gateway Visitor Center. One-way fare is $1.50.

RIPTA also has ferry service between Point Street Landing in Providence and Perrotti Park, near Newport's Gateway Center. From mid-May to mid-October, there are six departures daily. One-way fare is $8 for adults and $6 for seniors and children 5 to 11; younger children ride free.

Visitor Information

For advance information available 24 hours, call visitor information (tel. 800/976-5122 outside Rhode Island, 800/556-2484 in Rhode Island; www.goNewport.com). In town, stop by the excellent Newport Gateway Visitor Center, 23 America's Cup Ave. (tel. 800/326-6030 or 401/849-8048). Open daily from 9am to 5pm (until 6pm Fri-Sat), it has attendants on duty, a lodging-availability service, a cafe, and panoramic photos showing the locations of mansions, parks, and other landmarks. A TV monitor lists regularly updated lists of inns and hotels with available rooms. The building is shared with the bus station.

Parking & Getting Around

Most of Newport's attractions, except for the mansions, can be reached easily on foot, so leaving your car at your hotel or inn is wise. Parking lots aren't cheap, especially at the waterfront, and many streets are narrow. The metered parking along Thames Street is closely monitored by police, and fines are steep (although Nov-Apr the meters are hooded and parking is free for up to 3 hr.). Renting or bringing a bicycle is an attractive option.

RIPTA, the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (tel. 401/781-9400), has several trolley/bus routes through town, making stops at major sights. Service originates at the Gateway Information Center. Fare is $1.50.

Special Events

Arrive any day in summer, and you can expect to find at least a half-dozen festivals, competitions, or other events in progress. Following is only a partial list. (Call ahead to confirm dates: tel. 800/263-4636 outside Rhode Island, or 401/848-2000 in Rhode Island).

While there are a few substantive events in the off season, notably Christmas in Newport (tel. 401/849-6454; www.christmasinnewport.org) and the February Winter Festival (tel. 401/847-7666; www.newportwinterfestival.com), which focuses on food and winter sports, the pace ratchets up in June, starting with the Great Chowder Cook-Off (tel. 401/846-1600; www.newportfestivals.com).

In the third week of July is the Black Ships Festival (tel. 401/846-2720; www.newportevents.com), a celebration of all aspects of Japanese culture.

August brings the Newport Folk Festival (www.newportfolk.com) and the 4-day JVC Jazz Festival -- Newport (tel. 866/468-7619; www.festivalproductions.net), both held at Fort Adams State Park. In early September, the gardens of the Point section of town are open to visitors during the Secret Garden Tour (tel. 401/847-0514; www.secretgardentour.com). The Waterfront Irish Festival (tel. 401/846-1600; www.newportwaterfrontevents.com) arrives in early September, Oktoberfest (www.newportfestivals.com) on Columbus Day weekend, and the Bowen's Wharf Seafood Festival (tel. 401/849-2120; www.bowenswharf.com) in the third week of October.