Overview
North Providence is a town in the Providence County area of Rhode Island. There are seven villages that make up the town of North Providence; Allendale, Centerdale, Fruit Hill, Greystone, Lymansville, Marieville, and Woodville/Geneva. North Providence is the second smallest town in the smallest state of the country. It has an area of nearly six square miles and has nine schools; six elementary, two middle schools, and one high school. North Providence was established in the late 1700s by farmers, who were originally from Providence, and wanted to form a separate town because government officials in Providence favored merchants over farmers. The town has everything you need in one place; markets, banks, gas stations, several gyms, convenience stores, and small shops. There are two main roads that run through the whole town; Mineral Spring Avenue and Smith St. North Providence is the eighth most populated community in Rhode Island with a population of approximately 33,000. The current mayor is Charles A. Lombardi.
3 sights · 2 things to do · 6 places to eat · 3 bars & cafés
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about North Providence
Peter Randall State Park
A great view of Providence and surrounding towns. It's a great spot for a picnic or a just a relaxing outing.
Governor Notte Park
A nice, local park featuring a beach and pond, baseball field, tennis courts, and more.
North Providence Town Hall
The town hall (located in the Centredale district) is known for having great aesthetic appeal as well as exceptional landscape and architecture. Across from the town hall are other town buildings such as the Recycling an…
Capitol Billiards
Great place to grab a brew and play some pool. This is located on the west end of North Providence, in Centredale.
North Providence Pool and Fitness Center
If you're looking for an indoor swimming area, then you should certainly consider the North Providence Pool located in the back of the North Providence Public Library. The pool has three or four swimming lanes available …
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 84°F; winter lows dip to about 22°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Mar and Dec. (climate data from nearby Providence)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- PVD Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport, Providence/Warwick — 9 mi away (major hub). Directions
- NPT Newport State Airport, Newport — 24 mi away. Directions
See Providence for details on how to reach the city Providence.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Peter Randall State Park, North Providence Town Hall, Governor Notte Park
- Lunch Cool Licks Creamery
- Afternoon Capitol Billiards, North Providence Pool and Fitness Center
- Dinner Twins Pizza
- Evening Camp Nowhere
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
There are many places to eat, with numerous fast food chains and take out places. All you have to do is stay on Mineral Spring Ave and you will not starve. If you're looking for even more good eats, just head over to Federal Hill in Providence, the infamous hub of RI's best restaurants.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Surrounding towns include Smithfield, Lincoln, Providence, and Pawtucket. The town itself has a unique blend of urban and suburban areas. Mineral Spring and Smith St. are very busy urban-like roads. There are also countless dozens of condo and apartment complexes scattered throughout the small town. Overall North Providence is a great town with a lot to offer, but most of the main attractions are in neighboring Providence.
Get in
See Providence for details on how to reach the city Providence.
North Providence is accessible by car from I-95. 295 (exit 7a) and 146 also take you there.
Get around
North Providence is a pretty small town, area-wise, but it's densely packed and populated. Some locals will walk to the market or to other errands, but a visitor's best bet would be to rent a car. Odds are you will travel to neighboring towns as well, so a car is best, but you could bike also.
The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) also runs several bus lines through the area. Buses 51, 52, 55, 58, and 73 all run through North Providence, but you'll have to check the website for details that pertain to your trip.
See
See Peter Randall State Park
A great view of Providence and surrounding towns. It's a great spot for a picnic or a just a relaxing outing.
See Governor Notte Park
A nice, local park featuring a beach and pond, baseball field, tennis courts, and more.
See North Providence Town Hall
The town hall (located in the Centredale district) is known for having great aesthetic appeal as well as exceptional landscape and architecture. Across from the town hall are other town buildings such as the Recycling and Refuse Department Office. The original town hall, which is located on Mineral Spring Avenue, contained what was once the North Providence Town Jail.
Do
Parks and Recreation There are a few parks scattered throughout North Providence. Stephen Olney Park is a good one. It features a skatepark, tennis courts, basketball court, and many baseball fields. Plenty of field space for all sports and activities.
Providence With North Providence being located only a few minutes away from the capital city of RI, there is a lot to do around North Providence.
Do North Providence Pool and Fitness Center
If you're looking for an indoor swimming area, then you should certainly consider the North Providence Pool located in the back of the North Providence Public Library. The pool has three or four swimming lanes available during non-reserved time slots, and the other half is open water space available for you to use at your leisure (when not reserved). Swim classes, water aerobics, etc. are offered. There is also a fitness center located on the second floor of the building. Call to inquire about hours and availability for both the pool and fitness center.
Buy
You can get everything from groceries, at Stop and Shop and Shaws to jewelry at Anthony's Jewelers. All of these businesses are located on Mineral Spring Avenue. If you can't find what you need here, like I said above, Providence is only minutes away and will have what you're looking for.
Shop Michael's Florist Limited
Michael's is known for putting together many breathtaking floral arrangements. Whether you are looking to present someone with a nice gesture or looking to decorate for a special occasion, Michael's will be able to accommodate your needs. Their customer service goes above and beyond to ensure their customers are satisfied and the quality of their creations are nothing less than amazing. There is no floral task too great for Michael's, and that's why they've become such a hit.
Eat
There are many places to eat, with numerous fast food chains and take out places. All you have to do is stay on Mineral Spring Ave and you will not starve. If you're looking for even more good eats, just head over to Federal Hill in Providence, the infamous hub of RI's best restaurants.
Eat Twins Pizza
1 401-726-8978 or +1 401-726-0549. Enjoy great pizza and sandwiches at this fine establishment. They have been serving us for about 50 years now and are very established.
- Betty's A great place to enjoy breakfast at any time of the day. Great for the college student crowd after coming from a night of clubbing in Providence.
Eat Pauli Pentas
A great Italian deli located about 100 yards from Oki's. Great Italian "grindahs" (subs) and very fresh snail salad. All the food is fresh and the place is very clean. Customer service is great and you will leave satisfied no matter what you order.
Eat Riccotti's
This spot allows people to see north providence from the 70's. They have never renovated this sandwich shop since they opened it, it looks old but the food is fresh and delicious. What you need to order here is the steak and cheese sandwich with a coffee milk.
Eat Avenue Grille
This is a great place to eat late at night. It's open 24 hours on the weekends. The staff is wonderful, the food is great (they serve breakfast all the time), and it's one of the few places open all night. It's got an old-fashioned diner decor.
Eat New Peking Restaurant
Great Asian restaurant. Very clean and the staff are very friendly.
Eat Cool Licks Creamery
This ice cream shop on the edge of Centerdale offers 24 flavors of soft serve ice cream, multiple flavors of hard ice cream, as well as an assortment of other delicious frozen treats. Take the family out in the nice weather and enjoy the outdoor seating to enjoy a frozen treat or two.
Drink
Where you can eat, you can drink. North Providence has a colorful array of bars and pubs, mostly on Mineral Spring Ave and Smith St.
Drink Camp Nowhere
Home of $3 beers and fishbowl drinks.
Drink Elite Lounge and Bistro
water pipe and drinks lounge
Nearby
Providence
City / town · 21 listings · 3 mi away
Johnston
City / town · 8 listings · 3 mi away
Central Falls
City / town · 20 listings · 4 mi away
Pawtucket
City / town · 35 listings · 4 mi away
Lincoln
City / town · 24 listings · 4 mi away
Smithfield
City / town · 24 listings · 6 mi away
Cranston
City / town · 69 listings · 6 mi away
Seekonk
City / town · 22 listings · 7 mi away
My experience
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