Benefit Street
Providence, RI
A hillside street of well-preserved colonial and Federal houses, nicknamed the Mile of History, running past the Rhode Island School of Design area. Walk it uphill from the river and finish with a coffee on Thayer Street.
Benefit Street runs along College Hill in Providence, a neighborhood with many surviving buildings of the 18th and 19th centuries. The buildings on and near the street include the John Brown House of 1786, the Providence Athenaeum, described as the fourth-oldest library in America, the First Baptist Church in America, and the Old State House, built in 1762 as the Colony House.
The College Hill Historic District is a National Historic Landmark District, and in 2011 the American Planning Association named the neighborhood a "Great Place in America". Nearby are Brown University, which moved to the hill in 1770, and the Rhode Island School of Design, which has been at the foot of the hill since 1893. Allow one to two hours for a walk along the street; because of the slope, it is best to start at the river.
- Nearest town
- Providence, RI
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 41.8260, -71.4008
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. Cold, short days in December–February. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Sources
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Normandy Farms CampgroundCampsite16 mi from Benefit Street
- Ginny-B CampgroundMotorhome stopover19 mi from Benefit StreetMotorhomes
- Sun Ridge ResortCampsite21 mi from Benefit Street
- Hide-Away-Cove Family CampgroundMotorhome stopover21 mi from Benefit StreetMotorhomes
- Wawaloam CampgroundMotorhome stopover22 mi from Benefit StreetMotorhomes
- Frosty Hollow Shelter Camping AreaCampsite23 mi from Benefit StreetTentsToilets
All campsites in Rhode Island · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Benefit Street?
Benefit Street is in Providence, RI, at GPS 41.8260, -71.4008. It is about 24 mi from Newport.
Can you camp near Benefit Street?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Normandy Farms Campground, about 16 mi away; within 25 mi there are 13 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
What is there to see near Benefit Street?
Places worth a stop nearby: Bristol Historic Downtown (12 mi), Newport Cliff Walk (25 mi), The Breakers (25 mi) and Beavertail State Park (26 mi).
When is the best time to visit Benefit Street?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)