Block Island to Hershey Road Trip Guide: Coastal to Chocolate

Block Island, Rhode Island, is a 10-square-mile outpost of glacial moraine, wild roses, and 365 freshwater ponds—one for each day of the year, locals claim. The island's Old Harbor pier, where ferries from Point Judith dock, sits at 41.1682° N, 71.5564° W. To reach Hershey, Pennsylvania (40.2778° N, 76.6530° W) by car, you must first take a ferry to the mainland. The total drive, including the ferry crossing, spans roughly 320 miles (515 km) and averages 5.5 to 6.5 hours of pure driving time, not counting stops.

This route traces a diagonal slice of the Northeast: from the salty, wind-scoured bluffs of New England southwesterly through Connecticut's wooded hills, the industrial valleys of Hartford, the suburban sprawl of northern New Jersey, and finally into the gentle limestone valleys of Pennsylvania Dutch country. One driving quirk: once you leave I-95 in Connecticut for I-91 North, you'll encounter the Merritt Parkway (CT-15) – a road with no trucks, low bridges, and a posted speed limit of 55 mph that feels like a 1930s garden parkway, complete with rustic stone bridges designed by architect George L. Dunkelberger.

Is it worth driving Block Island, RI to Hershey, PA? Absolutely—if you relish a journey that traverses distinct biomes and cultural pockets. This guide helps you understand how to find the best stops and hidden gems between cities, using how to find the best stops and hidden gems between cities as your compass.

Driving the Merritt Parkway at dusk requires vigilance: no guardrails in some sections, deer frequent the edges, and the narrow lanes leave little margin for error. Speed limits are strictly enforced. Use rest areas every 2 hours; the I-78 rest area at mile 16 (westbound) has a large parking lot and a view of the Musconetcong River. Fatigue management strategies include caffeinated snacks (chocolate from the Hershey store is perfect for the final leg) and audio guides.

Family and Child Suitability: This is a child-friendly route. The Mystic Aquarium (just off I-95) has sea lions and a jellyfish exhibit. The Crayola Experience in Easton, PA (70 miles east of Hershey) is a hands-on creative playground. In Hershey, Hersheypark (reopening for spring 2025) and Hershey's Chocolate World (free tour) define family fun. The journey is long but broken by interesting stops.

Pet-Friendly Framework: Most rest stops allow leashed pets. The Block Island Ferry permits well-behaved dogs (on deck). Many hotels along the route, like the La Quinta Inn in Danbury, CT, and the Days Inn in Harrisburg, accept pets with fees. Hershey's Chocolate World is pet-free, but you can walk dogs around Hershey Park's perimeter trails.

Hidden Off-Route Spots: Detour off I-95 at Exit 67 to visit the Groton sub base (home of the Navy's submarines). Alternatively, take Route 9 in Jersey to see the Double Trouble State Park (pitch pines and cranberry bogs). The Roadside America model train display in Shartlesville, PA (near exit 8 on I-78) is a quirky, offbeat wonderland of miniature villages.

Infrastructure Safety: The route is generally well-lit and patrolled. In New Jersey, I-78 has emergency call boxes every mile. The Pennsylvania Turnpike portion (I-76) is an option for a faster but tolled route; however, the free I-78/US 322 is safe with lower traffic. Always have a paper map as cellular service sputters in the Delaware Water Gap area.

The ferry from Block Island to Point Judith (Galilee, RI) is operated by Block Island Ferry. The crossing takes about 55 minutes for the traditional ferry or 30 minutes for the high-speed. Once on mainland, you'll be on RI-108 North to US-1 North, then merge onto I-95 South toward New London. At New Haven, take I-91 North to the Merritt Parkway (CT-15) South to stay off I-95 through New York. The best stops Block Island, RI to Hershey, PA often occur along the Merritt—think of it as a linear arboretum.

Fuel Economy: A typical sedan achieves 25-30 mpg. With a 320-mile journey, expect to fill up once, likely in Connecticut where gas prices average $3.40/gallon (as of 2023). The most economical stretch is on the Merritt Parkway, which lacks the stop-and-go of I-95. A full tank in Block Island (prices ~$4.20/gal) vs. mainland (cheaper by $0.50) suggests fueling in Rhode Island or Connecticut.

Road Conditions: The Merritt Parkway is a two-lane road with narrow shoulders and no medians in parts; it is scenic but demands attention. After crossing the Tappan Zee Bridge (now Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge) into New York, I-287 West becomes a six-lane highway. In New Jersey, I-78 West leads to Harrisburg, then US-322 West to Hershey. Road quality is excellent overall: asphalt in good repair, clear signage, and ample shoulders on interstates. However, the Merritt Parkway prohibits commercial trucks, so expect faster passenger traffic.

Rest Zones: Connecticut Welcome Centers at I-95 Northbound (between exits 6 and 7) and I-91 Southbound (near Meriden) offer clean restrooms, vending, and picnic tables. New Jersey rest areas on I-78 have food courts and gas. The key rest stop for fatigue management is the I-78 Westbound rest area near Clinton, NJ (milepost 16).

Block Island's Mohegan Bluffs (clay cliffs 200 feet high) offer an epic farewell. On the mainland, the first natural spectacle is the Connecticut River Valley. Drive I-95 through the coastal marshes of Old Saybrook. The Merritt Parkway is a designed landscape of dogwoods and mountain laurel, with 198-foot-tall Amherst Overlook offering a vista of the Connecticut River. Further west, the Kittatinny Mountains in New Jersey puncture the skyline; the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area straddles I-80, 20 miles north of I-78, but can be accessed via a short detour.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites: None directly on route, but Franklin, New Jersey (Franklin Mineral Museum) is renowned for its fluorescent minerals, though not UNESCO. The closest is Independence Hall in Philadelphia (1.5 hours east of Hershey). However, the route passes through the Piedmont region and the Great Appalachian Valley, a subtle geological treasure.

Local Commerce: Block Island RI to Hershey PA things to do between includes shopping for antiques in rural Connecticut. Madison, CT (exit 61 off I-95) has antique shops and boutiques. In Pennsylvania, the town of Lebanon (exit 2 off I-81) is known for bologna and Swiss cheese. Hershey itself is a company town; the smell of chocolate wafts from the factory. The Hershey Trolley Works offers a guided tour of the town's founding by Milton S. Hershey.

Culinary Infrastructure: For seafood, stop at the Oyster Club in Mystic, CT (exit 90 off I-95). For Pennsylvania Dutch cooking, head to the Hershey Pantry on Chocolate Avenue for chicken pot pie or the famous Hershey's chocolate shakes. Along the way, the Clinton House (Clinton, NJ) serves hearty burgers.