Oh jeeze. I do this every summer. FLY. BWI-PVD is cheap and easy. Providence airport is a breeze. Only drive if you are going up for more than a week.

Driving can easily become 12 hours due to NYC traffic.

Thanks all - travel is never easy with little ones - just trying to debate least painful!

Def fly! Then rent a car from providence to Newport.

If costs aren't an issue, fly. Going to Newport by car, the only game in town is 95. And that means Baltimore, Philly, the NJ Turnpike, New York City, shore traffic at like 3 different points(Del/NJ/CT), and then traffic that is probably headed onto Cape Cod.

Rhode Island - driving time says 7 hours - I figure with two kids it's going to take at least 8 1/2

Which newport?

With a 3 year old and 20 month old - it's pretty cost neutral for us - thoughts? We have flown for all previous vacations - never taken the kids in the car for more than 90 minutes somewhere.