StateCams.comLive Webcams in Rhode Island

Home › Events › Bristol Fourth of July

Bristol · Route 114

Bristol Fourth of July traffic & parking guide

America’s oldest continuous Fourth of July celebration fills a compact East Bay town. Parade-day road closures make arrival timing and parking location more important than finding the shortest route.

Parade: July 4 at 10:30 a.m.Hope Street / Route 114Closures begin early
View Bristol live mapEast Bay cameras

Parade-day road closures

The official route starts at Chestnut and Hope streets and ends on High Street between State and Bradford. For 2026, Hope Street and Poppasquash Road close at 8 a.m.; Chestnut, Naomi and Sherry close at 7 a.m. A route parking ban begins the night before.

Those closures change the final approach from both Warren and Portsmouth. A navigation app may show a short route that is no longer usable, so rely on posted traffic control as you enter town.

Arrive with a legal parking plan. The committee advises using available public space—including large lots near Hope and Gooding—and specifically says to avoid Mt. Hope High School, where the parade forms.

What to check on StateCams

Bristol map viewOpen the East Bay area before the last approach.Route 114 camerasUseful north of Bristol and on the East Bay approach.East Bay collectionRoute 114 and Route 136 area cameras.Wider East Bay mapCompare north and south approaches.

Arrival and exit strategy

  • From Providence: Check I-195 and Route 114 before committing to the East Bay route.
  • From Newport County: Check Route 24 and Route 114; expect the Bristol approach to tighten as roads narrow.
  • After the parade: Avoid rushing into the first wave. Reopen the wider map and let police-directed traffic determine the usable exit.

The celebration spans many days, with concerts, carnival events and fireworks creating different traffic patterns. Confirm the specific event on the official celebration site.