ZRV refers to Providence's railway station rather than any airport, and it is worth being clear about that from the start: Providence Station is a busy stop on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor in the heart of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, not an airfield, and travelers arriving here by train find city-based rental car offices within a short walk or drive of the station rather than any on-field counters. For those specifically wanting airport-based rental, T.F. Green Airport, a short drive south of the city, offers the fuller range of national and international rental companies typical of a regional commercial airport, including the larger vehicle categories not always available at city-center desks.
From Providence Station, downtown Providence and the East Side, including Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design, are within easy walking or short driving distance, while the Rhode Island coastline, including Newport, is roughly forty-five minutes to an hour south along well-traveled highways. Boston lies about an hour north via Interstate 95, making Providence a common alternative base for travelers splitting time between the two cities without the heavier traffic and costs of a Boston pickup.
Driving is on the right throughout the United States, and the roads around Providence, including I-95 and I-195, are well maintained interstate highways with no tolls within Rhode Island itself, though travelers continuing north into Massachusetts or south toward Connecticut may encounter toll bridges and roads in those neighboring states. Traffic through downtown Providence and near the station can be heavy during weekday rush hours, so allowing extra time when picking up or returning a car near the station is sensible. Fuel stations are plentiful throughout the city and along the interstate corridors, making Providence a straightforward, well-connected base for exploring Rhode Island's compact coastline and the wider southern New England region by car.