Oh I hear ya - I just moved back to Providence from Brooklyn. The transit situation is not ideal, though it could be much worse. I would say hit the Amtrak from wherever is closest to you (because driving on 95 is just a fucking nightmare in either direction) and get a cheap airbnb for the night - the further in advance you book, the cheaper it is. I used to work in Boston and commute from Providence and yeah, going out with coworkers after work was a very dangerous game of transit chicken where if you lose you get to take an $85 Uber ride.