After all our fussing, you might slide right through NY with only minor traffic. Happens to me half the time I go through there.
Here's another idea, make the entire trip in the wee hours. You could probably hypermile the entire way. Assuming you can stay awake, you could leave RI at 1 or 2 in the morning, which would have you passing through the most congested areas of CT, NY, and NJ at 4 or 5, and aside from drunks on the road, should be deserted then. Then you could probably set the cruise at 55 in RI and not take it off until 700 miles later
Every time I've done this its been super relaxing, if I had enough sleep beforehand, and an engaging book to listen to that kept me awake.
Just don't go out partying with shertex all night right before the trip