New England s longest, most powerful river tells the story of clashing continental plates and glaciers, of Abenaki living on the land, and of colonial settlement among fields and forests. Experience traditions, vivid history, deeply rooted farming heritage, call of the railroads, natural beauty, and recreation along the Connecticut River Byway.

Federal Highway Administration, America’s Byways
Length
498.7 mi / 802.6 km
Time to allow
Allow 14 hours to drive the byway along both sides of the river.
Fees
None

Who looks after this road

  • Connecticut River Byway · 877-282-9929

We publish 11 places that sit on this road, across 3 states, listed in the order you meet them. This is not a route and not a drive time — it is the names, so you can put them into whatever navigation you already use.

Of those, 3 are roadside oddities — the sort of thing you would drive past without knowing it was there.

“Off” is a straight line from the place to the road, rounded. It is not a driving distance, and the road itself is a simplified centre line, so treat a mile or two as noise.

The Massachusetts stretch

  1. NorthamptonMA2 miles off

    No guide of our own yet — the name is here so you can find it.

  2. AmherstMA3 miles off

    No guide of our own yet — the name is here so you can find it.

The New Hampshire stretch

  1. Whaleback MountainNH7 miles offSki or bike

    Nonprofit hill right off I-89

    Kind
    Ski Areas

  2. Dartmouth SkiwayNH3 miles offSki or bike

    College-owned two-peak area

    Kind
    Ski Areas

  3. Redstone RocketNH10 miles offRoadside oddity

    Real 73-foot rocket standing in a small town

  4. Santa's VillageNH6 miles offRoadside oddity

    Christmas theme park with rides and reindeer

  5. Santa's VillageNH6 miles offFun park

    Christmastime weekends Nov 7-Dec 20, 2026 and a Dec 31 event.

The Vermont stretch

  1. Ascutney OutdoorsVT3 miles offSki or bike

    Nonprofit hill on former Ascutney resort

    Kind
    Ski Areas

  2. VINS Nature CenterVT3 miles offAnimals

    Raptor exhibits and bird rehabilitation; Forest Canopy Walk included with admission

    Hours
    10am-5pm daily

  3. Dog Chapel at Dog MountainVT1 mile offRoadside oddity

    Chapel for dogs covered in pet memorial notes

  4. Burke MountainVT8 miles offSki or bike

    Northeast Kingdom mountain near Kingdom Trails biking

    Kind
    Ski Areas
    Bike park in summer
    Summer bike park