Hartford, Connecticut · Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0

Road Trip Guide:
Connecticut

Explore Connecticut

Connecticut's Merritt, Wilbur Cross and Milford parkways bar RVs, campers and all trailers, and none of the three allows a vehicle more than 8 feet tall. The state says the Merritt's historic overpasses and underpasses make widening it impractical.

Around 27 breweries sit near the stops we cover in Connecticut. 4 of them are brewpubs with a kitchen, which off the motorway is often the useful part. The kitchen figure is a floor: the source lists some full restaurants as production sites.

Brewpub locations from Open Brewery DB (MIT)

Around 2 public campgrounds sit near the stops we cover in Connecticut. All of them take reservations. Public campgrounds run by federal agencies. State-park and private campgrounds are not included.

Outdoors

Public land, water and snow — the places that are the reason for the drive.

National parks and federal sites in Connecticut

5 National Park Service sites in Connecticut. We have written guides to only a few of these — the rest are here so you can see what is in the state.

*Check before you go. Entrance fees, seasonal road closures, timed-entry reservations and whether a site suits your family are set by each park and change through the year. Follow the link and check with the park itself.

Park register from the National Park Service (public domain)

State parks in Connecticut

98 state parks we know of in Connecticut. We have not visited these and have no guide to them — this is a list of what exists, so you can look one up.

See all 98

Above All State Park
Beaver Brook State Park
Beckley Furnace Industrial Monument
Bennett's Pond State Park
Bigelow Hollow State Park
Black Rock State Park
Bluff Point State Park
Bolton Notch State Park
Brainard Homestead State Park
Burr Pond State Park
Camp Columbia State Park/State Forest
Chatfield Hollow State Park
Collis P. Huntington State Park
Dart Island State Park
Day Pond State Park
Dennis Hill State Park
Devil's Hopyard State Park
Dinosaur State Park and Arboretum
Eagle Landing State Park
Farm River State Park
Farmington Canal State Park Trail
Gardner Lake State Park
Gay City State Park
George Waldo State Park
Gillette Castle State Park
Haddam Island State Park
Haddam Meadows State Park
Haley Farm State Park
Hammonasset Beach State Park
Harkness Memorial State Park
Higganum Reservoir State Park
Hop River State Park Trail
Hopemead State Park
Hopeville Pond State Park
Horse Guard State Park
Housatonic Meadows State Park
Humaston Brook State Park
Hurd State Park
Indian Well State Park
Israel Putnam Wolf Den
John A. Minetto State Park
Kent Falls State Park
Kettletown State Park
Killingly Pond State Park
Lake Waramaug State Park
Lamentation Mountain State Park
Larkin State Park Trail
Lovers Leap State Park
Macedonia Brook State Park
Machimoodus State Park
Mansfield Hollow State Park
Mashamoquet Brook State Park
Millers Pond State Park
Minnie Island State Park
Mono Pond State Park Reserve
Moosup Valley State Park Trail
Mooween State Park
Mount Bushnell State Park
Mount Riga State Park
Mount Tom State Park
Old Furnace State Park
Osbornedale State Park
Penwood State Park
Platt Hill State Park
Pomeroy State Park
Putnam Memorial State Park
Quaddick State Park
Quinebaug Lake State Park
Quinnipiac River State Park
River Highlands State Park
Rocky Glen State Park
Rocky Neck State Park
Ross Pond State Park
Salt Rock State Campground
Scantic River State Park
Selden Neck State Park
Seth Low Pierrepont State Park Reserve
Sherwood Island State Park
Silver Sands State Park
Sleeping Giant State Park
Southford Falls State Park
Squantz Pond State Park
Stillwater Pond State Park
Stoddard Hill State Park
Stratton Brook State Park
Sunnybrook State Park
Sunrise Resort State Park
Talcott Mountain State Park
Topsmead
Treetops
Tri-Mountain State Park
Wadsworth Falls State Park
West Rock Ridge State Park
Wharton Brook State Park
Whittemore Glen State Park
Windsor Locks Canal State Park Trail
Windsor Meadows State Park
Wooster Mountain State Park

*Check before you go. Opening hours, entry fees, campsite availability and whether a park suits your family are not in this data and change with the season. Several of these are day-use only. Please confirm with the park before setting out.

State park locations from Wikidata (CC0)

Lakes in Connecticut

3 lakes in Connecticut that we have checked. These are the ones from our research that we could check against an official page — not every lake there is. We have not been to these; this is what the official pages say, so you can look one up.

Lake Lillinonah
near Brookfield; Bridgewater; Newtown; New Milford; Southbury · 1,547 acres · reservoir (1955, Shepaug Dam)
- Fishingyes - largemouth and smallmouth bass, white perch, carp
- BoatingLake Authority patrol enforces boating laws; launch on north shore off Rte 133; 45 mph daytime limit
Boats must stay 300 ft upstream and 1,500 ft downstream of Shepaug Dam
Run by Lake Lillinonah Authority (boater safety)
Lake Waramaug
near Kent; Warren; Washington; New Preston · 656 acres · natural (glacial; small dam raised level)
- Fishingyes - largemouth & smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, brown bullhead, sunfish, trout
- BoatingMotorboat traffic limited by 2004 town-state agreement; town launch allows 20 non-resident launches/day; state park launch car-top/carry-in only; all boats inspected for invasive plants
- Rentals & marinayes - Litchfield Paddle (kayak/SUP $35/hr, canoe $75/hr)
- Swimmingyes - state park beach (only public access)
- CampingLake Waramaug SP: 76 RV/tent sites + 6 cabins; 2026 season May 22-Oct 12; $17 CT / $27 non-CT; ReserveAmerica
- EntryCT plates free; out-of-state $10 weekday / $15 weekend; season $112
State posts weekly water quality report Memorial Day-Labor Day
Run by CT DEEP State Parks (Lake Waramaug SP); Town of Washington (power-boat launch)
Squantz Pond
near New Fairfield · 270 acres · natural (connected to Candlewood Lake)
- Fishingyes - stocked trout and walleye
- BoatingMotors max 25 hp; 45 mph day / 25 mph night; trailer and car-top launch
- Rentals & marinayes - Candlewood Kayak Rentals (kayak $40/2 hr; SUP $60/2 hr)
- Swimmingyes - designated swim area (lifeguards in season; wade-in beach)
- EntryCT plates free; out-of-state $15 weekday / $22 weekend-holiday / $7 after 4pm; season $112. Peak capacity 250 cars, then closed; weekend parking reservable 14 days ahead (ReserveAmerica)
- SeasonOff-season: no vehicles inside park (park at boat launch)
15 drownings 1996-2011, mostly outside the designated swim area - swim only in guarded area (Wikipedia)
Run by CT DEEP State Parks (Squantz Pond SP)

*Check before you go. Every lake here links to the official page we checked it against. 2 of these state a price we read off that page on the date we checked. Fees, seasons, water levels, algal advisories and ramp closures change without notice and belong to the agency that runs the water. A blank is something we did not confirm, not something the lake lacks. Never assume a lifeguard. Whether a beach is staffed turns on the season, the day, and which agency runs that particular beach — two beaches on one lake can differ. If that matters to your family, confirm it with the agency before you set out.

Skiing and Snowboarding

4 in this state.

Mohawk MountainCornwall
Largest Connecticut ski area; snowmaking pioneer
Powder Ridge Mountain ParkSummer bike parkMiddlefield
Revived hill; summer bike park and concerts
Ski SundownNew Hartford
Popular Hartford-area hill; night skiing
Mount SouthingtonSouthington
Small central Connecticut hill

This is a list of what is there, not a recommendation of any of it. We do not list rentals: our source marked every ski area in the country “likely” to have them and confirmed none, so there was nothing to publish. Most hills do rent gear — ring ahead rather than take that from us. Opening dates, lift schedules and trail conditions move every year and we hold none of them, so check before you build a day around it. Every name above links to the operator’s own site.

Lift-Served Bike Parks

1 in this state.

Powder Ridge Mountain ParkAlso a ski resortLift-servedMiddlefield
Short-vertical Connecticut park, easy drive from cities

This is a list of what is there, not a recommendation of any of it. Opening dates, lift schedules and trail conditions move every year and we hold none of them, so check before you build a day around it. Every name above links to the operator’s own site.

Days out with the family

Gated attractions with a front door, a ticket and a car park.

Zoos, Aquariums, Wildlife Parks and Aviaries

6 across Connecticut, by town.

Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo — some details below are unconfirmedAZA-accreditedBridgeport
Hours
9am-4pm daily
Season
year-round (implied; daily)
Evening lantern event Thu-Sun Oct 1-Dec 20 ticketed separately
* We could not confirm: admission not captured. Check their site before you go.
Riverside Reptiles Education Center — some details below are unconfirmedEnfield
Season
year-round (outdoor turtle habitat seasonal)
Reptile-focused center
* We could not confirm: hours/admission not captured. Check their site before you go.
Action Wildlife — some details below are unconfirmedGoshen
* We could not confirm: official site blocked automated fetch. Check their site before you go.
Ripley Waterfowl ConservancyLitchfield
Hours
May-Nov: Fri-Sun 10-4
Season
Public visits run from the first weekend of May to the last weekend of November; guided tours are available year-round by appointment
Admission
Adult $10 (13 and up) · Child $5
Reservations
Not required
Waterfowl collection. Friday to Sunday public visits are self-guided. Guided tours are offered year-round by appointment only, 60 minutes, Tuesday to Thursday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. subject to availability, at $100 for up to five people plus $10 per additional person - book online or call (860) 567-2062. Field trips and photography passes are also by appointment only. Photography on a public visit is limited to a phone or point-and-shoot camera for personal use; other cameras need a membership with photo pass or a private session. 55 Duck Pond Road. Also known as the Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy.
Mystic Aquarium — some details below are unconfirmedAZA-accreditedMystic
Hours
10am-4pm (subject to change)
Some discounts require advance tickets
* We could not confirm: AZA status page shows accreditation through Sept 2026 - renewal not confirmed; admission not captured. Check their site before you go.
The Maritime Aquarium at NorwalkAZA-accreditedNorwalk
Hours
10am-5pm daily
Season
year-round (implied; daily)
Admission
Adult from $39.95 (13-64) · Child $29.95 (3-12)
4D theater extra

This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. 3 of these carry an accreditation we confirmed against the accrediting body’s own register. Where there is no badge we did not confirm one — that is not a judgement on the place, and a good many municipal, state and university sites belong to no register we check. 4 entries are marked with an asterisk: we could not confirm part of what is listed, and the note under it says which part. Opening times, prices and seasons change without notice, so check the operator’s own site — every name above links to it.

Water Parks and Amusement Parks

3 across Connecticut, by town.

Lake Compounceamusement park and water parkBristol
Phantom Fall Fest runs through Nov 1, 2026; Holiday Lights weekends follow.
Quassy Amusement ParkSeasonalamusement park and water parkMiddlebury
Seasonal park (spring to late summer); site current for 2026.
Brownstone Adventure Sports ParkSeasonalwater parkPortland
Quarry water-adventure park (slides, cliff jumping); summer season 2026.

This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. 2 of these run a season rather than opening year round. Opening and closing dates move every year and we hold none of them, so check the park’s own calendar before you build a day around it. Prices, hours and ride closures change without notice — every name above links to the park’s own site.

Wineries in Connecticut

5 producers in Connecticut that we have checked. These are the ones from our research we could check against their own site — not every producer there is. We have not been to these; this is what their own sites say, so you can look one up.

Chamard Vineyards
winery · Clinton, CT · Shoreline
Shoreline winery with a bistro; reservations via OpenTable.
- HoursWed-Sat 12-9pm; Sun 11am-5pm; closed Mon-Tue
- Foodyes
- Phone(860) 664-0299
115 Cow Hill Road, Clinton, CT 06413
Jonathan Edwards Winery
winery · North Stonington, CT · Southeastern CT
Southeastern Connecticut winery opened to the public in 2001; picnics welcome.
- Toursyes - winery tours (details not stated)
- Foodyes
- Phone(860) 535-0202
74 Chester Maine Road, North Stonington, CT 06359
Sharpe Hill Vineyard
winery · Pomfret, CT · Northeastern CT (Quiet Corner)
Quiet Corner winery with an on-site restaurant.
- Foodyes
- Phone860-974-3549
108 Wade Road, Pomfret, CT 06258
Stonington Vineyards
winery · Stonington, CT · Southeastern CT
Stonington winery offering seasonal guided wine tours.
- HoursSun-Wed 12-5pm; Thu-Sat 12-6pm
- Toursyes - Nov-Apr Fri & Sun at 12pm
- Phone860-535-1222
523 Taugwonk Rd., Stonington, CT 06378
Hopkins Vineyard
winery · Warren, CT · Litchfield Hills (Lake Waramaug)
Vineyard on a farm owned by the Hopkins family for over 235 years.
- Toursyes - winery tours listed (no details)
- Phone860-868-7954
25 Hopkins Rd, Warren, CT 06777

*Check before you go. Every producer here links to its own site, which is where we read these details on the date we checked. Opening hours, tour times, tasting fees and who may come in change without notice and belong to the producer. A blank is something we did not confirm, not something they lack. None of these say anything about children, so do not plan around it without asking them.

Roadside oddities in Connecticut

PEZ Visitor CenterQuirky museumOrange
Cost to see it
Costs something — we did not find the price published
When you can see it
Only while it is open, and we did not find its hours published
Nearest road
I-95 / Wilbur Cross Pkwy
Huge PEZ dispenser collection with factory viewing
Read on the page we checked

These are things you can go and look at, not a recommendation of any of them. Oddities move, get sold and quietly disappear more than anything else we list, so check anything you are driving a long way for. Where this list says we did not find a price or opening times published, that is exactly what we mean. A blank is not “free” and not “always open”. Some sit on private land and can only be seen from the road — please do not go onto anyone’s property. Every entry links the page we read it off.

Venues and Annual Events

13 across Connecticut, by town.

Where to see something

Toad's PlaceclubNew Haven
Hours
Box office Mon–Fri 11am–6pm
Address
300 York St., New Haven, CT 06511
Phone
203-624-8623
Capacity
1,000
The Rolling Stones played a surprise show here in 1989.

What is on, and when

Berlin Lions Agricultural Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairBerlin
Usually
Mid September, over several days
Held at
Berlin Fairgrounds
* We could not confirm: the details beyond the month it usually runs. Check their site before you go.
Bethlehem Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairBethlehem
Usually
Early–mid September, over several days
Held at
Bethlehem Fairgrounds
* We could not confirm: the details beyond the month it usually runs. Check their site before you go.
Brooklyn Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairBrooklyn
Usually
Late August, over several days
Held at
Brooklyn Fairgrounds
* We could not confirm: the details beyond the month it usually runs. Check their site before you go.
Durham FairfairDurham
Usually
Late September, over several days
Held at
Durham Fairgrounds
Goshen Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairGoshen
Usually
Labor Day weekend, over several days
Held at
Goshen Fairgrounds
* We could not confirm: the details beyond the month it usually runs. Check their site before you go.
Haddam Neck Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairHaddam Neck
Usually
Labor Day weekend, over several days
Held at
Haddam Neck Fairgrounds
* We could not confirm: the details beyond the month it usually runs. Check their site before you go.

See the other 6

Harwinton Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairHarwinton
Usually
Early October, over several days
Held at
Harwinton Fairgrounds
* We could not confirm: the details beyond the month it usually runs. Check their site before you go.
Hebron Harvest Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairHebron
Usually
Early–mid September, over several days
Held at
Hebron Lions Fairgrounds
* We could not confirm: the details beyond the month it usually runs. Check their site before you go.
Hamburg Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairLyme
Usually
Late August, over several days
Held at
Hamburg Fairgrounds
* We could not confirm: the details beyond the month it usually runs. Check their site before you go.
North Haven Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairNorth Haven
Usually
Early–mid September, over several days
Held at
North Haven Fairgrounds
* We could not confirm: the details beyond the month it usually runs. Check their site before you go.
Four Town Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairSomers
Usually
Mid September, over several days
Held at
Four Town Fairgrounds
* We could not confirm: the details beyond the month it usually runs. Check their site before you go.
Woodstock Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairSouth Woodstock
Usually
Labor Day weekend, over several days
Held at
Woodstock Fairgrounds
* We could not confirm: the details beyond the month it usually runs. Check their site before you go.

This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. Events are listed by the month they usually fall in, because that is what we hold — we do not publish dates, and a month is not a promise. Check the organiser before you plan around one. 11 entries are marked with an asterisk: we could not confirm part of what is listed, and the note under it says which part. Opening times, line-ups and ticketing change without notice, so check the venue’s or organiser’s own site — every name above links to it.

On the road

Before you set off.

Scenic roads through Connecticut

Federally designated scenic byways and All-American Roads, with the places we publish along each one in the order you meet them.

Merritt ParkwayConnecticut · 4 places we publish

What to wear in Connecticut

Illustrated outfit board for Connecticut: four seasonal panels of clothing with average temperatures.

Spring 58°/37°F (15°/3°C)

Spring gradually warms, with rain and cool mornings.

Wear: Start with a long-sleeve tee, stretch pants, and a fleece or sweater. Add a rain shell when the wind or showers pick up.
Shoes: Water-resistant walking shoes with grip; boots for muddy stops.
Pack: fleece or sweater
rain shell
light beanie
spare dry socks

Summer 81°/59°F (27°/15°C)

Summer is warm and often humid, with cooler coastal breezes.

Wear: Choose a loose, breathable tee or shirt with quick-drying shorts, lightweight pants, or an airy dress. Carry a thin layer for chilly indoor stops.
Shoes: Breathable walking sneakers; secure sandals for casual paved stops.
Pack: sun hat
sunglasses
light indoor layer
light rain shell
spare tee

Fall 63°/42°F (17°/6°C)

Fall moves from mild early days to cold late-season mornings.

Wear: Build around a long-sleeve tee, comfortable pants, and a sweater or fleece. Add a wind-resistant jacket for breezy overlooks.
Shoes: Walking shoes with grip; water-resistant boots for wet or muddy routes.
Pack: sweater or fleece
wind and rain shell
beanie
light gloves
spare socks

Winter 39°/21°F (4°/-6°C)

Winter is cold, with snow, rain, and mixed precipitation possible.

Wear: Layer a moisture-wicking long-sleeve top under a sweater or fleece and an insulated coat. Wear long pants; add thermal bottoms when the forecast calls for them.
Shoes: Waterproof insulated boots for snowy stops, with warm wool or synthetic socks.
Pack: thermal base layers
insulated coat
beanie
gloves or mittens
warm spare socks

Adjust for your route. Inland and northwestern stops tend to be colder than the shoreline. Bring an extra insulating layer for those routes.

Climate background: NOAA State Climate Summary

See what to wear in every state →

Keep exploring

See It in the Book

Explore Connecticut

Locations in Connecticut

Hartford

Mystic

New Haven

National parks and federal sites in Connecticut

State parks in Connecticut

Lakes in Connecticut

Skiing and Snowboarding

Mohawk MountainCornwall

Powder Ridge Mountain ParkSummer bike parkMiddlefield

Ski SundownNew Hartford

Mount SouthingtonSouthington

Lift-Served Bike Parks

Powder Ridge Mountain ParkAlso a ski resortLift-servedMiddlefield

Zoos, Aquariums, Wildlife Parks and Aviaries

Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo* — some details below are unconfirmedAZA-accreditedBridgeport

Riverside Reptiles Education Center* — some details below are unconfirmedEnfield

Action Wildlife* — some details below are unconfirmedGoshen

Ripley Waterfowl ConservancyLitchfield

Mystic Aquarium* — some details below are unconfirmedAZA-accreditedMystic

The Maritime Aquarium at NorwalkAZA-accreditedNorwalk

Water Parks and Amusement Parks

Lake Compounceamusement park and water parkBristol

Quassy Amusement ParkSeasonalamusement park and water parkMiddlebury

Brownstone Adventure Sports ParkSeasonalwater parkPortland

Wineries in Connecticut

Roadside oddities in Connecticut

PEZ Visitor CenterQuirky museumOrange

Venues and Annual Events

Where to see something

Toad's PlaceclubNew Haven

What is on, and when

Berlin Lions Agricultural Fair* — some details below are unconfirmedfairBerlin

Bethlehem Fair* — some details below are unconfirmedfairBethlehem

Brooklyn Fair* — some details below are unconfirmedfairBrooklyn

Durham FairfairDurham

Goshen Fair* — some details below are unconfirmedfairGoshen

Haddam Neck Fair* — some details below are unconfirmedfairHaddam Neck

Harwinton Fair* — some details below are unconfirmedfairHarwinton

Hebron Harvest Fair* — some details below are unconfirmedfairHebron

Hamburg Fair* — some details below are unconfirmedfairLyme

North Haven Fair* — some details below are unconfirmedfairNorth Haven

Four Town Fair* — some details below are unconfirmedfairSomers

Woodstock Fair* — some details below are unconfirmedfairSouth Woodstock

Scenic roads through Connecticut

What to wear in Connecticut

Spring 58°/37°F (15°/3°C)

Summer 81°/59°F (27°/15°C)

Fall 63°/42°F (17°/6°C)

Winter 39°/21°F (4°/-6°C)

Keep exploring

Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo — some details below are unconfirmedAZA-accreditedBridgeport

Riverside Reptiles Education Center — some details below are unconfirmedEnfield

Action Wildlife — some details below are unconfirmedGoshen

Mystic Aquarium — some details below are unconfirmedAZA-accreditedMystic

Berlin Lions Agricultural Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairBerlin

Bethlehem Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairBethlehem

Brooklyn Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairBrooklyn

Goshen Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairGoshen

Haddam Neck Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairHaddam Neck

Harwinton Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairHarwinton

Hebron Harvest Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairHebron

Hamburg Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairLyme

North Haven Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairNorth Haven

Four Town Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairSomers

Woodstock Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairSouth Woodstock