Car | Air | Train | Bus | Ferry | Information Centers | Climate
Helpful Information | State Agencies | Helpful Associations

Connecticut, southernmost of the six New England states, is easy to reach. Its capital, Hartford, is about 100 miles from either New York City or Boston.

By Car

Interstate 95 runs along Connecticut's Long Island Sound shoreline, providing a direct link to all points in the state, whether you come from New York City, Boston, or Providence.

Interstate 91 heads north from New Haven (I-95 interchange) through Hartford, connecting with I-90 (Mass. Turnpike) north of Springfield, MA. It continues north through New England to Canada.

Interstate 84 enters Connecticut at Danbury (I-684 interchange) and runs northeast through Hartford to its link with I-90 at Sturbridge, MA. It also interchanges with I-91 at Hartford.

Interstate 395 enters the northeast corner of Connecticut at Thompson and continues south along the eastern border, and through Norwich until it connects with I-95 in Waterford.

The Merritt Parkway (Connecticut 15) links with New York State's Hutchinson River Parkway at Greenwich; it becomes the Wilbur Cross Parkway near Bridgeport and links with I-91 at Meriden.

By Air

Bradley International Airport at Windsor Locks is served on a daily basis by America West, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta, Delta Song, Frontier Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Skyway Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways; and by the following regional airlines: Air Canada Jazz, American Eagle, Continental Express , United Express, US Airways Express, USA 300. (860) 292-2000

Groton/New London Airport on the state's southeastern coast is served by charter flights from Columbia Air Service and Lanmar Aviation. (860) 445-8549

Tweed-New Haven Regional Airport serves US Airways Express, Pan Am. (203) 946-8285

Other Major Airports That Service Connecticut

John F. Kennedy International Airport at Jamaica, New York
Served by: Aer Lingus, Aeroflot, Aerolineas Argentinas, Aeromar, Aero Mexico, AeroSvit, Air Canada, Air China, Air France, Air India, Air Jamaica, Air Malta, Air Plus Comet, Alitalia, Allegro, America West (Domestic), America West (International, Canada & Mexico), American (Domestic & Puerto Rico) , American (International & Caribbean) , American Eagle, ANA (All Nippon), Asiana, Austrian Airlines, Avianca, Biman Bangladesh, British Airways, BWIA , Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Continental, Continental Connection, Continental Express, Corsair (seasonal), Czech Airlines, Delta , Delta Connection, Delta Express, Egyptair, El Al, Finnair, Ghana Airways, Iberia, Icelandair, Japan Airlines, JetBlue, KLM, Korean Air, Kuwait Airways, Lacsa, LAN Chile, LAN Peru, Lot Polish, Lufthansa, Malev Hungarian, Miami Air (charter)+, Nigeria Airways, North American, Northwest, Olympic, PACE Airlines, Pakistan International Airlines, Qantas, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian, Saudi Arabian Airlines (Domestic Flights), Saudi Arabian Airlines (International Flights), Singapore Airlines, Song, South African Airways, Sun Country, TACA International, TACV Cabo Verde, Tarom Romanian, Thai Airways Int'l., Turkish, United Airlines, United Express, Universal, Uzbekistan, VARIG, VG Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, World Airways. (718) 244-4444

La Guardia Airport at Flushing, New York
Served by: Air Canada, Air Tran Airways, American , American Eagle , ATA, Colgan, Comair, Continental, Continental Express, Delta, Delta Connection, Delta Shuttle, Frontier Airlines, Midwest Express, Northwest, Spirit, United, United (to DCA & BOS), United Express, US Airways, US Airways Express, US Airways Shuttle. (718) 533-3400.

Newark Liberty International Airport at Newark, NJ
Served by: Air Canada , Air France, Air India, Air Jamaica, Air Tran Airways, Alaska Airlines, Alitalia, America West, American (Domestic Flights), American (International Flights), ATA (Domestic Flights), ATA (International Flights), British Airways, Casino Express (charter), Continental, Continental (Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas Flights), Continental (Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas Flights), Continental Express, Czech Airlines, Delta, El Al, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Airways, Hooters Air, Jetsgo, Lot Polish, Lufthansa, Malaysia, Mexicana, Miami Air (Charter)**, Midwest Express, North American, Northwest, Qantas, SAS, Singapore Airlines, Song, Southeast, Swiss International Air Lines, Tap Air Portugal, United (Domestic Flights), United (International Flights), United Express, USA3000, US Airways, US Airways Express, Virgin Atlantic. (973) 961-6000.

T.F. Green Airport at Warwick, Rhode Island
Served by: Air Canada, American Airlines, Cape Air, Continental Airlines/Continental Express , Delta Airlines, Delta Express, Delta Connection, Northwest Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines/United Airlines Express, USAirways/USAirways Express. (401) 737-8222.

By Train

Metro-North Rail Service - Metro North (New Haven Line) carries passengers between New York City's Grand Central Terminal and New Haven, with connecting service from Stamford to New Canaan, South Norwalk to Danbury, and Bridgeport to Waterbury. (800) 638-7646, (212) 532-4900 (NY).

Metro North offers special excursion packages with round-trip rail service from New York City. Sightseeing packages include: Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mohegan Sun, Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk and IMAX Theater, Bruce Museum in Greenwich, Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art in Ridgefield.  Tickets are available at Grand Central Terminal, Fordham Station, Harlam-125th Street Station in New York, and all New Haven-line ticket offices. (800) 638-7646

Amtrak'sNortheast Corridor runs between Washington D.C’s. Union Station, New York City's Penn Station and Boston, Massachusetts with stops along the shore. It also links, at New Haven, with service to Hartford and Springfield, Massachusetts.  Acela Express, Amtrak’s high-speed train, operates, stopping in Stamford and New London. (800) USA RAIL (800-872-7245)

Shore Line East Commuter Rail Service - provides fast and easy access between New London and New Haven. Monday through Friday. Shore Line Express provides service to and from Bridgeport and Stamford. Connecting Metro North New Haven line and Amtrak is available at New Haven’s Union Station. (800) ALL-RIDE (800-255-7433). (800) ALL-RIDE (800-255-7433)

By Bus

Regularly scheduled interstate services are provided for most points in Connecticut by Greyhound Bus Line (800) 231-2222, Bonanza Bus Line (800) 556-3815, and Peter Pan Trailways (800) 237-8747.

Connecticut Transit provides services for Hartford and 28 surrounding towns, (860) 525-9181; Greater New Haven region, (203) 624-0151; Stamford region, (203) 327-7433; I-Bus Express service between Stamford and White Plains, NY, (888) BUS-RIDE.

Southeast Area Transit provides daily service in the New London County area with 19 fixed service routes within nine towns.  (860) 886-2631

By Ferry

The Bridgeport To Port Jefferson Ferry - Bridgeport to Port Jefferson, NY. Year round auto ferry operates daily. Capacity of 90-100 vehicles, 1,000 passengers (summer) 500 (winter). Departs from Water Street Dock, Bridgeport. (888) 443-3779 (CT), (516) 473-0286 (NY)

Chester/Hadlyme Ferry. Ferry crosses the Connecticut River, carries 8 to 9 cars per trip. Apr. 1-Nov. 30, weekdays 7 a.m. to 6:45 p.m., weekends and holidays 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving. Departs from 54 Ferry Rd. (Rte. 148), Cheshire. (860) 443-3856

Glastonbury/Rocky Hill Ferry, Open flatboat is towed across the Connecticut River by a towboat. May 1-Oct. 31, Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m. to 6:45 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. including holidays. Departs from 289 Meadow Rd. (Rte. 160), Rocky Hill (860) 443-3856

The Block Island and New London Ferry - New London to Block Island, RI Ferry, Auto ferry operates mid-June to mid-Sept. Capacity of 1,300 passengers. Departs from Ferry St., New London (860) 442-9553, (860) 442-7891

New London to Fishers Island, NY Ferry, Year-round auto ferries with capacity of 21-250. Departs from New London Pier, New London. (860) 443-6851, (860) 442-0165 (CT), (631) 788-7463 (NY).

New London to Montauk, NY Ferry, Two ferries carry foot passengers and bicycles, capacity 350. Memorial Day-Labor Day, Fri. and Sun. Departs from State Pier, New London. (631) 668-5700.

New London to Orient Point, NY. Year-round vehicle and passenger ferry; crossing time approx. 1 hour 20 min. Capacity of 35-120 cars and 300-1,000 passengers. High speed passenger service, 40-minute crossing time, 400 passenger capacity. Departs from Ferry St., New London. (860) 443-5281.

Sound Navigation, May-Oct. Passenger with a half hour trip down Norwalk River, into Norwalk Harbor, aboard the Seaport Islander.  Passenger ferry service to Sheffield Island for a tour of the Lighthouse. Stay on the Island is approximately an hour and a half.  Departs from Hope Dock, North Water St., Norwalk. (203) 854-4656.

Information Centers

Unless otherwise noted, Connecticut Welcome Centers are open daily, year-round.
 

I-95:

• North Stonington (southbound)
• Westbrook (northbound)
• Darien (northbound at McDonald's™)

I-84:

• Danbury (eastbound)
• Willington (westbound)

Merritt Parkway:

• Greenwich (northbound)#

# = open seasonally

Tourism information is also available at the following privately operated centers:  at McDonald's´™ restaurants along I-95 (north/southbound) at Fairfield, Milford, Branford and Madison; 45 Pratt St. (I-84 Main St. Ex., I-91 Ex. 32B); State Capitol/Legislation Office Building, Hartford (I-84 Ex. 48, I-91 Ex. 29A); Visitors Welcome Center in Glastonbury (Rte. 2 Hebron Ave. Ex.); Litchfield Hills Information Center# on the Town Green; Olde Mistick Village in Mystic (I-95 Exit 90) also Tourist Information Depot of Mystic (I-95 Ex. 90); 117 West Main St., New  Britain; Info New Haven (1000 Chapel St.); Norwich Information Center# (I-395 Exit 80); Old Saybrook Chamber of Commerce Information Center# (I-95 Exit 67N/68S); Waterbury Visitors Welcome Center (I-84W Ex. 23); Falls Village Visitor Center (Rte. 126N, off Rte. 7).

Climate

Despite New England's reputation for rugged climate, Connecticut's weather is relatively mild. In the Hartford area, on average, there are just 19 days a year when the temperature goes above 90°, and only six when it falls to 0° or below. As small as the state is, there is some variation in climate, with temperatures in the northwestern hills occasionally as much as 10° lower than those in the central valley.

Average highs and lows in the Hartford area, by month:

Appreciable precipitation (.01"+) is experienced about 127 days a year, rather evenly divided among the months.

Helpful Information

Information listed within the Guide has been supplied by the operators. While every effort has been made to assure accuracy, you are encouraged to check details in advance of your visit. Facilities are not inspected by the Department of Economic and Community Development, nor does listing here constitute Department endorsement.

State Agencies

Connecticut Commission Culture & Tourism
One Financial Plaza
755 Main Street
Hartford, CT CT 06103
(860) 256-2800

Bureau of Parks & Forests
CT Department of Environmental Protection
79 Elm Street
Hartford, CT 06106-5127
(860) 424-3200

CT.gov
The Official State of Connecticut Website

Connecticut Department of Agriculture
765 Asylum Avenue
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 713-2503, (800) 861-9939

Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development
505 Hudson Street
Hartford, CT 06106
(860) 270-8000

Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles
60 State Street
Wethersfield, CT 06161
(860) 263-5700, (800) 842-8222

Connecticut Department of Transportation
2800 Berlin Turnpike
Newington, CT  06131
(860) 594-2000

Helpful Associations

Association of Connecticut Fairs
P.O. Box 563
Somers, CT 06071

Connecticut Campground Owners Association
14 Rumford Street
West Hartford, CT  06107
(860) 521-4704 (fax & phone)

Connecticut Humanities Council
955 South Main Street
Suite E
Middletown, CT 06457
(860) 685-2260

Connecticut Lodgings Association
100 Roscommon Drive, Suite 320
Middletown, CT 06457
(860) 635-5600

Connecticut Marine Trades Association
20 Plains Road
Essex, CT  06426
(860) 767-2645

Connecticut Restaurant Association
100 Roscommon Drive, Suite 320
Middletown, CT 06457
(860) 635-3334   

Connecticut State Golf Association
35 Cold Spring Road
Rocky Hill, CT  06067
(860) 257-4171