Getting Around Connecticut

Connecticut is located at the heart of the Northeast region, halfway between New York City and Boston. And as the southernmost New England state, we are an easy drive from the larger Northeast cities.

Hartford Skyline Traffic Pattern

Traveling By Car

If you’re traveling by car, we have interstates running along the shore (I-95) and through the central part of the state (I-91 and I-84).

  • 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, Massachusetts. 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, Massachusetts. 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 be comes the Wilbur Cross Parkway near Bridgeport and links with I-91 at Meriden.
     
Bradley Airport Terminal

Traveling By Plane

International airports in Hartford, Providence, New York, and Boston make it easy to visit.

Family traveling on AmTrak

Traveling By Train

Connecticut has one of the most extensive rail systems in New England, with rail lines running along the shoreline in conjunction with intercity rail and a new service paralleling the central I-91 Corridor through Hartford.  All trains make easy connections to New York destinations, Boston, and beyond.

  • New Haven Line — New Haven to New York City’s Grand Central Terminal including the New Canaan, Danbury, and Waterbury lines (operated by MTA Metro-North Railroad).
  • Shore Line East — New Haven to New London with connections:
    – Amtrak at New Haven, Old Saybrook, and New London stations for New York City (Pennsylvania Station) and Boston and beyond
    – MTA Metro-North Railroad at New Haven to New York City (Grand Central Terminal)
  • Hartford Line — New Haven to Springfield, MA with connections:
    – Amtrak to Vermont and New Haven for New York City and Boston
    – New Haven Line (Metro-North) at New Haven to Grand Central Terminal
  • Amtrak (Intercity)
    – Northeast Corridor from Washington, DC/Philadelphia, PA/New York City (Pennsylvania Station), with both Regional service and Acela express service.
    – Go to CTrides.com for more information on using trains, getting around car-free, and getting custom information for your travel in Connecticut.
  • Regional Commuter Lines
    – CTrail (New Haven, Hartford, Springfield, MA)
    Metro North (New Haven Line)
    – CTrail Shore Line East
     
Dash Bus

Traveling By Bus

Traveling by bus is also a convenient and affordable way to get to major destinations. There are a variety of express and local uses, complimentary shuttles, and local on-demand services to meet every need.

  • Statewide 
    Greyhound Bus Line, Peter Pan Bus Lines, and DATTCO offer regularly scheduled interstate services for most points in Connecticut. GOGO Charters Connecticut offers motor coach and charter bus services.
  • Hartford/New Haven
    CT Transit provides services to 26 towns in the Hartford and New Haven areas.
  • Greater Hartford/Waterbury/Bristol
    CTfastrak is Connecticut’s Bus Rapid Transportation.
  • New London
    Southeast Area Transit provides daily service in the New London County area with 19 fixed service routes within nine towns.
  • Middletown
    Estuary Transit District provides transportation for Chester, Clinton, Deep River, Essex, Killingworth, Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, and Westbrook; with connections to New Haven, New London and Middletown areas.
  • Local & Express Service
    CTtransit – local, express, bus rapid transit, and shuttle services in eight urban areas: Bristol, Hartford, Meriden, New Britain, New Haven, Stamford, Wallingford, Waterbury
  • Interstate Services
    Major over-the-road bus providers connect many parts of the state to New York City, Boston, and Providence, RI, among other places. They are: Greyhound Lines and Peter Pan Bus Lines.

Other local bus services provided by transit districts are also available in most areas of the state. To find transit 
services in any area of the state, use CTrides Transit Finder.
 

Chester Hadlyme Ferry

Traveling by Ferry

There are also ferries from Long Island to our ports. And international airports in Hartford, Providence, New York, and Boston make it easy to visit.

  • Bridgeport
    Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Co. Year-round ferry operates daily. Departs from 330 Water Street Dock in Bridgeport.
  • Chester
    Chester/Hadlyme Ferry. Selden III, a ferry that crosses the Connecticut River near Gillette Castle State Park, carries 8 to 9 cars per trip. April-November, daily including holidays except Thanksgiving.
  • Glastonbury
    Glastonbury/Rocky Hill Ferry. The Rocky Hill ferry has earned a place in history as the nation’s oldest continuously operating ferry service. The Hollister III, an open flatboat, is towed across the Connecticut River by the towboat Cumberland. May-October, daily including holidays.
  • New London
    – New London to Block Island, RI. 160-foot high-speed catamaran passenger ferry with air-conditioned cabins 
    with outdoor seating.
    – New London to Montauk, NY. Passenger ferry Viking Superstar carries foot passengers and bicycles to Montauk, NY.
    New London to Orient Point, Long Island, NY. Year-round vehicle and passenger ferries (closed Dec. 25). Hourly service during summer months, with a crossing time of approximately 80 minutes. (High-speed passenger service, 40-minute crossing time.)
Group of women in limousine

Traveling By Limousine

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