As an adult, it's likely that you love road trips in Connecticut... but you probably have memories from your childhood where you were unwillingly dragged to dull museum after dull museum. Now that you're older and in charge of planning the itinerary for road trips, maybe you'd like to be a little kinder for any children tagging along with you. If so, we've got a great family-friendly road trip in Connecticut planned for you! It features museums, parks, and more that are just as delightful for kids as they are for adults.
The entire trip will take a little over three hours of driving, so you wont' have to hear too many "are we there yet?"s. The relatively short length makes it an ideal weekend or three-day trip. Check out the customizable itinerary on Google Maps.
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Stepping Stones Museum for Children: 303 West Ave, Norwalk, CT 06850
You'll start your trip at the Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk. The museum is geared towards kids 10 and under, and has everything from educational exhibits to a playground to a puppet section. You can find out more information on the museum's website.
Uncle Buck's Fish Bowl and Grill, 1 Bass Pro Dr, Bridgeport, CT 06608
Hope you're hungry, because your next stop is at Uncle Buck's Fish Bowl and Grill. This ocean-themed place offers 12 lanes of bowling and fun bowling balls with mermaid and octopus designs.
Beardsley Zoo is the only AZA-accredited zoo in Connecticut. This historic zoo houses exotic animals like the mane wolf and red pandas. It's the perfect destination for animal-loving kids. You can find out more information on the zoo's website.
The Dinosaur Place at Nature's Art Village, 1650 Hartford-New London Turnpike, Oakdale, CT 06370
The Dinosaur Place is a 60-acre outdoor park home to to dozens of life-sized dinosaur sculptures. The park is open seasonally and closed for winter, but is a part of Nature's Art Village.
Most of Nature's Art Village is open year-round and it has plenty to check out, including a mineral shop and toy store. There's a geode center and Genius Museum that are both fun and educational. You can get more information about all the attractions here at the Nature's Art Village website.
Bushnell Park is one of the best parks in Connecticut, and we feel like it doesn't get enough attention. There are so many great state parks here that it's easy to miss out on some of the great urban destinations, but we love Bushnell Park! It's the perfect spot for a stroll through Hartford or an afternoon picnic. It's also home to a beautiful carousel. You can check out upcoming events on the Bushnell Park Foundation website.
White Memorial Conservation Center, 80 Whitehall Rd, Litchfield, CT 06759
We'll finish up this road trip in Connecticut with a stop at the White Memorial Conservation Center. Truth be told, you could easily spend a whole day here! There's a small museum and 40 miles of trails to explore. Find out more on the center's website.
How many of these family-friendly destinations in Connecticut have you been to? Share your experiences in the comments!
As a book lover, there's nothing I love more than checking out a bookstore. Sure, I'm well aware that my "to read" list is getting completely out of hand and unless I quit working, socializing, and pretty much all aspects of my life that aren't reading, I have no hope of ever finishing it. Even so, there's no reason not to try! If you feel the same way and are hoping to enjoy a great road trip in the Nutmeg State, we've got the perfect one for you: a literary road trip in Connecticut that will take you to some of the state's best bookstores. Check it out:
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In all, the trip requires just under three hours of driving time, though you'll want to set aside plenty of time to explore each bookstore and grab a few new reads.
Feeling hungry? Don’t worry, our next stop is the delightful Atticus Bookstore Cafe, where you’ll find sandwiches, salads, and coffee here. The location we featured on this road trip is inside the Yale Center for British Art, a free museum that’s got the largest collection of British art outside of the United Kingdom.
For our next stop, we’ll travel to the adorable little town of Madison. You’ll find plenty of delightful shops here, but one of our favorites has got to be RJ Julia Booksellers.
This two-story bookstore is considered one of the top independent bookstores in the entire country. Author signings and book club meetings are a regular occurrence here.
Bennett's Books is one of those delightful little shops that makes you remember the joys of in-person shopping. I think we're probably all guilty of a little too much online ordering, but this place is so cozy and comfortable that it's hard not to fall in love the second you walk in the door!
No list of bookstores in Connecticut would be complete without mentioning The Book Barn in Niantic, and that's where we'll end our trip. There are actually three separate locations for this massive store, but we're focusing on the main one on this road trip.
This multi-building store houses more than 500,000 books, plus other fun attractions, like art installations and gardens. It doesn't get much better than a visit here!
Before you hit the highway, make sure to get your playlist or audiobook ready and have all the road trip essentials on hand for safety and maximum fun on this literary road trip in Connecticut.
Doesn't this trip look like so much fun? Share your literary recommendations in the comments!
Connecticut! It's one of the most beautiful states in the country. When it comes to adventures here, there are as many as you'll find in some of the larger states across America. From rolling farmland to coastal hotspots, mountain regions to tiny towns, we've got it all. So if you're looking for some kind of theme for exploring the Nutmeg State, then be sure to check out these awesome Connecticut road trip ideas. No matter what time of year you’re looking to visit, these are some of the best road trips in Connecticut.
Route: Silver Sands State Park > Nordic Fish > Greenwich Point Park
Distance: 35 miles
Trip Time: 1 hour
A long, leisurely weekend or week-long trip is great, but sometimes you just don't have the time. This one-day road trip in Connecticut offers a great deal of fun along a stunning sunrise-to-sunset itinerary. Get your cameras ready as you experience a sunrise and a sunset from two different Connecticut beaches, plus we’ve included a lovely spot to stop and grab a bite to eat. This road trip is easily doable year-round, and might just become a tradition for you and your family.
Route: Ocean Beach Park > Harvey’s Beach > Hammonasset Beach State Park
Distance: 35 miles
Trip Time: 1 hour
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Everyone loves taking extra time off, and if you love the beach, this 3-day weekend road trip is right up your alley. Short and sweet, this itinerary takes you to some of the Nutmeg State’s most spectacular beaches where you can swim, sun, or just sit and enjoy the water. Since the drive time between each destination is so short, you can rest assured you’ll be spending more time sitting in the sand than in your car.
Route: Sheffield Island Lighthouse > New Haven Harbor Lighthouse > Avery Point Lighthouse > Stonington Lighthouse Museum
Distance: 110 miles
Trip Time: 3 hours
So many New England towns along the coast are known for historic lighthouses, and this road trip shines the spotlight on them. There's just something about a lighthouse, those beacons of bright that in many places have served as illuminated guideposts for seafaring vessels for decades. This coastal lighthouse road trip itinerary spans almost 120 miles and in about three hours’ time you will experience the best of the best of these stunning land structures.
Route: Woodbury > Washington > Litchfield > Kent > Salisbury
Distance: 65 miles
Trip Time: 1.5 hours
Peppered with beautiful rolling hills and charming hidden gems, the Litchfield Hills area is recognized as one of the most beautiful regions in Connecticut. This Litchfield Hills Towns Road Trip takes you to five charming small towns that will leave you clamoring for more.
Route: East Canaan > New Hartford > Kent > Warren > Shelton > Wallingford
Distance: 127 miles
Trip Time: 3.5 hours
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With all of the flowers blooming and migratory birds fluttering about, spring is one of the best times of year to visit Connecticut. This short and sweet road trip may only clock in at 3.5 hours, but it’ll take you from the northwest corner of the state down to New Haven, exploring some of our favorite hidden gem vineyards along the way. In between visiting the local wineries in Connecticut stops off at Kent Falls State Park for a different type of cascade, the Kent Falls. Clocking in at 250 feet, it’s the tallest waterfall in Connecticut! As you take this wine and waterfall road trip through Connecticut, please remember to drink responsibly. Let’s be safe out there.
When the summer rolls around, thoughts often go straight to the beach---those sandy, wide open spaces, sun-packed spots that feed your mind, body, and soul. This summer road trip in Connecticut itinerary traverses through some beautiful coastal towns and cities with beaches that draw folks from all over the state. Feast on lobster rolls as you stop off for lunch, and don’t forget the sunscreen!
Route: Macedonia Brook State Park > Mohawk State Forest > Dennis Hill State Park > Peoples State Forest > Talcott Mountain State Park > Manchester > Shenipset State Forest > Pachaug State Forest > Sleeping Giant State Park > Mt Tom State Park
Distance: 280 miles
Trip Time: 7 hours
One of the most fun things to do every autumn for many people is to take in the beautiful fall foliage. And there's no denying that in Connecticut the colors are nothing short of magnificent. This makes a great excuse for a Connecticut road trip in the fall. Get ready to enjoy some of the best multi-hued views imaginable as you take a scenic ride through some of the best leaf-peeping spots in the state.
While winter may not scream, “Let’s take a road trip!” you’d be surprised at how stunning the state is when everything is cloaked in fresh snow. This winter road trip itinerary fully embraces the season and is chock full of traditional (e.g. ice skating and skiing) and unique and perhaps little well-known (e.g. maple sugaring or bald eagle watching) activities that are sure to delight and inspire.
Route: Stepping Stones Museum for Children > Uncle Buck's Fish Bowl and Grill > Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo > The Dinosaur Place > Bushnell Park > White Memorial Conservation Center .
Distance: 153 miles
Trip Time: 3 hours
Chock full of interesting museums, beautiful parks, exciting attractions, interactive animal adventures, and more, this family-friendly Connecticut road trip offers so much for kids and adults alike. From Norwalk to Litchfield, this is one family-friendly road trip that the entire family can enjoy.
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Road Trip to Connecticut Landmarks & Natural Wonders
Route: Sleeping Giant State Park > Bluff Point State Park > CT-169 > West Cornwall > Kent Falls State Park > Sleeping Giant State Park
Distance: 248 miles
Trip Time: 5.5 hours
Any road trip through Connecticut simply must include some of the state’s stunning landmarks and natural wonders. If you are an outdoor lover, get ready...this trip will blow your mind as it meanders through some of the most scenic places in the state! From waterfalls to dense forests, this road trip shows off Connecticut’s natural beauty like no other.
Route: Chester > East Lyme > Putnam > Tolland > Canton > Litchfield > Redding > Madison
Distance: 266 miles
Trip Time: 5.5 hours
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If you ever want to really experience what it’s like to live in any particular state, then you have to check out the state’s small towns. Small towns are the heartbeat of each state, and Connecticut’s small towns are simply amazing. You’ll discover and enjoy several charming towns on this adventure which traverses several of the state’s most picturesque counties. Each one of these towns would make for a memorable getaway, too.
So what did you think about these awesome Connecticut road trip ideas? Did they make you want to create your own Connecticut road trip map? Have you been to any of these places listed? We'd love to read all about your experiences in the comments section below.
