The Perfect Connecticut Road Trip

Connecticut is an easy place to visit. That’s particularly true if you live in New York, Boston, Providence, or Springfield. The Nutmeg State is known for its beautiful fall colors, Yale University, lobster rolls, and historic locations.

While it is not as big as New York, many Nut-meggers swear they would never leave Connecticut for anywhere else in the country. So, what makes CT such a special place? 

If you’ve ever considered visiting Connecticut, you’re in luck. This article delves deeper into how you can have the perfect road trip in CT. Let’s get started:

Visit when the Weather is perfect: Spring or Fall

Connecticut’s weather is very similar to the weather in New York. Winter can be extremely harsh while summer can be too hot and humid. If you’re an outdoor activity kind of traveler, plan your trip during late spring (May to June) or early fall (September and October).

Driving to Connecticut before July allows you to enjoy fair spring temperatures before summer sets in. You can always visit Denver, Colorado Springs, or Boulder during summer. You just need to plan your trip perfectly to avoid large crowds and extremely hot temperatures.

Stay at a Casino Hotel

Look for accommodation at one of the two casinos in CT for a luxurious, fun-filled experience. The two casinos, Foxwood Resort and Mohegan Sun Casino are both tribe-owned. 

Foxwood features six gaming floors covering nine million square feet. It has statues, waterfalls, and more than 2,200 hotel rooms. Additionally, the resort features a movie theater, a bowling alley, and an aquarium.

Mohegan is built on a single 364, 000 square feet floor. It features 3,500 slots, 250 table games, and 350 hotel rooms. The beauty of it all is that you don’t need to leave your hotel room to bet on sports or play casino games.

Online gambling is legal in Connecticut. Gov. Ned Lamont legalized sports betting in 2021. Later, legislators created a law to allow legal online casinos for adults over 21 years. 

If you’re visiting the Nutmeg State, an ID or driver’s license is all you need to access the best CT casinos. The folks at casinos.us can help you figure out how to choose a nice casino, create your account, and find the right games. 

Drive through Scenic Routes

A good road trip consists of snacks, a designated driver, music, and great scenes along the way. While driving around Connecticut, the best views are on Route 169, Merritt Parkway, Route 7, Route 44, and Route 1.

Route 169 takes you through beautiful villages in the northeastern region of the state. If you drive in this region during fall, you’ll soak up the beauty of beautiful trees and plants.

Merritt Parkway is a road so beautiful that some drivers call it the “Queen of Parkways.” It takes you through New Haven and Fairfield counties, where picturesque bridges and tunnels show you a different kind of America. 

If you take a road trip through Route 7, you’ll enjoy some of the best views of the Atlantic Ocean, beaches, lighthouses, and recreational areas. Route 7 is one of the busiest highways in CT for tourists. 

It connects many popular national parks in the states, waterfalls, and other tourist attraction sites. If you need more views of the Atlantic Ocean, Route 1 is a great alternative. In addition to viewing the shoreline, you can also visit an aquarium, lighthouses, and beaches.

 Drive the Right Vehicle

If you’re visiting Connecticut with family and friends, there’s a strong chance you’ll need a spacious car. Depending on your needs, an SUV, RV, or EV could be a great fit.

If you choose an Electric Vehicle, you need to do a bit more planning. For example, map out all the places you can charge the car while in the state. Take a lesson on how to extend an EV battery’s charge. You’ll also need to learn about EV chargers, driving range, and other needs.

As we mentioned earlier, the weather in Connecticut is generally friendly. You don’t need to change your car’s tires unless they’re worn out or you’re visiting in the winter.

For many travelers, space and fueling are the biggest concerns while taking a road trip. Choose a car that fits your family’s needs. Also, consider its fuel consumption to ensure it is in line with your budget.

Budget for Everything

This might seem obvious but it is important to budget for everything you do. Proper financial preparation is the best way to enjoy a road trip with family and friends. 

Create a budget for the most important expenses before you get into non-essential activities you might try out while in CT. That means the budget for everyone’s accommodation, fueling needs, food, and drinks.

Next, create a budget for things you plan to enjoy together. Maybe you want to learn about the history of Mystic Maritime town, visit a polo club, and take a trip to Hartford, the Old State House. 

After you budget for major activities, now budget for smaller things. Perhaps you might want to treat your friends to a meal of lobster rolls. Maybe you want to get into Club Getaway and enjoy canoeing, zip lining, archery, and other fun stuff.

For clarity, you need a lot of money to go on a memorable trip through Connecticut. You just need to save up for a few months and spend money on stuff you can afford.

Visit the Best Places in Connecticut

A trip to CT isn’t complete without a visit to Yale University, the Gillette Castle, the Beer Trail, and Outer Island. Now, you can’t visit every beautiful location in the state. 

However, plan to visit some of the most historically significant locations in CT. For example, the Mark Twain House & Museum can give you a brief history of the famous writer during his stay in Connecticut. 

The beer trail is an assortment of 125 breweries within the state. Check out Stony Creek, Two Roads Brewing, or Charter Oak for the best beers. Yale needs no introduction. Still, consider visiting the prestigious institution to learn about its history, architecture, and one of the largest collections of British art.