RV Rental Best Day Trips Around Connecticut
For many, the great beauty and diversity of the East Coast inspire epic road trips, but when it comes to an RV vacation, some areas pack more of a punch than others. A Day Trip In Connecticut is one of those getaways. There’s a lot to love about picking a single destination and exploring it more thoroughly than is possible when you’re trying to cruise all of America!
When you go RVing to a compact New England state like Connecticut, you can set up camp in one select spot, and take day trips all across the region. Plus, there’s no shortage of amazing places for day trips in Connecticut. Despite its petite size, this laid-back, scenic state boasts outsized diversity — fantastic beaches, big coastal cities, and rural mountain towns, all cut through by the beautiful Connecticut River Valley.
Here’s just a handful of our top picks for day trips in Connecticut.
(Before you start crafting your itinerary, don’t forget to book an RV rental through RVnGO.com.)
Get A Roar At Dinosaur State Park
Some people never outgrow their dinosaur phase, and that’s perfectly fine! Indulge your inner paleontologist with a day trip to Connecticut’s Dinosaur State Park. This site boasts the largest collection of dinosaur prints in the United States — Inside the exhibit center are more than 750 dinosaur tracks dating back 200 million years.
Maybe not everyone in your RV road trip party is quite so thrilled by the idea of looking at dinosaur prints, though. Entice them to join you with other activities, like casting their own dinosaur footprint to take home, or mining for gems and fossils.
While you’re in the region, you might also visit two more of Connecticut’s 110 state parks. Wadsworth Falls State Park is just 2 miles from the dinosaur site and offers hiking, mountain biking, swimming, and fishing. River Highlands State Park is nearby, and it has similar outdoor recreation options.
Make The Yale Campus A Part Of Your Day Trip In Connecticut
Gaining admission to Connecticut’s world-famous, highly prestigious Yale University might not be in the cards, but you can still (technically) go to Yale. A top day trip destination in Connecticut, Yale has a wide range of visitor attractions open to the public. Fitting with the lofty institution, these are largely high-brow cultural attractions. Among them are the Yale University Art Gallery and the Yale Center for British Art, which claims the largest collection of British art outside the UK within its architecturally notable building.
The campus also includes the Peabody Museum of Natural History and Leitner Observatory. When the weather’s nice, you can spend some time strolling the Marsh Botanical Garden and the agricultural goings-on at the Yale Farm.
Mystic Seaport Is More Than The Backdrop Of That 80’s Movie
The town of Mystic, Connecticut, is a wonderful destination for a day trip in Connecticut. The contemporary coastal town has many charms, but the biggest draw for road-trippers is Mystic Seaport, aka Mystic Seaport Museum. This is the nation’s largest maritime museum; it includes more than 60 historic buildings plus restored vintage sailing ships within a recreated 19th-century seafaring village. Four vessels docked here are national historic landmarks.
https://youtu.be/yziFsG90OXI
Litchfield Hills Provides Something Unique From The Rest Of The State
Litchfield Hills covers the northwest corner of the state with a landscape entirely distinct from the central valley and coast. If your ideal RV road trip includes lots of outdoor recreation in beautiful surroundings, this area is a must-do day trip in Connecticut. Within the region are 21 communities, among them Cornwall, Washington, Kent, and Torrington. All these small towns are ideal for lunch and a little shopping.
Interesting pursuits to consider in Litchfield Hills include a hike on the famous Appalachian Trail in Salisbury, a boat rental from the marina at Highland Lake in Winchester, and a tour of the historic Beckley Furnace. You might also stop by the Mohawk Bison farm and pick up some bison steaks to grill back at your RV campsite.
All Aboard For The Connecticut Valley Railroad State Park
From 1871 to 1933, the Connecticut Valley Railroad transported passengers 44 miles from Old Saybrook to Hartford. Today, you can experience a similar 19th-century railroad trip at this unique state park. You’ll start at the circa-1892 railway station, where you’ll examine steam locomotives and vintage train cars, and then ride over 12 miles of rails through the Connecticut River Valley.
Want to get even more fun out of this day trip in Connecticut? Consider a combination train and riverboat excursion up the River Valley.
Weir Farm National Historic Park Has Your Art
Weir Farm National Historic Park in Wilton is an essential day trip for art lovers. It’s one of only two national historic sites dedicated to the visual arts. The park encompasses the home and workplace of three generations of renowned American Impressionist painters, starting with J. Alden Weir in 1882. Here, you can visit the home and studios, take in art exhibits, and even attend a painting workshop.
You don’t actually need to know anything about art to enjoy a visit to this park. Painters will gain inspiration from the serene, scenic grounds, but it’s also just a wonderful place to stroll around. There are few finer spots to stretch your legs when you need a break from the road!
Check Out The Best Places to Stay in Connecticut
After arranging an RV rental, booking an RV campsite is an essential step to making your road trip plans in Connecticut a reality. Fortunately, the state has plenty of options to suit every budget and camping style. Here are just a few of the best campgrounds in Connecticut to consider:
Mashamoquet Brook State Park
This state park in Connecticut is notable for its unusual rock formations, historic structures, and local lore. It offers two rustic campgrounds, one with 18 wooded sites and the other with 35 open sites. Swimming, fishing, and hiking are all popular activities in the park.
Sun Outdoors Mystic
This large coastal RV and tent camping resort sits just outside Mystic, making it an excellent base for exploring the seaport. Close to 100 RV sites with water and electrical hookups are available, including back-in and pull-through options. The resort features many enticing amenities, among them a heated pool, camp store, mini golf, fitness center, game room, free Wi-Fi, and laundry facilities.
Salem Farms Campground
Salem Farms Campground is a family-friendly and pet-friendly destination in rural Salem, Connecticut. Its RV sites are available for vehicles of all sizes, and most include electrical and water hookups; picnic tables; fire rings; and free cable TV. Useful on-site services include an RV wash, gas station, grocery store, restaurant, and ice cream bar. The campground also features two swimming pools, numerous sports courts, nature trails, and free hayrides.
Witch Meadow Lake Family Campground
Covering 140 acres of private, wooded parkland with its own 14-acre freshwater lake, Witch Meadow Lake Family Campground is one of the most popular campgrounds in southeast Connecticut. Waterfront RV sites are available, as are sites with full hookups. The lake has a designated beach area for swimming, and you can rent a boat at the camp store if you like. Other amenities include sports courts, a swimming pool, laundry room, and adult lounge.
Brialee RV & Tent Park
Brialee RV & Tent Park in Ashford is a family-run, full-service campground with sites for RVs of all sizes. The campground emphasizes family fun, featuring a seasonal schedule of activities. It boasts a pond for on-site fishing, boat rentals, a sandy beach, and 1,000 acres of wooded countryside with trails to explore. There are also horseshoe pits, a swimming pool, gem mining sluice, and a mini golf course — plus a live entertainment schedule and food trucks on Friday and Saturday nights.
Top Tips for Road Trips In Connecticut
Most campgrounds and some tourist attractions in Connecticut are open seasonally. Some are open during the summer only; some close only in winter; others have a reduced schedule in the off-season. Always check ahead if you’re taking a Connecticut road trip outside of peak summer months.
Western Connecticut has a second prime tourist season when fall foliage is at its peak. The chance to see one of nature’s most spectacular shows might even inspire a longer New England road trip.
Visit Connecticut’s official tourism site for more ideas and tips about road-tripping in the Constitution State.
P.S. Find Your Connecticut RV Rental
We know it’s entertaining to browse all the great activities and destinations for day trips in Connecticut, but you also need to find the best RV rental. Do you want a Class A or Class C, or maybe something else? Massachusetts offers some great RV Day trips as well as New Hampshire, for couples and families.
There’s a lot to think about, but it’s going to be so much fun! Remember, you can always find a great vehicle for your RV vacation on RVnGO.com. You will save around 30% compared to other RV rental websites. And it is STILL Less Expensive than staying at a resort.
Be sure to read our Road Trip Packing Check List and Great Meals For Road Trips.
