The Lower Connecticut River Valley is situated at the point where the Connecticut River and Long Island Sound intersect.
With its picturesque natural scenery and small towns lining the banks of the river, the region is a popular destination for tourists.
Some of the main attractions in the area include the Gillette Castle State Park, Florence Griswold Museum, Essex Steam Train and Riverboat, Devil’s Hopyard State Park, and the Powder Ridge Mountain Park and Resort.
If you’re looking for a historic riverside getaway in New England, any one of the towns in Connecticut’s Lower River Valley will not disappoint. Read our list below to find the best and most fun things to do in Lower Connecticut River Valley, below
The 93 Most Popular Things To Do In Lower Connecticut River Valley, Connecticut
93. Friends Of Gillette Castle
5.0 (1 review)
Location: 67 River Road East Haddam CT
Tel: 860 222 7850
Web Address: https://gillettecastlefriends.org/
92. Shoreline Greenway Trail
5.0 (1 review)
Credit: Blue Bleeder CT, Google Maps
91. Old Saybrook Historical Society
5.0 (2 reviews)
Location: 350 Main Street Old Saybrook CT
Tel: 860 395 1635
Web Address: http://saybrookhistory.org/
90. Coginchaug River
4.0 (2 reviews)
Credit: karen gallo, Google Maps
89. Powder Ridge Park
4.3 (3 reviews)
Credit: Sarah Boucher, Google Maps
Location: Middlefield CT
Web Address: https://powderridgepark.com/
88. The Chatham Historical Society
5.0 (4 reviews)
Credit: Chatham Historical Society, Google Maps
Location: 6 Bevin Blvd East Hampton CT
Tel: 860 267 8953
Web Address: https://chathamhistoricalct.org/
87. Saybrook Breakwater Lighthouse
3.8 (4 reviews)
Credit: Joe Rodriguez, Google Maps
Location: Long Island Sound Old Saybrook CT
86. Stannard Beach
4.7 (6 reviews)
Credit: Mark Goldberg, Google Maps
85. Pequot Sherwood Day Camp
5.0 (6 reviews)
Location: 253 Bushy Hill Road Deep River CT
Tel: 860 767 0848
Web Address: https://psdaycamp.org/
84. Rocky Neck
4.2 (6 reviews)
83. Lynde Point
2.7 (7 reviews)
82. Deer Lake
4.7 (7 reviews)
Credit: Michael Biehler, Google Maps
81. Portland Brownstone Quarries Quarry View
4.8 (8 reviews)
Credit: Portland Brownstone Quarries Quarry View, Google Maps
Location: 311 Brownstone Ave Portland CT
80. Chalker Beach
4.5 (8 reviews)
Credit: Lux Llama Productions, Google Maps
79. Cedar Island
5.0 (8 reviews)
78. Beckett Hill State Park Reserve
4.9 (8 reviews)
Location: Lyme CT
77. General William Hart House
4.5 (8 reviews)
Credit: Tony Bacewicz / Atlantic Vision Media, Google Maps
Location: 350 Main Street Old Saybrook CT
Tel: 860 395 1635
Web Address: https://saybrookhistory.org/hart-house/
76. Hammonasset River
4.9 (8 reviews)
Credit: Pamela Sweeney-Daley, Google Maps
75. The Thomas Lee House
4.5 (8 reviews)
Credit: julie vanderkroef, Google Maps
Location: 228 W Main Street Niantic CT
Tel: 860 739 6070
74. Lyme Art Association
4.7 (9 reviews)
Credit: Bedfordfineartgallery, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 90 Lyme Street Old Lyme CT
Tel: 860 434 7802
Web Address: http://lymeartassociation.org/
73. East Haddam Historical Society
4.8 (9 reviews)
Credit: Craig Spencer, Google Maps
Location: 264 Town Street East Haddam CT
Tel: 860 873 3944
Web Address: https://easthaddamhistory.org/
72. Davison Art Center, Wesleyan University
4.9 (9 reviews)
Credit: Herb Evans, Google Maps
Location: 301 High Street Middletown CT
Tel: 860 685 2500
Web Address: http://wesleyan.edu/dac/
71. Rogers Lake
4.7 (11 reviews)
Credit: Soma Ares, Google Maps
70. Bashan Lake
4.8 (12 reviews)
Credit: Scott Hunter, Google Maps
69. Dart Island State Park
4.4 (14 reviews)
Credit: james carlson, Google Maps
Location: Middletown CT
68. Thankful Arnold House
4.6 (14 reviews)
Location: 14 Hayden Hill Road Haddam CT
Tel: 860 345 2400
Web Address: http://haddamhistory.org/arnold_house.htm
67. Brainard Homestead State Park
3.5 (15 reviews)
Credit: Tim Joseph, Google Maps
Location: 22 Landing Hill Road East Haddam CT
66. George Dudley Seymour State Park
4.3 (16 reviews)
Credit: Andrew Folcik, Google Maps
Location: Clarkhurst Road Haddam CT
Tel: 860 295 9523
Web Address: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/George-Dudley-Seymour-State-Park
65. Moodus Reservoir
4.2 (17 reviews)
Credit: Ellen Trudeau, Google Maps
64. Connecticut Forest & Park Association
4.6 (18 reviews)
Credit: Cara MacDonald, Google Maps
Location: 16 Meriden Road Rockfall CT
Tel: 860 346 8733
Web Address: http://ctwoodlands.org/
63. Lake Hayward
4.9 (18 reviews)
62. Hamburg Cove
4.9 (18 reviews)
61. Meshomasic State Forest
4.8 (19 reviews)
Credit: Andrew Folcik, Google Maps
60. Greater Middletown Military Museum
5.0 (20 reviews)
Credit: jeremy belcher, Google Maps
Location: Middletown CT
Web Address: http://gmvmm.com/
59. Peckham park
4.5 (22 reviews)
Location: 161 Streetrickland Road Middlefield CT
58. Beseck Lake
4.6 (26 reviews)
57. Selden Neck State Park
4.7 (27 reviews)
Credit: Rene Adaimi, Google Maps
Location: Lyme CT
Tel: 860 526 2336
Web Address: http://ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp
56. Haddam Island State Park
4.6 (27 reviews)
Credit: Kimberly Fortier, Google Maps
Location: 321 Rock Landing Road Haddam CT
55. Incarnation Center Inc
4.9 (39 reviews)
Credit: David wade, Google Maps
Location: 253 Bushy Hill Road Deep River CT
Tel: 860 767 0848
Web Address: http://incarnationcenter.org/
54. Sunrise State Park
4.5 (39 reviews)
Credit: Pedro Ribeiro Simões, License, Flickr
Location: 121 Leesville Road Moodus CT
Tel: 860 424 3000
Web Address: http://ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp
53. Gardner Lake
4.5 (40 reviews)
Credit: Linda Wilson, Google Maps
52. Knollwood Beach
4.4 (44 reviews)
Credit: Candido Aviles, Google Maps
Web Address: http://knollwoodbeachct.com/
51. Powder Hill Dinosaur Park
4.1 (45 reviews)
Location: Middlefield CT
50. Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge
4.5 (50 reviews)
Credit: Ellen Clark, Google Maps
Location: 733 Old Clinton Road Westbrook CT
Tel: 860 399 2513
Web Address: https://fws.gov/refuge/stewart_b_mckinney/
49. East Haddam Swing Bridge
4.4 (52 reviews)
Credit: Ravi Narayanan, Google Maps
Location: 6 Main Street East Haddam CT
Web Address: https://allparx.com/places/east-haddam-swing-bridge/
48. Harveys Beach
4.2 (52 reviews)
Credit: Katy Phillips, Google Maps
47. Hartman Park
4.7 (55 reviews)
Credit: Michael O’Shaughnessy, Google Maps
Location: 122 Gungy Road Lyme CT
46. Staehly Farm & Winery
4.6 (56 reviews)
Credit: Staehly Farm & Winery, Google Maps
Location: 278 Town Street East Haddam CT
Tel: 860 873 9774
Web Address: http://staehlys.com/
45. Clinton Town Beach
4.6 (61 reviews)
Credit: Michael Moses, Google Maps
Web Address: http://lisrc.uconn.edu/coastalaccess/site.asp
44. Westfield Falls
4.2 (61 reviews)
43. Chapman Falls
4.7 (64 reviews)
42. Soundview Beach
3.8 (68 reviews)
Credit: Valentin Chessé, Google Maps
41. Middlefield Dog Park
4.5 (68 reviews)
Credit: Jack Snow, Google Maps
Location: Middlefield CT
Tel: 860 349 7122
Web Address: http://middlefielddogpark.com/
40. RiverQuest
4.8 (74 reviews)
Credit: RiverQuest, Google Maps
Location: 67 Main Street Essex CT
Tel: 860 767 8269
Web Address: http://ctriverquest.com/
39. Higganum Reservoir State Park
4.5 (87 reviews)
Credit: Paul Abramowicz, Google Maps
Location: Higganum CT
Tel: 860 424 3000
Web Address: http://ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp
38. Nehantic State Forest
4.7 (100 reviews)
Credit: Anna Stangl, Google Maps
Location: 29 Willow Ln East Lyme CT
Web Address: http://ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp
37. Rocky Neck State Park Bathing Beach
4.5 (110 reviews)
Credit: Herlyn Ortiz, Google Maps
36. Fort Saybrook Monument Park
4.4 (110 reviews)
Credit: Bob Baxter, Google Maps
Location: Old Saybrook CT
Tel: 860 395 3152
35. Eagle Landing State Park
4.4 (119 reviews)
Credit: Taylor Hunt, Google Maps
Location: 14 Little Meadow Road Haddam CT
Tel: 860 424 3000
Web Address: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Eagle-Landing-State-Park
34. Arrigoni Bridge
4.3 (128 reviews)
Location: Middletown CT
33. Meigs Point Nature Center
4.8 (144 reviews)
Location: 1288 Boston Post Road Madison CT
Tel: 203 245 8743
Web Address: http://meigspointnaturecenter.org/
32. Machimoodus State Park
4.7 (152 reviews)
Credit: Carl Bailey, Google Maps
Location: 128 Leesville Road Moodus CT
Tel: 860 526 2336
Web Address: http://ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp
31. River Highlands State Park
4.5 (158 reviews)
Credit: John Lawrence, Google Maps
Location: J9F9+2W 113 Field Road Cromwell CT
Tel: 203 287 5658
Web Address: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/River-Highlands-State-Park
30. Rockland Preserve Singletrack
4.8 (159 reviews)
Location: 2313 Durham Road Madison CT
Web Address: http://madisonct.org/524/Singletracks-of-Rockland
29. Seven Falls Park
4.3 (167 reviews)
Credit: Mark Macgregor, Google Maps
Location: CT 154 Higganum CT
Tel: 860 424 3200
Web Address: http://ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp
28. Hurd State Park
4.5 (189 reviews)
Credit: kyle smith, Google Maps
Location: 74 Hurd Park Road East Hampton CT
Tel: 860 526 2336
Web Address: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Hurd-State-Park
27. Ferry Landing State Park
4.6 (220 reviews)
Location: 398 Ferry Road Old Lyme CT
Tel: 860 424 3000
Web Address: http://ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp
26. Doctor Francis Giuffrida Park
4.8 (225 reviews)
Location: 800 Westfield Road Meriden CT
Web Address: https://meridenct.gov/city-services/parks-and-recreation/parks-park-rentals/
25. Comstock Covered Bridge
4.8 (268 reviews)
Location: 1 9 Comstock Bridge Road East Hampton CT
Web Address: https://chathamhistoricalct.org/comstock/
24. Haddam Meadows State Park
4.5 (359 reviews)
Credit: Eduardo Torrealba, Google Maps
Location: 20 Parmelee Road Haddam CT
Web Address: http://ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp
23. Lyman Orchards Golf Club
4.3 (375 reviews)
Location: 70 Lyman Road Middlefield CT
Tel: 860 349 6031
Web Address: https://lymangolf.com/
22. Harbor Park
4.5 (424 reviews)
Credit: NASA, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 80 Harbor Dr Middletown CT
Tel: 860 347 9999
Web Address: https://allparx.com/places/harbor-park-2/
21. Millers Pond State Park
4.6 (425 reviews)
Credit: David Bauer, Google Maps
Location: 344 Foot Hills Road Durham CT
Tel: 860 424 3200
Web Address: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Millers-Pond-State-ParK
20. Arrigoni Winery & Cider Co.
4.6 (432 reviews)
Credit: Arrigoni Winery & Cider Co., Google Maps
Location: 1287 Portland Cobalt Road Portland CT
Tel: 860 342 1999
Web Address: http://arrigoniwinery.com/
19. Butternut Hollow Park
4.7 (446 reviews)
Credit: Tom Brown, Google Maps
Location: Middletown CT
18. Lyman Orchards Sunflower Maze
4.6 (449 reviews)
Credit: Lyman Orchards Sunflower Maze, Google Maps
Location: South Street Middlefield CT
Tel: 860 349 6015
Web Address: https://lymanorchards.com/events/sunflower-maze/
17. Cockaponset State Forest
4.6 (516 reviews)
Location: Cedar Lake Road Chester CT
Tel: 860 345 8521
Web Address: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Forests/Cockaponset-State-Forest
16. Salmon River State Forest
4.7 (596 reviews)
Location: Route 16 Colchester CT
Tel: 860 424 3000
Web Address: http://ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp
15. Chatfield Hollow State Park
4.8 (694 reviews)
Location: 381 CT 80 Killingworth CT
Tel: 860 663 2030
Web Address: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Chatfield-Hollow-State-Park
14. Kidcity Children’s Museum
4.8 (969 reviews)
Credit: Troy Cummings, Google Maps
Location: 119 Washington Street Middletown CT
Tel: 860 347 0495
Web Address: http://kidcitymuseum.com/
13. Brownstone Adventure Sports Park
4.5 (1,141 reviews)
Credit: Marielos Calderas, Google Maps
Location: 161 Brownstone Ave Portland CT
Tel: 866 860 0208
Web Address: http://brownstonepark.com/
12. Connecticut Valley Railroad State Park
4.7 (1,241 reviews)
Credit: Robin Medeiros, Google Maps
Location: 1 Railroad Ave Essex CT
Tel: 860 424 3200
Web Address: http://ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp
11. Hammonasset Beach State Park
4.5 (1,540 reviews)
Location: 1288 Boston Post Road Madison CT
Tel: 203 245 2785
Web Address: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Hammonasset-Beach-State-Park
10. Rocky Neck State Park
4.6 (3,467 reviews)
Location: 228 W Main Street Niantic CT
Tel: 860 739 5471
Web Address: http://ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp
Our Top picks
9. Air Line State Park Trail – East Hampton
4.8 (213 reviews)
Credit: Kevin Flanigan, Google Maps
Location: 69 Smith Street East Hampton CT
Tel: 860 295 9523
Web Address: http://ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp
8. Connecticut River Museum
4.7 (347 reviews)
Credit: James St. John, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 67 Main Street Essex CT
Tel: 860 767 8269
Web Address: http://ctrivermuseum.org/
7. Florence Griswold Museum
4.8 (376 reviews)
Credit: Tịnh Quán Tâm, Google Maps
Location: 96 Lyme Street Old Lyme CT
Tel: 860 434 5542
Web Address: http://florencegriswoldmuseum.org/
6. Powder Ridge Mountain Park & Resort
4.0 (945 reviews)
Credit: Powder Ridge Mountain Park & Resort, Google Maps
Location: 99 Powder Hill Road Middlefield CT
Tel: 866 860 0208
Web Address: http://powderridgepark.com/
5. Gillette Castle
4.7 (976 reviews)
Location: 67 River Road East Haddam CT
Tel: 860 424 3200
Web Address: http://ct.gov/deep/gillettecastle
4. Devil’s Hopyard State Park
4.7 (1,395 reviews)
Location: 366 Hopyard Road East Haddam CT
Tel: 860 424 3200
Web Address: http://ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp
3. Wadsworth Falls State Park
4.5 (1,795 reviews)
Location: 721 Wadsworth Street Middletown CT
Tel: 860 345 8521
Web Address: http://ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp
2. Essex Steam Train & Riverboat
4.6 (2,194 reviews)
Credit: Mike Raymond, Google Maps
Location: 1 Railroad Ave Essex CT
Tel: 860 767 0103
Web Address: https://essexsteamtrain.com/
1. Gillette Castle State Park
4.7 (3,045 reviews)
Location: 67 River Road East Haddam CT
Tel: 860 526 2336
Web Address: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Gillette-Castle-State-Park
Final Words:
Thank you for reading our list of the best things to do in Lower Connecticut River Valley, Connecticut! We hope it helped you plan the perfect itinerary for your next trip to this fantastic destination. Happy travels!
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