Discover 5 Of Connecticut's Most Iconic Views On This Epic 3.75-Hour Road Trip
By Lisa Sammons|Published May 04, 2024
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Lisa Sammons
Author
Lisa loves animals and has dogs, rats, cats, guinea pigs, and snakes. She is passionate about animal rescue and live music - traveling across the country to see a favorite band is a pretty regular occurrence! Being out hiking in the woods enjoying the scenery with her beloved dogs is another favorite hobby, and also checking out the Pokemon Go scene in whatever city she happens to be in at any given time (coffee and dog leash in hand). You can reach Lisa at lsammons@onlyinyourstate.com
The Nutmeg State is a gorgeous place, and if you love it as much as we do, you know that there’s no shortage of beautiful places in Connecticut. From our rolling Litchfield Hills to the Quiet Corner’s beautiful countryside, the bustling urban scenery of Hartford to the sandy shorelines by the Long Island Sound, there are endless adventures waiting to be had here. We’ve gathered up a road trip featuring some of the state’s most amazing scenery – check it out:
In all, the trip will require just under four hours of driving. Of course, you'll want to add in plenty of time to stop at each destination and maybe enjoy a hike or picnic!
Your first stop is the magnificent Gillette Castle State Park. The castle that gives the park its name was once the private residence of stage actor William Gillette. The park spans 122 acres and is perfect for hiking at any time of year, but you'll definitely want to visit and take a peek at the castle when it's open for tours in the warm months! That view from the balcony will have you feeling like fairy tale royalty.
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2. Sleeping Giant State Park
Sleeping Giant State Park, 200 Mt Carmel Ave, Hamden, CT 06518, USA
Your next stop is another must-visit park, Sleeping Giant State Park. The park's two-mile-long mountain is said to resemble a sleeping giant. If you want to enjoy the best views this place offers, check out the three-mile Sleeping Giant Tower Trail to climb the park's observation tower.
East Rock Park is one of our favorite attractions in New Haven. The 425-acre part has unique scenery with waterfront cliffs that are quite unusual for Connecticut. You can enjoy great views of both the Mill River and Lake Whitney.
4. Dennis Hill State Park
Dennis Hill State Park, 519 Litchfield Rd, Norfolk Historic District, CT 06058, USA
Dennis Hill State Park is an underrated gem in the Litchfield Hills that has some really incredible views. The 240-acre park is situated atop a hill, giving you a great vantage point of the surrounding area. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Vermont and Massachusetts!
5. Lovers Leap State Park
Lovers Leap State Park, 178 Short Woods Rd, New Milford, CT 06776, USA
We'll end our trip with a visit to the gorgeous Lovers Leap State Park. The historic Berlin Iron Bridge here dates back to 1895 and is a perfect spot to take a photograph right on the Housatonic River.
It was so hard to limit this list to a manageable driving time! What beautiful places in Connecticut do you think should’ve been featured? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Whether you’re heading across town or to the other side of the country, it’s important to make sure you have snacks on hand when traveling. Check out our list of favorite road trip snacks before you hit the highway!
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