Nowadays, it can feel like everything is out of budget. With prices rising seemingly everywhere, it often seems like it’s too tough for the average person to afford much of anything. But don’t worry – there are plenty of affordable destinations in the Nutmeg State. We’ve gathered up some of our favorites in an affordable road trip in Connecticut that will cost less than $100 a person!
Google Maps One benefit to being a small state is that road trips in Connecticut don’t require a ton of driving! This one won’t even require two hours in the car, and a route of under 75 miles to reach all five destinations means you won’t spend a fortune on gas. You can check out the customizable itinerary on Google Maps.
- Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center: 110 Pequot Trail, Ledyard, CT 06338
Brian C/Google Maps Your first stop will be the Mashantucket Pequot Museum, which is one of our favorite small town attractions in Connecticut. Admission is under $25 a person, and you’ll often find events going on that are generally free with museum admission. It’s a wonderful place to learn about the history of the people that inhabited this area for centuries prior to the arrival of European colonists. There are tons of life-sized dioramas and interesting exhibits. Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center, 110 Pequot Trail, Ledyard, CT 06338, USA
- Mystic Seaport Museum: 75 Greenmanville Ave, Mystic, CT 06355
Cristian Georgescu/Google Maps Admission to Mystic Seaport Village is less than $30 a person, and we consider it well worth the cost. It’s a recreation of a colonial port town and there are lots of cool things to see, with historical actors roaming the streets making it into quite the immersive experience. However, if you’re looking for an even cheaper alternative, nearby Old Mystick Village is a charming little old-style village of shops that’s free to walk around. Mystic Seaport Museum, 75 Greenmanville Ave, Mystic, CT 06355, USA
- Post Road Market: 217 Boston Post Rd, East Lyme, CT 06333
Tony Bacewicz/Atlantic Vision Media/Google Maps No road trip would be complete without a stop for food, so for your next stop, you’ll get some grab-and-go goodies at Post Road Market in East Lyme. Post Road Market, 217 Boston Post Rd, East Lyme, CT 06333, USA
Tony Bacewicz/Atlantic Vision Media/Google Maps Post Road Market specializes in sandwiches, salads, and other simple foods. You won’t have to spend an arm and a leg here for good food that will fill you up.
- Hammonasset Beach State Park: 1288 Boston Post Rd, Madison, CT 06443
Connie D/Google Maps Your next stop is a day at the beach - great even in the off season! Hammonasset Beach State Park has the longest shoreline in Connecticut, with two miles of public-access beach. Residents can even park here for free, so it’s also affordable. Hammonasset Beach State Park, 1288 Boston Post Rd, Madison, CT 06443, USA
- Yale Center for British Art: 1080 Chapel St, New Haven, CT 06510
Yale Center for British Art/Google Maps One great aspect of having a world-class college such as Yale within our borders is that there are plenty of university-affiliated attractions that are open to the public. One such place is the Yale Center for British Art, which has the largest collection of British art outside of the United Kingdom. It also has free entry, which is always a plus! Yale Center for British Art, 1080 Chapel St, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
How many of the stops on this affordable road trip in Connecticut have you visited? Any others you think are worth adding? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Google Maps
One benefit to being a small state is that road trips in Connecticut don’t require a ton of driving! This one won’t even require two hours in the car, and a route of under 75 miles to reach all five destinations means you won’t spend a fortune on gas. You can check out the customizable itinerary on Google Maps.
Brian C/Google Maps
Your first stop will be the Mashantucket Pequot Museum, which is one of our favorite small town attractions in Connecticut. Admission is under $25 a person, and you’ll often find events going on that are generally free with museum admission. It’s a wonderful place to learn about the history of the people that inhabited this area for centuries prior to the arrival of European colonists. There are tons of life-sized dioramas and interesting exhibits.
Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center, 110 Pequot Trail, Ledyard, CT 06338, USA
Cristian Georgescu/Google Maps
Admission to Mystic Seaport Village is less than $30 a person, and we consider it well worth the cost. It’s a recreation of a colonial port town and there are lots of cool things to see, with historical actors roaming the streets making it into quite the immersive experience. However, if you’re looking for an even cheaper alternative, nearby Old Mystick Village is a charming little old-style village of shops that’s free to walk around.
Mystic Seaport Museum, 75 Greenmanville Ave, Mystic, CT 06355, USA
Tony Bacewicz/Atlantic Vision Media/Google Maps
No road trip would be complete without a stop for food, so for your next stop, you’ll get some grab-and-go goodies at Post Road Market in East Lyme.
Post Road Market, 217 Boston Post Rd, East Lyme, CT 06333, USA
Post Road Market specializes in sandwiches, salads, and other simple foods. You won’t have to spend an arm and a leg here for good food that will fill you up.
Connie D/Google Maps
Your next stop is a day at the beach - great even in the off season! Hammonasset Beach State Park has the longest shoreline in Connecticut, with two miles of public-access beach. Residents can even park here for free, so it’s also affordable.
Hammonasset Beach State Park, 1288 Boston Post Rd, Madison, CT 06443, USA
Yale Center for British Art/Google Maps
One great aspect of having a world-class college such as Yale within our borders is that there are plenty of university-affiliated attractions that are open to the public. One such place is the Yale Center for British Art, which has the largest collection of British art outside of the United Kingdom. It also has free entry, which is always a plus!
Yale Center for British Art, 1080 Chapel St, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
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