Travel Destinations: States Accessible From Connecticut

what states can I travel to from ct

Connecticut is a small but wealthy state in the USA, with many airports connecting it to the rest of the country. Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks is the only international airport in Connecticut, with 17 major airlines flying from its runway. The state is also connected to New York, with a direct train from Grand Central to Bridgeport, and a direct bus from New York to Bridgeport Bus Stop.

Characteristics Values
States added to CT Travel Advisory list California, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Alaska, Montana, Rhode Island, Arizona, Minnesota, Nevada, Wyoming
States removed from CT Travel Advisory list None
States removed from CT's lower risk state list Connecticut
CT's coronavirus travel advisory list update date Weekly, on Tuesdays

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Travel by train

Connecticut is served by Amtrak, the national rail operator, which connects the state to others in the Northeast and beyond. Amtrak offers Acela, Northeast Regional, and Vermonter services in Connecticut, with connections to 13 cities and towns in the state.

The New Haven Line (Metro-North) provides rail service from New Haven, Connecticut, to Grand Central Station in New York City. There are also three branch lines feeding the New Haven Line in Connecticut: Waterbury, Danbury, and New Canaan.

From New Haven, you can connect to the Hartford Line, which runs to Springfield, Massachusetts. The Hartford Line also connects to the New Haven Line, Shore Line East, and Amtrak's Acela and Northeast Regional services.

For longer journeys, you can take Amtrak's Northeast Regional train, which serves the Northeast Corridor from Virginia to Massachusetts, with major stops including Boston, Providence, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore.

Amtrak also offers cross-country train services, such as the California Zephyr, which runs from Chicago to Oakland, California, with connections to San Francisco. This journey takes about 52 hours and offers stunning views of the Colorado canyons and the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Another option is the Southwest Chief, which runs from Chicago to Los Angeles alongside the famous Route 66 and through Navajo Indian Country. This route offers a chance to stop at the Grand Canyon.

Keep in mind that long-distance train travel in the US may require careful planning, as some routes have limited frequencies, such as the Sunset Limited, which operates only three times a week.

Additionally, Connecticut has over 50 railroad stations, and you can use the CTrail eTix app to purchase tickets for Shore Line East and Hartford Line services, as well as connecting New Haven Line (Metro-North) services.

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Travel by bus

Connecticut has an extensive bus network, with services provided by CTtransit, the state-owned bus company, and various other local providers. CTtransit is the largest bus operator in the state, with eight divisions serving different areas. The company offers 30 local and 12 express bus routes, including connections to Middletown Area Transit and CTtransit New Britain.

Local Bus Services in Connecticut

Local bus services are available in many Connecticut cities and towns, including:

  • New Haven, with connections to Meriden, Wallingford, Milford, and the lower Naugatuck Valley.
  • Stamford, with connections to Norwalk buses and Bee-Line buses in Westchester County, New York. The I-BUS express service connects downtown Stamford with White Plains, New York.
  • Waterbury, Watertown, Middlebury, Wolcott, Prospect, and Naugatuck, with ADA paratransit services provided by the Northeast Transportation Company.
  • New Britain and Bristol, with ADA transit service provided in Berlin, New Britain, Cromwell, Newington, Plainville, Bristol, and Meriden.
  • Meriden and Wallingford, with four local routes and ADA services provided by the Northeast Transportation Company.

Fares and Ticketing

Fares and ticketing options vary depending on the bus company and route. CTtransit offers a range of fare options, including two-hour passes, all-day passes, multi-day passes (3-day, 5-day, 7-day, and 31-day), and 10-ride tickets. These can be purchased online, at the downtown Hartford sales office, or on the bus. CTtransit also offers a range of discounted fares for seniors, persons with disabilities, and children under 4.

Private Intercity Bus Companies

In addition to local and regional bus services, Connecticut is also served by two of the largest private intercity bus companies in the United States: Greyhound Lines, Inc. and Peter Pan Bus Lines, Inc. These companies offer bus services to other cities in Connecticut, the Northeast, and beyond, as well as charter buses and airport shuttles.

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Travel by car

If you're travelling by car, there are several routes you can take to get from Connecticut to Washington, D.C. One option is to take the most direct route via I-95, which should take around six hours. However, you may encounter heavy traffic near New York City, Philadelphia, or Baltimore. To avoid this, consider taking a more westerly route by combining I-84, I-287, and other interstates that bypass major cities. This option will add at least an extra hour to your travel time.

Another route suggestion is to go west from Waterbury through New York to Scranton, then south on I-81 to Harrisburg. From there, take I-83 to Baltimore and continue west to reach the DC area. This route will also take around five to six hours, excluding potential traffic delays.

To minimise traffic congestion, it is recommended to leave Connecticut by 7 am or 8 am, especially if you plan to pass through New Jersey. Keep in mind that you will likely encounter heavy traffic in the Baltimore and DC metro areas from around 3 pm onwards.

When planning your route, consider using tools like Google Maps or MapQuest to compare different options and estimated travel times. Additionally, real-time traffic apps like Waze can be extremely useful in providing updates and suggesting alternate routes to avoid bottlenecks. Remember that weather conditions and unexpected events, such as accidents, can also impact your travel time.

Lastly, if you prefer to avoid driving, you can consider taking the Amtrak train from Connecticut to Washington, D.C., which offers a comfortable and convenient journey.

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Travel by plane

There are several airports in Connecticut, including Bradley International Airport and five general aviation airports: Danielson, Groton-New London, Hartford-Brainard, Waterbury-Oxford, and Windham. Bradley International Airport is the busiest of these.

You can fly directly to several states from Connecticut, including:

  • Colorado: The quickest flight from Hartford Airport to Colorado Springs Airport takes 6 hours and 26 minutes, with one stopover.
  • Georgia: The quickest flight from Hartford Airport to Atlanta Airport is a direct flight that takes 2 hours and 28 minutes.
  • California: The quickest flight from Los Angeles Airport to Hartford Airport is a direct flight that takes 5 hours and 27 minutes.

Alternatively, you can fly to a connecting airport and then travel onwards by other means. For example, you could fly to Denver, Colorado, and then take a bus to Colorado Springs. Or you could fly to New York and then take a train to Connecticut.

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Travel to neighbouring states

Connecticut is a small state in New England, with a population of around 3.5 million people. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Rhode Island to the east. To the south, Connecticut has a shoreline along Long Island Sound, which opens into the Atlantic Ocean.

When travelling to neighbouring states from Connecticut, there are several options for transport. Driving is a popular option, with several interstate highways passing through Connecticut, including I-95, I-84, and I-91. For example, you can take I-95 to travel south to New York or north to Massachusetts. Alternatively, you can take I-84 west to get to New York or east to get to Massachusetts.

If you are looking to travel to Rhode Island, you can take I-95 or I-395 south. These interstate highways provide easy access to neighbouring states and are generally safe to drive on.

In addition to driving, you can also consider taking a train or bus to neighbouring states. Amtrak provides rail service from Connecticut to nearby states, including Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island. There are also several bus companies that offer service between Connecticut and neighbouring states, such as Greyhound and Flixbus.

When planning your travel, it is important to consider the time of day and potential traffic, especially when travelling through or near major cities like New York City or Boston. For example, if you are driving from Connecticut to New York City, you may want to avoid rush hour traffic by leaving early in the morning or later in the evening.

Additionally, keep in mind that the weather can impact travel, especially during the winter months when there may be snow and icy conditions. Always check the weather forecast and road conditions before embarking on your journey.

Finally, it is worth noting that during the COVID-19 pandemic, there were travel restrictions and quarantine requirements for travel between Connecticut and neighbouring states. These restrictions have since been lifted, but it is always a good idea to stay informed about any potential travel advisories or requirements when travelling between states.

Frequently asked questions

There are no states that you can travel to from Connecticut without having to quarantine. However, the self-quarantine requirement does not apply if you will be in Connecticut for less than 24 hours.

As of October 27, 2020, California, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania were added to the list. As of September 1, 2020, Alaska and Montana were added.

Rhode Island, Arizona, Minnesota, Nevada, and Wyoming were on the list in September 2020.

You are required to self-quarantine when you arrive in Connecticut if you were in the affected state for 24 hours or longer within the last 14 days. However, you may leave your designated self-quarantine location to go to your medical procedure or other medical appointments.

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