17 Of The Best Day Trips From New Haven

Are you searching for the best day trips from New Haven?

New Haven is located in southwestern Connecticut and is home to Yale University, incredible pizza joints, and countless concert venues, museums, and theaters. 

The town of New Haven itself is gorgeous and is known for its close proximity to the Long Island Sound.

As frequent travelers and major fans of the northeastern states, we love spending time near New Haven, enjoying the views, delicious foods, and endless attractions.

If you are looking to explore the surrounding areas, there are countless day trips from New Haven that you can embark on to see more of Connecticut and the surrounding cities and states.

The Best Day Trips from New Haven

Continue diving in below as I highlight the best day trips from New Haven for a memorable time exploring Connecticut’s best towns.

In State Day Trips From New Haven:

1. Branford

Branford is roughly 15 minutes East of New Haven or about 10 minutes on the Shore Line East Train. This makes it an incredible location for a quick and easy day trip from New Haven!

Known for being one of Connecticut’s best coastal towns and filled with many local restaurants, bars, and popular breweries.

If you are a craft beer lover, like Sam and myself, we highly recommend that you check out Stoney Creek Brewery, Duvig Beer Company, and Thimble Island Brewery for tasty brews at some of the best breweries in Connecticut.

Additionally, Branford is known for its historic places and landmarks such as the Thimble Islands and Stoney Creek Museum. 

Branford is a great option for quick day trips from New Haven and is a great place to visit if you are looking for a coastal town with great beer and immense history.

2. Mystic

Mystic is another fabulous option when it comes to picking out the best day trips from New Haven!

The town of Mystic, Connecticut is about 55 miles East of New Haven and is known for its charming coastal town and popular attractions such as the Mystic Aquarium and the Mystic Seaport. 

If you are searching to learn more about the former times at Mystic Seaport including its village, maritime history, and large ships; you must book the Mystic Seaport Museum Adventure. 

This historical museum adventure will have you transported through time as you learn about life in the 1870’s and gain knowledge as you meet historians and artists throughout the museum and large ships. 

Once you finish up your historic tour be sure to check out S&P Oyster Restaurant and Bar for fresh seafood by the water. 

Although Mystic is a phenomenal location for a quick day trip from New Haven, it’s also a great destination to spend several nights exploring the surrounding area.

If you are wanting to extend your trip, be sure to check out the Hilton Mystic for an incredible stay!

3. Norwalk

Located about 34 miles West of New Haven, Norwalk has some of the best boating, fine dining restaurants, and breathtaking beaches in coastal Connecticut. 

Whether you would like to get out on the water by renting a sailboat for the day, would like to explore the beautiful public beaches, or you would like to get dressed up and go out for a fancy meal, Norwalk is a great destination if you are seeking a quintessential coastal town in Connecticut. 

4. Bridgeport

Bridgeport is known for its countless parks, being home to Connecticut’s only zoo, and is Connecticut’s largest city. 

This city is about 20 miles West of New Haven and is a great area to visit if you are looking to get outside and enjoy one of the many parks in the area.

It’s also a great destination if you are wanting endless things to do in a fairly large city. 

If you are an animal enthusiast, be sure to check out Connetticut’s Beardsley Zoo where you can take in views of countless animals from all over the world and learn more about each animal and how to better take care of them and their ecosystems. 

If a zoo is not your thing, be sure to get outside and enjoy one of Bridgeport’s countless parks.

After all, this city is known as the “Park City” and has over 30 different parks in the area. 

Whether you want to pack a picnic and take in the surrounding views or you would rather burn a few calories by walking or biking, be sure to spend some time outdoors while visiting the beautiful city of Bridgeport.

5. Hartford

About 40 miles northeast of New Haven lies Hartford, the state capital of Connecticut, known for being one of the oldest cities in America and for its countless jobs and entertainment throughout the city. 

If you are searching for a lively destination to visit in the heart of Connecticut, you must check out this city. 

6. Essex

Essex is located about 32 miles East of New Haven and is known for its small town charm and fabulous architecture. 

As you walk through the streets of Essex you will be in awe of the old school charm in the local buildings, houses, and churches.

You will see countless rows of Cape Cod homes along with incredible landscapes and gardens throughout the town. 

If you are searching for one of the best quick day trips from New Haven, you must check out Essex for a slower pace of life and old school beauty. 

7. Waterford

Waterford is about 45 minutes East of New Haven and is known for the beautiful Harkness Memorial State Park.

This park consists of over 200 acres of beautiful land filled with greenery, gardens, and water features. 

If you are looking to reel in some fish, be sure to bring your favorite surf fishing rod and beach fishing cart so that you can fish in the Long Island Sound off of Harkness Memorial State Park. 

Out of State Day Trips From New Haven

8. New York City

An epic day trip from New Haven is to venture to New York City, which is roughly 2 hours away by car or 2 hours and 15 minutes by train. Of course these times depend on city traffic but you can typically get to NYC within two hours of New Haven. 

New York City has so much to offer including an abundance of shopping from high end designer stores to boutique shops. 

If shopping isn’t your thing, New York City has countless museums, art galleries, monuments, Broadway theaters, and much more. If you are looking to learn and experience more of the Big Apple, endless excursions await you.

Additionally, we would be remiss if we did not mention the infamous Time Square, Rockefellers Center, and Central Park, all of which are incredible places to visit and have so much to offer. 

We have been two New York City more times than we can count and each trip we uncover new hidden gems and more reasons to love the city.

If you’ve never been to city before, we highly recommend you experience it for yourself.

Book a stay at The Westin New York at Times Square if you would like to stay in the area for more than a quick day trip and would truly like to indulge in all that New York City has to offer.

9. Philadelphia

Another incredible city outside of Connecticut that you can visit on one of the best day trips from New Haven is Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

Philadelphia is known for its rich history, delicious cheesesteaks, countless museums, and for having one of the best zoos in the United States. 

For history lovers, Philadelphia must be on your bucket list. This city is known for having the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall.

Additionally, there are countless sites throughout the city that are notable in reference to the American Revolution. 

Be sure to book the Historic and Revolutionary Philadelphia Tour for an unbelievable experience that will teach you a tremendous amount about Philly.

Including background knowledge on our Founding Fathers and take you to countless historic sites, landmarks, and attractions that will have you transported back in time to the American Revolution. 

Once your tour is over, be sure to check out Pat’s King of Steaks for a philly cheesesteak that will blow your mind. 

We have visited Philadelphia on multiple occasions and we rave about its unique history and crave-worthy food.

Although Philadelphia is a great day trip from New Haven, you could definitely spend multiple days exploring all that Philly has to offer.

If you would like to extend your trip, be sure to check out The Logan Philadelphia, Curio Collection by Hilton.

10. Boston

One of my personal favorite big cities on the East Coast is Boston, Massachusetts.

This city is located about 140 miles northeast of New Haven and it takes roughly 2 and a half hours to 3 hours to get there by car and by train.

Boston is home to incredible lobster rolls, delicious Italian food, abundant history, Harvard University, and so much more. 

We strongly recommend that you grab a lobster roll while visiting the area, one of our favorite places to stop by is James Hook & Co.

They serve up mouth watering lobster rolls, unforgettable chowder, and cold beer. 

If you would like to discover the city better and learn more about its deep history be sure to book the Boston Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour with 14 Stops.

This is an incredible way to see popular spots in Boston and hop on and hop off as you please depending on your various interests. 

If you fall in love with Boston like we did and wish to stay for a few days be sure to check out the Fairmont Copley Plaza for an incredible place to stay in the area!

11. Hershey

Hershey, Pennsylvania is another fantastic destination for day trips from New Haven.

If you are looking for a unique experience that is not to a big city and not to a coastal town, Hershey is your place to be. 

Hershey is roughly 250 miles southwest of New Haven and is known for Hershey’s chocolate and Hershey Park.

This is a tremendous place to visit if you are a chocolate lover and thrill seeker. 

Although you can definitely visit Hershey Park on a day trip, we highly recommend that you spend more than a day in the area so that you can hop on all the rides and enjoy all the chocolate you wish to indulge in.

Be sure to book your stay at the Tru by Hilton Hershey Chocolate Avenue for an incredible place to stay and prime location.

12. Providence

Providence, Rhode Island is situated about 100 miles from New Haven. It takes about 1 hour and 50 minutes to drive or 1 hour and 30 minutes to ride on the train.

This is an excellent city to visit if you would like to marvel at historic architecture, enjoy a vibrant art scene, and eat delicious food.

If you are looking for a unique city to visit or simply want to spend time in Rhode Island, take advantage of the short day trip to Providence for a memorable time.

13. Springfield

The city of Springfield, Massachusetts is located one hour North of New Haven.

This is a phenomenal city to visit for many reasons. The first being, Springfield is often famed for being the destination where basketball was first invented and for housing the Basketball Hame of Fame.

So, if you are a basketball fan, don’t hesitate to visit Springfield.

However, if you aren’t the biggest fan of the sport, still don’t sleep on the city. It’s a fantastic place to visit for its rich history.

Whether you want to learn about the first automobile crafted or the first military armory, make your way to Springfield to expand your knowledge on some of America’s innovations.

14. Killington

If you would like to hit one of the best ski resorts on the East Coast, don’t hesitate to take a day trip from New Haven to Killington, Vermont.

We are avid skiers and snowboarders and have skied all over the United States.

One of our favorite memories comes from skiing the fantastic slopes in Killington so we can attest to how incredible the resort is.

The drive takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes but is totally worth it if you want to spend some time dominating the ski slopes.

15. Albany

Albany, New York is known for countless things. Two things that we know Albany for include its incredible colleges and being home to some remarkable food.

If you want to visit a city in New York and want to skip out on the NYC, make your way to Albany to experience its unique atmosphere.

The city is situated 2 hours and 30 minutes northwest of New Haven and a great place to venture for its history, culture, and cuisine.

16. Manchester

Manchester, New Hampshire is located about 3 hours northeast of New Haven and an incredible day trip option.

This city is known for its businesses and history. We recommend checking out The Currier Museum of Art, if you are an art enthusiast.

If art is not your thing, head over to the Millyard Museum to learn about the history of Manchester.

17. Martha’s Vineyard

Okay, so maybe Martha’s Vineyard might be considered a weekend trip from New Haven rather than a day trip… but you could definitely make it a day trip if you really wanted to.

Martha’s Vineyard is known for its outstanding views of the coast and magnificent seafood.

It’s located about 4 hours and 40 minutes from New Haven but absolutely worth the haul because of its beautiful scenery and scrumptious food.

FAQs About Day Trips From New Haven

How do I spend a day in New Haven?

There are countless ways to spend a day in New Haven. We recommend starting by making your way to Yale University where you can take in the tremendous architecture of one of the most prominent Ivy League colleges in the United States. 

After you are done taking in the beauty of Yale, we recommend that you check out Food Truck Paradise where you can pick from a handful of different cuisines and food trucks to enjoy some delicious and authentic food by the water. 

Afterwards, you need to check out East Rock Park or Lighthouse Point Park for some incredible views and time spent outdoors.

Lastly, we recommend heading to Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana for delicious pizza for dinner!

Is New Haven worth a visit?

New Haven is definitely worth a visit between it being the home of Yale University, the endless great food and pizza in the area, along with it being right on the Connecticut coast… you must put New Haven on your bucket list. 

Where do New Yorkers go for day trips?

This really depends on what part of New York they are traveling from. Many New Yorkers travel throughout the state of New York to different destinations such as New York City, Beacon, and Niagara Falls.

However, there are countless day trips that New Yorkers take out of state including Philadelphia and New Haven.

Is there a lot to do in New Haven CT?

There is a tremendous amount to do in the New Haven area including exploring Yale, visiting the coast, checking out parks, eating delicious food, exploring different theaters, museums, and galleries and so much more!

What is New Haven best known for?

New Haven is best known for being the home of Yale University! However, it’s often known for having some of the best and authentic pizza in the United States as well. 

We hope you enjoyed this article on the best day trips from New Haven! Happy Exploring!