Highest-rated free things to do in Connecticut, according to Tripadvisor
Highest-rated free things to do in Connecticut, according to Tripadvisor
It is incredibly expensive to be an American. While workers in the United States have seen an 80% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the ever-growing cost of living, according to a 2024 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1970 and 2022, the national consumer price index increased by over 500%, while wages only grew by 80%.
That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. The number of cost-burdened households in the U.S. reached an 11-year record in 2022, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies. In June 2024, Redfin reported that the median U.S. home sale price hit an all-time high of $394,000.
It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence over vacations. But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in Connecticut.
Think about the most common items on a vacation getaway itinerary: sightseeing, touring landmarks, or completing a nature walk. Or, maybe you're just aiming to relax and want some peace and quiet. Whether you're a history buff or aching to dip your toes in some cool water, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.
To help you find your next free activity, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in Connecticut using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of June 12, 2024.
Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!
#30. Weir Farm National Historic Site
- Rating: 4.5/5 (121 reviews)
- Address: 735 Nod Hill Road Wilton, Connecticut
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#29. Stonington Vineyards
- Rating: 4/5 (198 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#28. Avery Point Light
- Rating: 4.5/5 (99 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#27. Two Roads Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (211 reviews)
- Address: 1700 Stratford Ave. Stratford, Connecticut
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#26. Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (118 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#25. Hubbard Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (199 reviews)
- Address: 999 West Main St. Meriden, Connecticut
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#24. Greenwich Avenue
- Rating: 4.5/5 (209 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#23. East Rock Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (185 reviews)
- Address: 41 Cold Spring St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#22. West Hartford Reservoir
- Rating: 4.5/5 (211 reviews)
- Address: 1420 Farmington Ave. West Hartford, Connecticut
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#21. Gouveia Vineyards
- Rating: 4/5 (359 reviews)
- Address: 1339 Whirlwind Hill Road Wallingford, Connecticut
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#20. Tarrywile Park & Mansion
- Rating: 4.5/5 (179 reviews)
- Address: 70 Southern Blvd. Danbury, Connecticut
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#19. Jones Family Farm
- Rating: 4.5/5 (251 reviews)
- Address: 606 Walnut Tree Hill Road Shelton, Connecticut
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#18. Bluff Point State Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (213 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#17. Talcott Mountain State Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (180 reviews)
- Address: Rte. 185 Simsbury, Connecticut
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#16. Connecticut State Capitol
- Rating: 4.5/5 (230 reviews)
- Address: 210 Capitol Ave. Hartford, Connecticut
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#15. White Memorial Conservation Center
- Rating: 5/5 (153 reviews)
- Address: 80 Whitehall Road Litchfield, Connecticut
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#14. USS Nautilus
- Rating: 5/5 (162 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#13. Yale Center for British Art
- Rating: 4.5/5 (367 reviews)
- Address: 1080 Chapel St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#12. Silver Sands State Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (429 reviews)
- Address: 1 Silver Sands Park Way Milford, Connecticut
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#11. Sleeping Giant State Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (304 reviews)
- Address: 200 Mount Carmel Ave. Hamden, Connecticut
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#10. Elizabeth Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (428 reviews)
- Address: 1561 Asylum Ave. I-84 Exit 44 West Hartford, Connecticut
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#9. Historic Downtown Mystic
- Rating: 4.5/5 (707 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#8. Mystic River Bascule Bridge
- Rating: 4.5/5 (806 reviews)
- Address: E Main St. Groton - Stonington Mystic, Connecticut
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#7. Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library
- Rating: 5/5 (283 reviews)
- Address: 121 Wall St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#6. Mohegan Sun
- Rating: 4/5 (1,511 reviews)
- Address: 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd. Uncasville, Connecticut
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#5. Olde Mistick Village
- Rating: 4/5 (1,747 reviews)
- Address: 27 Coogan Blvd. Mystic, Connecticut
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#4. Yale University
- Rating: 4.5/5 (835 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#3. Foxwoods Resort Casino
- Rating: 4/5 (3,357 reviews)
- Address: 350 Trolley Line Blvd. Mashantucket, Connecticut
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#2. The Submarine Force Museum
- Rating: 4.5/5 (901 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#1. Yale University Art Gallery
- Rating: 5/5 (988 reviews)
- Address: 1111 Chapel St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Read more on Tripadvisor
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Zuri White-Gibson, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states and Washington D.C.
