stories
stories
HomeMoneyLifestyleNewsSportsEntertainmentTravelScienceLocal

Highest-rated free things to do in Connecticut by visitors

·Stacker

r.classen // Shutterstock
r.classen // Shutterstock
Add Stacker as Preferred Source

Being an American can be incredibly expensive. While workers in the United States have seen a 1,015% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the ever-growing cost of living, according to a 2025 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1973 and 2023, the national consumer price index increased by 586%.

Although Americans have about 63% more purchasing power than 50 years ago, that quickly dissipates when factoring in the increased costs of housing and education. Housing costs have jumped about 1,045%, private college tuition has risen by 158%, and public college tuition has increased by 177%.

That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. In 2023, a record-high 42.9 million households were cost-burdened, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.

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.

From touring landmarks and historical sites to getting out into nature, 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 Aug. 18, 2025. Only locations that received at least 20 reviews were included.

Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!

You may also like: Highest-rated IPAs in Connecticut

#29. Tanger Outlets Foxwoods

Tripadvisor

2 / 30

#29. Tanger Outlets Foxwoods

- Rating: 4.1/5 (244 reviews)
- City: Mashantucket Mystic Country
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#24. West Hartford Reservoir

Tripadvisor

7 / 30

#24. West Hartford Reservoir

- Rating: 4.7/5 (211 reviews)
- City: West Hartford
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#22. Devil's Hopyard State Park

Tripadvisor

9 / 30

#22. Devil's Hopyard State Park

- Rating: 4.2/5 (147 reviews)
- City: East Haddam
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#20. Yale Center for British Art

Tripadvisor

11 / 30

#20. Yale Center for British Art

- Rating: 4.7/5 (368 reviews)
- City: New Haven
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#17. Niantic Bay Boardwalk

Tripadvisor

14 / 30

#17. Niantic Bay Boardwalk

- Rating: 4.5/5 (111 reviews)
- City: East Lyme Mystic Country
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#9. Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library

Tripadvisor

22 / 30

#9. Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library

- Rating: 4.8/5 (286 reviews)
- City: New Haven
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#7. Historic Downtown Mystic

Tripadvisor

24 / 30

#7. Historic Downtown Mystic

- Rating: 4.4/5 (717 reviews)
- City: Mystic Mystic Country
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#5. The Submarine Force Museum

Tripadvisor

26 / 30

#5. The Submarine Force Museum

- Rating: 4.7/5 (907 reviews)
- City: Groton Mystic Country
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#4. Mohegan Sun

Tripadvisor

27 / 30

#4. Mohegan Sun

- Rating: 4.1/5 (1,522 reviews)
- City: Uncasville Mystic Country
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#3. Yale University Art Gallery

Tripadvisor

28 / 30

#3. Yale University Art Gallery

- Rating: 4.8/5 (996 reviews)
- City: New Haven
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#2. Olde Mistick Village

Tripadvisor

29 / 30

#2. Olde Mistick Village

- Rating: 4.1/5 (1,768 reviews)
- City: Mystic Mystic Country
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#1. Foxwoods Resort Casino

Tripadvisor

30 / 30

#1. Foxwoods Resort Casino

- Rating: 3.9/5 (3,448 reviews)
- City: Mashantucket Mystic Country
- Read more on Tripadvisor

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.

You may also like: Best counties to retire to in Connecticut

Trending stories