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Major city · United States

New London, ConnecticutNew London

Give New London one full day plus a night: waterfront and Custom House in the morning, Ocean Beach in the afternoon, Mystic or the casinos as a second day.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
May–Oct
avoid Jan–Feb (cold, some sights closed or weekend-only)
Airports
PVD · BDL · GON
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

New London is a small maritime city on the Thames River, halfway between New Haven and Providence on the Northeast Corridor. Amtrak and Shore Line East stop at Union Station, so it works as a car-free overnight between New York and Boston. Two nights covers the city and one day trip; one night is enough if you only want the waterfront.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about New London, Connecticut, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$3–6
  • Sit-down mealCasual dinner, per person$20–35
  • Street or quick mealBreakfast sandwich or diner plate$10–18
  • Beerdraught in a bar$7–9
  • Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi or rideshare, downtown to Ocean Beach$12–18
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum entrySeveral are donation-based.$5–12
  • Budget bedFamily room (up to 4), a night, per roomUS$180
  • Mid-range bedChain-hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$180
  • High-end bedChain-hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$320

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$90 · Mid US$170 · High US$320

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Maritime history and the Custom House Maritime MuseumUnited States Coast Guard AcademyOcean Beach ParkEugene O'Neill's Monte Cristo CottageCross Sound Ferry to Long Island
Airports
PVD T.F. Green, Warwick, Rhode Island (About 1 h by car via I-95) · BDL Bradley International, Windsor Locks (About 1.5 h by car) · GON Groton-New London Airport (No scheduled airline service; charter and private only)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

New London, Connecticut: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

3°C

−6°C

10 rd

Feb

4°C

−5°C

9 rd

Mar

8°C

−1°C

10 rd

Apr

14°C

4°C

10 rd

May

19°C

9°C

10 rd

Jun

24°C

14°C

9 rd

Jul

27°C

18°C

8 rd

Aug

27°C

18°C

8 rd

Sep

23°C

14°C

8 rd

Oct

17°C

8°C

8 rd

Nov

12°C

3°C

9 rd

Dec

6°C

−3°C

10 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Downtown is walkable; everything else needs a car or taxi. SEAT buses cover the region but run thinly. Amtrak Northeast Regional and Shore Line East serve Union Station at 27 Water St, with buses and ferries at the same stop.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Mysticgo

Door to door: About 45 min

Amtrak or Shore Line East to Mystic, about 15 min; or 15 min by car on I-95

Seaport and aquarium; a half day is enough for one of them.

Groton

go

Door to door: About 30 min

Car over the Gold Star Bridge, about 10 min

Submarine museum and fort; cheaper beds than downtown New London.

Ledyard (Foxwoods)

caution

Door to door: About 40 min

Car on Route 2, about 25 min; no useful bus

Casino resort; only worth it if you gamble or catch a show.

Old Lyme

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Shore Line East to Old Saybrook, then taxi; or 25 min by car

Art colony and river views; pairs well with a beach afternoon.

Preston

skip

Door to door: About 35 min

Car on Route 12/2A, about 20 min

Rural; nothing here justifies the trip unless you have a specific reason.

Storrs

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

Car on I-395 and Route 32, about 50 min

University campus; only for a campus visit or a specific event.

Woodstock

skip

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

Car on I-395 and Route 171, about 1 h

Too far for a day unless you are already driving that way.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Downtown / Bank Street

Walk to Union Station, ferries, the Custom House and restaurants; the priciest and the only car-free option.

North Frontage Road (I-95 exits)

Chain motels with parking; 5–10 min drive from downtown, cheapest rates.

Groton, across the Gold Star Bridge

Often cheaper than downtown and 5–10 min by car from Bank Street; no walkable link.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$80–130 excl. bed
Mid
$130–220 excl. bed
High
$220+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Chain-hotel double room1 × 2 nights × US$180US$360
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$170US$680
Amtrak Northeast Regional, New Haven to New London, one way2 × US$20 · checkUS$40
Cross Sound Ferry, New London to Orient Point, one way2 × US$25 · check; car rates are much higherUS$50
Ocean Beach Park, summer parking and entry1 × US$30 · checkUS$30
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$119
Trip total≈ US$327 per person per day, bed includedUS$1,309

2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$3–6
Breakfast sandwich or diner plate$10–18
Lobster rollSeasonal; waterfront shacks charge the most.$22–32
Casual dinner, per person$20–35
Beer, draught in a bar$7–9
Taxi or rideshare, downtown to Ocean Beach$12–18
Museum entrySeveral are donation-based.$5–12

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

New London is a small city with a normal US downtown risk profile: fine on Bank Street and State Street in daylight, more care after dark around the train station and the north end. Lock the car and leave nothing visible.
  • Ocean Beach Park charges per car in summer and fills by mid-morning on hot weekends.
  • Some small museums open only May–October or only Thursday–Sunday: check before you go.
  • Cross Sound Ferry and Port Jefferson ferry crossings sell out on summer weekends: book ahead.
  • Downtown is quiet after about 21:00; plan dinner before then.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Poison control (US)
1-800-222-1222

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

New London, ConnecticutNew London

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Poison control1-800-222-1222

Embassy

No embassies in New London; consulates-general are in New York and Boston.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Amtrak New Haven → New London: about $20 one way, 1 h (check)
  • Shore Line East New Haven → New London: cheaper than Amtrak, similar time (check)
  • Cross Sound Ferry New London → Orient Point: about $25 per person one way, 1 h 20 min (check)
  • Taxi downtown → Ocean Beach Park: $12–18

Say or show

  • Where is Union Station? — Where is the train station?
  • Table for two, please — A table for two, please
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Is there parking here? — Is there parking here?

Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% taxis.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for New London, Connecticut. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Oct · avoid Jan–Feb (cold, some sights closed or weekend-only) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 7 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contracts for PVD and BDL: last train and bus options, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Bank Street and the waterfront, State Street, Ocean Beach, Connecticut College.
  3. Place pages with verified seasonal cutoffs (Custom House, Monte Cristo Cottage, Hempstead Houses, Lyman Allyn) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Ferry and rail arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources