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Major city · United States

Groton, ConnecticutGroton

Give Groton one full day for the Submarine Force Museum and Fort Griswold, then sleep in Mystic: the sights are 10–15 min apart by car.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Groton is a small coastal city on the Thames River, split between a working naval town and the tourist village of Mystic in its eastern half. Almost everything a visitor wants sits on two roads: Crystal Lake Road for the submarine museum and Fort Griswold, and Route 27 for Mystic. One night is enough unless you are using it as a base for the whole Mystic–New London coast.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
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More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
May–Oct (museum open daily mid-May to mid-Oct)
avoid Jan–Feb (cold, some sights on winter hours)
Airports
GON · BDL · PVD · WST
Nights
1
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.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Groton, Connecticut911 ▾

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

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

Show all 12 answers

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$3–5
  • Sit-down mealSit-down dinner, mainTip 18–22% on the pre-tax total.$18–35
  • Street or quick mealDiner breakfast$10–16
  • Beerdraught in a bar / can at a store$7–9$2–4
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–30
  • Museum or sight ticketSubmarine Force Museum entryFree (donations invited)
  • Budget bedHostel or motel bed, a night, per personUS$45
  • 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$80 · Mid US$140 · High US$260

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

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

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.

USS Nautilus and the Submarine Force MuseumFort Griswold Battlefield State ParkMystic seaport and aquarium next doorNaval Submarine Base New London
Airports
GON Groton–New London Airport (General aviation only, no scheduled flights.) · BDL Bradley International, Windsor Locks (About 1 h 15 min by car.) · PVD T.F. Green, Warwick, Rhode Island (About 1 h by car.) · WST Westerly Airport, Rhode Island (Smaller regional field; check current service.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    4°C (39°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    5°C (41°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    9°C (48°F)

  4. Apr

    not flagged

    14°C (57°F)

  5. May

    Best

    19°C (66°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    24°C (75°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    27°C (81°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    27°C (81°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    23°C (73°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    17°C (63°F)

  11. Nov

    not flagged

    12°C (54°F)

  12. Dec

    not flagged

    6°C (43°F)

Best: May–Oct. Avoid: Jan–Feb. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (27°C (81°F)), coolest Jan (−5°C (23°F) low), wettest Apr (11 rain days), driest Sep (8). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Groton, 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

4°C (39°F)

−5°C (23°F)

10 rd

Feb

5°C (41°F)

−4°C (25°F)

9 rd

Mar

9°C (48°F)

0°C (32°F)

10 rd

Apr

14°C (57°F)

4°C (39°F)

11 rd

May

19°C (66°F)

9°C (48°F)

11 rd

Jun

24°C (75°F)

14°C (57°F)

10 rd

Jul

27°C (81°F)

18°C (64°F)

9 rd

Aug

27°C (81°F)

17°C (63°F)

9 rd

Sep

23°C (73°F)

13°C (55°F)

8 rd

Oct

17°C (63°F)

7°C (45°F)

9 rd

Nov

12°C (54°F)

3°C (37°F)

10 rd

Dec

6°C (43°F)

−2°C (28°F)

10 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

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

Getting around

A car is the practical choice: the museum, the fort and Mystic are 10–15 min apart and buses are thin. Amtrak serves New London across the river, about 10 min by car or taxi from Groton centre. I-95 exits 85–87 and US Route 1 link the pieces.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Mysticgo

Door to door: 15 min

Drive Route 27 south, about 10 min

Seaport, aquarium and the densest restaurant strip in the area.

New London, Connecticutgo

Door to door: 15–20 min

Drive US 1 or I-95 across the Gold Star Bridge, or take the Cross Sound Ferry from New London

Amtrak station, ferries to Long Island and Block Island, waterfront dining.

Ledyard, Connecticutgo

Door to door: 20 min

Drive Route 12 north to Route 214

Foxwoods resort and the Mashantucket Pequot Museum.

Preston, Connecticutcaution

Door to door: 20 min

Drive Route 12 north, about 15 min

Mostly rural; worth it only for a specific farm, vineyard or event.

Old Lyme

go

Door to door: 30 min

Drive I-95 south to exit 70

Art colony, beaches and the Connecticut River ferry in summer.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

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

Long Hill Road (I-95 exits 85–86)

Chain hotels, free parking, 5–10 min to the submarine museum; best if you have a car.

Route 12 / Groton centre

Cheaper motels and the bowling centre; a short drive to both fort and museum.

Mystic (eastern Groton)

Walkable seaport, aquarium and restaurants; the best base if you want an evening on foot.

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

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
$70–110 excl. bed
Mid
$110–190 excl. bed
High
$190+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Chain-hotel double room1 × 1 night × US$180US$180
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$140US$280
Rental car, one day1 × US$85 · checkUS$85
Fuel, about 50 km of local driving1 × US$8 · checkUS$8
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$58
Trip total≈ US$321 per person per day, bed includedUS$641

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

Prices of common things

Coffee$3–5
Diner breakfast$10–16
Lunch, sandwich or chowder$12–20
Sit-down dinner, mainTip 18–22% on the pre-tax total.$18–35
Beer: draught in a bar / can at a store$7–9 / $2–4
Submarine Force Museum entryFree (donations invited)
Fort Griswold Battlefield State ParkFree (check)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–30

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Groton is a normal small New England city: the real risks are I-95 traffic, dark unlit roads around the fort at night, and summer rip currents at nearby beaches. Lock the car and keep to lit streets after dark.
  • The Submarine Force Museum runs winter hours (closed some days): check before you drive out.
  • Fort Griswold is an outdoor hilltop site with uneven ground and no shelter.
  • The naval base is an active military installation: no public access without prior arrangement.
  • Summer weekends fill Mystic hotels and Route 27 traffic; book ahead.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Groton Police (non-emergency)
860-445-2451
Poison control
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.

Groton, ConnecticutGroton

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Groton Police (non-emergency)860-445-2451
  • Poison control1-800-222-1222

Embassy

No embassies in Groton; consulates-general are in Boston and New York. US visitors: your own country's nearest consulate is in those cities.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Taxi or rideshare, Groton centre → Mystic: $15–25, about 10 min (check)
  • Amtrak New London → New York: about $40–90, 2 h 30 min (check)
  • Cross Sound Ferry, New London → Orient Point: about $25–70 per car plus passengers, 1 h 30 min (check)

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Where is the restroom? — Where is the restroom?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • How much is it? — How much is it?
  • I need help — I need help

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

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

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 Groton, 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 (museum open daily mid-May to mid-Oct) · avoid Jan–Feb (cold, some sights on winter hours) · month by month →
  2. 4 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for BDL and PVD: last train and taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Crystal Lake Road, Fort Griswold, and the Mystic village edge.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Submarine Force Museum, Fort Griswold, Mystic Seaport) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Seasonal and hostile arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources