Connecticut road guide
The best motorcycle roads in Connecticut
The best motorcycle roads in Connecticut are in the northwest corner, where US 7, CT 41, CT 4 and US 44 roll through the Litchfield Hills, and in the Quiet Corner on CT 169. Add the Saville Dam meetup on CT 318, the Connecticut River towns and their little ferry, the shoreline from Branford to Stonington, and the Merritt Parkway. Here are 12 classics, with the region, why each is worth it, what to watch for and the best season.
- Roads listed
- 12
- Regions
- 3
- Best months
- May to Jun, Sep to Oct
- Check before you go
- CTroads
Before you pick
How to use this list of the best motorcycle roads in Connecticut
Connecticut is small enough to cross in a couple of hours, but it packs in three very different kinds of riding. The northwest corner is hill country: the Litchfield Hills, the Housatonic valley and the high, cold town of Norfolk. The northeast is the Quiet Corner, all stone walls and farms. The south has the Connecticut River towns and the shoreline along Long Island Sound, where the riding is slower and the stops are better.
Ride the hills early on weekends, especially in October, and save the shore for weekdays in summer. Check CTroads for closures and incidents. See the Connecticut riding overview for the state at a glance and the best time to ride in Connecticut for timing.
The Litchfield Hills
The northwest corner: the Litchfield Hills
- 1. US 7 through Kent and CornwallWhy: North from New Milford along the Housatonic River through Kent and Cornwall Bridge toward Canaan, past Bull's Bridge, Kent Falls State Park and the turn for the covered bridge at West Cornwall on CT 128. Classic New England river riding. Watch for: Narrow shoulders, people walking in Kent, and slow leaf traffic on October weekends. Best season: May to October.
- 2. CT 41, Sharon to SalisburyWhy: A quiet road north through the far northwest corner's horse farms and open fields, with long views toward the hills. Light traffic and easy curves. Watch for: No real shoulders, deer at field edges, and farm vehicles. Best season: May to October.
- 3. CT 4 across the hillsWhy: East from Sharon through Cornwall Bridge and Cornwall, near Mohawk Mountain, to Goshen and Torrington, up and down over the hills on a classic two-lane. Watch for: Frost heaves, sand at intersections in spring, and deer. Best season: May to October.
- 4. US 44 through NorfolkWhy: East from Canaan through Norfolk, one of the highest and coldest towns in the state, then down toward Winsted, with good curves through the hills. Watch for: Ice and sand that hang on later in spring up high, and trucks on the grades. Best season: May to October.
- 5. The Lake Waramaug loopWhy: Near New Preston, a narrow road circles Lake Waramaug past inns, a state park and a vineyard, with the water beside you most of the way. Short and best ridden slowly. Watch for: Cyclists, walkers and tight lakeside bends. Best season: May to October.
North-central and the Quiet Corner
The Saville Dam and the Quiet Corner
- 6. CT 318 and the Saville DamWhy: The Saville Dam, where CT 318 crosses the Barkhamsted Reservoir, is where Connecticut riders gather on weekend mornings, and good roads fan out from it toward Riverton, Granby and New Hartford. Watch for: People walking on the dam, tight parking on nice Sundays, and slow traffic over the crest. Best season: May to October.
- 7. CT 169, Quiet Corner Scenic BywayWhy: A National Scenic Byway through northeastern Connecticut, from Canterbury north through Brooklyn, Pomfret and Woodstock, past stone walls, farms, white churches and town greens. Gentle, rolling curves. Watch for: Farm equipment, sand at intersections in spring, and slow traffic on fall weekends. Best season: May to October.
The river and the coast
The Connecticut River and the shoreline
- 8. CT 154 and the Chester-Hadlyme FerryWhy: CT 154 runs up the west bank through Essex, Deep River and Chester. From Chester, the small seasonal ferry on CT 148 crosses to Hadlyme below Gillette Castle. Watch for: The ferry's steel ramp, which is slick when wet, so ride on slowly and follow the crew. Check the ferry's season and hours. Best season: May to October.
- 9. CT 82 at East HaddamWhy: CT 82 crosses the Connecticut River on the East Haddam swing bridge beside the Goodspeed Opera House, then winds east through the hills. Pair it with the ferry and CT 154 for a river-towns loop. Watch for: The bridge deck in the wet, openings for boats, and theater traffic. Best season: May to October.
- 10. CT 146 through Branford and GuilfordWhy: A narrow shore road past Stony Creek and its views toward the Thimble Islands, then across salt marsh into Guilford and its green. A slower, quieter alternative to US 1. Watch for: Tight corners, cyclists and summer beach traffic. Best season: May to June, September to October.
- 11. CT 156 and US 1 to StoningtonWhy: East of the Connecticut River, CT 156 hugs the shore through Old Lyme and Niantic, then US 1 takes over for Mystic and Stonington: harbors, seafood shacks and old seaport towns. Watch for: Summer beach traffic, the Mystic drawbridge opening for boats, and pedestrians downtown. Best season: May to June, September to October.
- 12. Merritt Parkway (CT 15)Why: A 1930s parkway through the woods of Fairfield County, closed to trucks, with a different decorative bridge at nearly every overpass. A far better way through the county than I-95. Watch for: No real shoulders, very short on-ramps, sudden slowdowns and enforcement. Ride it early on a weekend. Best season: April to November.
Summary
Connecticut motorcycle roads at a glance
| Road | Region | Best season |
|---|---|---|
| US 7, Kent and Cornwall | Northwest | May to Oct |
| CT 41, Sharon to Salisbury | Northwest | May to Oct |
| CT 4 across the hills | Northwest | May to Oct |
| US 44 through Norfolk | Northwest | May to Oct |
| Lake Waramaug loop | Northwest | May to Oct |
| CT 318 and the Saville Dam | North-central | May to Oct |
| CT 169, Quiet Corner | Northeast | May to Oct |
| CT 154 and the ferry | River towns | May to Oct |
| CT 82, East Haddam | River towns | May to Oct |
| CT 146, Branford to Guilford | Shoreline | May to Jun, Sep to Oct |
| CT 156 and US 1 to Stonington | Shoreline | May to Jun, Sep to Oct |
| Merritt Parkway | Fairfield County | Apr to Nov |
Make them count
Ride Connecticut's classic roads with Rippin'
The list from the app below shows the Connecticut roads riders have added so far. If yours isn't there, add it: ride it with Rippin' recording, open Segments and tap Create a Segment, then drop a start gate and a finish gate and trace the line. A person on our team checks it, and it goes live with your name on it. More on segments and leaderboards and how roads get added.
A segment board is about who rides a road and who owns it, never a race. Rippin' doesn't reward speed on public roads, and the Merritt's short ramps and the hills' frost heaves are reasons enough to keep it smooth.
Loops claim turf. Ride CT 154 up the west bank, cross the swing bridge at East Haddam on CT 82, run down the east bank to Hadlyme and take the ferry back to Chester, and the land inside becomes your turf on the live map. Plan one with the loop builder and read how Turf Wars works.
Live from the app
Connecticut on Rippin' right now.
1 upcoming event and 0 rider-added roads in Connecticut on the map today. This list updates whenever the site is rebuilt; the app always has the latest.
No Connecticut roads are in the app yet. Add the one you love from Segments and a person on our team checks it before it goes live. How roads get added.
FAQ
Questions riders ask.
What is the best motorcycle road in Connecticut?
Ask around and you'll hear US 7 along the Housatonic and CT 169 in the Quiet Corner first. For curves, the Litchfield Hills roads like CT 4 and US 44. For something different, the river-towns loop with the Chester ferry.
Where do Connecticut motorcycle riders meet up?
The Saville Dam on CT 318 in Barkhamsted is the classic weekend stop. Shops and bars run bike nights across the state too.
What are the best motorcycle rides near Hartford?
Head northwest to the Saville Dam and the Barkhamsted reservoir country, then on to US 44 through Norfolk or CT 4 across the Litchfield Hills.
What are the best motorcycle rides in Fairfield County?
The Merritt Parkway early on a weekend, then US 7 north toward Kent and the Litchfield Hills. For the shore, CT 146 east of New Haven.
Is the Chester-Hadlyme Ferry open year-round?
No, it's seasonal, running in the warmer months. Check the state's ferry schedule for current hours before you plan around it.
Can I add these Connecticut roads to Rippin'?
Yes. Any rider can add a road with Create a Segment. A person on the Rippin' team checks it before it goes live, and your name stays on it.
Put a Connecticut classic on the map.
Download Rippin' free, ride US 7 or the river towns with it recording, and add the road. Your name stays on it.
Free on iPhone and Android. How Rippin' works
