Fall Foliage Driving Routes in Connecticut

Loop #1 Scenic Fairfield - (Approximately 115 miles)

• Begin in Norwalk at Route 15 (Merritt Parkway) exit 38. 
• Go north on Routes 123, 106, 33, 35 and 7 to I-84 exit 3 in Danbury. 
• Then head east on 84 to exit 5.
• Take left on Starr Ave.
• Quick right onto Cowpertwaite St.
• Quick right to North Main Street.
• Quick left on Golden Hill Road to Route 39.
• Go north on Routes 39 to 37 to Route 7.
• Take 7 to New Milford.
• Go south on Route 67 to Roxbury, then Route 317 to Woodbury. 
• From Woodbury take Route 6 south to I-84 exit 15. 
• Jog west on 84 to exit 10, then southwest on Routes 6, 25 and 302 to Route 58. 
• Head south on 58 and 136 to Route 15 (Merritt Parkway) exit 42 and head for Norwalk to close the loop.

Loop #2 Traditional New England - (Approximately 100 miles)

• Begin in Torrington. 
• Go north on Route 8 to Winsted then northwest on 44 to Canaan. 
• Turn south on Route 7 to Kent, then east on 341 to Warren and South on 45 through New Preston. 
• Go east on Route 202 for about a mile then turn south on 47 to Washington Depot. 
• Turn northeast on Route 109 to East Morris, then north on Route 63 to Litchfield. 
• Head east on 118 for a few miles then north on Route 8 to close the loop.

Loop #3 Hartford West - (Approximately 90 miles)

• Begin in Hartford. 
• Take 1-91 north to exit 45 (Bridge Street, East Windsor). 
• Head west on Route 140 to the airport, then south on 75 to Route 20. 
• Head west through Granby, the Hartlands and Riverton, picking up West River Road south through People's State Forest to Pleasant Valley. 
• Continue south on Route 181 to Route 44 and head east through New Hartford, Canton and Avon to Route 10 - south to Farmington. 
• Pick up Route 4 and head for Hartford to close the loop.

Loop #4 Yankee Roots - (Approximately 100 miles)

• Begin on I-84 exit 67. 
• Go south on Route 31 to the junction of Route 44. 
• Take 44 east to Route 195. 
• Turn south on 195 to Route 6 and turn east to Brooklyn. 
• Pick up Route 169 north to North Woodstock, then go west on Routes 197 and 190 to I-84 exit 73.
• Turn west to close the loop.

Loop #5 CT Heritage - (Approximately 90 miles)

• Begin in New London. 
• Take I-95 north across the Thames River to lefthand exit 86. 
• Go east on Route 184 to Old Mystic. 
• Take Route 27 south to Mystic. 
• Go east on Route 1 to Route 2, then north on Route 2, 184 and 49 to Route 14A to Canterbury. 
• Head south on Routes 169 and 2 to Norwich then take Route 32 south to close the loop at New London.

Loop #6 Connecticut River Gateway - (Approximately 80 miles)

• Begin at Middletown. 
• Go south on Route 9 to exit 10. 
• Take Route 154 south to Route 148, then head east to a ferryboat crossing. (Note: ferry season in April - November; alternate crossing is the I-95 bridge between Old Lyme and Old Saybrook.) 
• From the landing, continue east on 148 and 82 to Route 156, then turn south to I-95. 
• Cross the river on 95 to exit 69.
• Head north on Route 154 to Route 82 and recross the river at East Haddam. 
• Continue east to Route 151 and turn north to Cobalt. 
• Turn left on Route 66 and close the loop at Middletown.

Loop #7 New Haven & Neighborhood - (Approximately 70 miles)

• Begin in New Haven. 
• Take I-95 north to exit 51
• Pick up Route 1, then 146 and continue east to Guilford. 
• Turn north on Route 77 to Durham, then north on 17 and west on 147, 157, 68 and 70 to Cheshire. 
• Take Route 10 south to New Haven to close the loop.

CT Fall Foliage  |  Current Foliage Report
Where to View Fall Foliage in Connecticut  |  The Colors of Fall
Why Leaves Change Color