Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at an 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Fall Foliage Driving Routes in Connecticut

Fall Foliage Driving Routes

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