Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Bus Permits and Fees

For school groups bringing in buses to parks that historically have lifeguards during the swim season, we recommend that you check with the park before your visit to learn if lifeguards will be on duty at that park on the day of your visit.

Mid-Size to Full-Size Bus (seating capacity for 30 or more passengers):

  • Allowed only at selected State Park & Recreation areas.
  • Must obtain a permit for each bus at least 14 days in advance of the visit.
  • Bus fees:  
    •  CT Registered Bus:  $9.00 bus permit transaction fee, no other fees.  
    • Out-of-State Registered Bus:  $9.00 bus permit transaction fee AND a $150 bus fee if visiting one of our 26 park locations with fees in place for out-of-state registered vehicles between April 1 - October 31st.  

Mini-Bus (seating capacity of more than 12 but less than 30 passengers):

  • Allowed entry at all State Park & Recreation Areas.
  • Do not need to obtain a bus permit.
  • Mini-Bus fees:  
    • CT Registered Mini-bus:  no fee, no permit required
    • Out-of-State Registered Bus:  $60 mini bus fee if visiting one of our 26 park locations with fees in place for out-of-state registered vehicles between April 1 - October 31st, no permit required.  

Bus Permits

Bus Permits are available through a reservation call center at toll free 1-877-668-2267 (1-877-668-CAMP).  Up to ten bus permit reservations can be made per call.  

Call Center Operating Hours:

Peak Season:  May 1 – September 1
Monday - Wednesday: 8 am - 2:30 pm
Thursday - Friday: 8 am - 6:30 pm
Saturday and Sunday: 9 am - 12 pm.

Off-Peak Season:  September 2 - April 30
Monday - Friday: 9 am - 12 pm

Reservations can be made up to 11 months prior to the planned arrival date and up to fourteen (14) days before the visit. Information required to make a reservation must include:

  1. Name of the park or recreation area requested.
  2. Name and address of organization.
  3. Date of arrival.
  4. Name, address and phone number of person responsible for, and accompanying bus or buses.
  5. Number of buses.

Once a permit has been issued, it will be emailed or faxed to the organization that has submitted the request.  The permit must be brought to the recreation area with the bus it was assigned to.

Bus permits are issued on a first come/first served basis.  A limited number of permits are available for each Park or Recreation Area. 

A separate permit is required for each bus.

Buses MUST remain at the recreation area at all times in case of inclement weather or the need for an emergency evacuation.

Please be advised that if you are requesting a program, you must still contact the State Park directly to reserve group programs.  The reservation system does not handle program bookings.

Bus Fees

Mid-Size to Full-Size Bus (seating capacity for 30 or more passengers):

  • CT-Registered:  $9.00 permit transaction fee, no other fees.
  • Out-of-State:  $9.00 permit transaction fee AND $150 bus fee*

  *$150 bus fee is charged only when visiting one of our park locations with fees in place between April 1 - October 31

There will be a $9.00 fee to cancel or change a reservation.

Mini-Bus (seating capacity of more than 12 but less than 30 passengers):

  • CT-Registered:  No fees, permit not required.
  • Out-of-State: $60 mini-bus fee* Payment must be made by cash or company check.  Credit cards are not accepted at most park entrances, with the exception of Hammonasset Beach State Park.

*$60 mini-bus fee is charged only when visiting one of our park locations with fees in place between April 1 - October 31

General Rules About Buses at State Parks
  • Weekend and holiday buses are only allowed at the following locations:  Bluff Point, Eagle Landing, and Hammonasset Beach State Parks.
  • Bus permits are required during the holidays and 'peak' recreation season which generally runs during the period of Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day. Some parks have earlier and/or later running permit dates (Bluff Point, Gillette Castle, Haddam Meadows, Pattaconk Recreation Area (Cockaponset SF), Rocky Neck and Sherwood Island.)
  • Buses are allowed without a permit in park and recreation areas outside of the permit/'peak' season". For those parks where buses are allowed access without a permit, we ask that the entity bringing in a bus contact the park at least two days in advance of their visit so that the park is aware that a bus or buses are coming to the park.
  • For school groups bringing in buses to parks that historically have lifeguards during the swim season, we recommend that you check with the park before your visit to learn if lifeguards will be on duty at that park on the day of your visit.

Parks and Recreation Areas Allowing Mid-Size and Full-Size Buses

Buses with seating capacity for 30 or more passengers are ONLY allowed at the locations listed below, and a permit must be obtained at least 14 days prior to the visit.  

Black Rock State Park
Bluff Point State Park
Burr Pond State Park
c

 Black Rock  Mansfield Hollow 
 Bluff Point (w)  Mashamoquet Brook
 Burr Pond  Mount Tom
 Chatfield Hollow  Pattaconk Rec. Area
 Eagle Landing (w)  People's Forest
 Gay City  Putnam Memorial
 Gillette Castle  Quaddick
 Haddam Meadows  Rocky Neck
 Hammonasset Beach (w)  Sherwood Island
 Harkness Memorial  Silver Sands
 Hopeville Pond  Sleeping Giant

 Housatonic Meadows

  Southford Falls
 Indian Well  Squantz Pond
 Kent Falls  Stratton Brook
 Kettletown   Wadsworth Falls
 Lake Waramaug  Wharton Brook

 

The parks denoted in bold letters with (w) allow buses on weekends and holidays.  The rest of these parks allow buses only during the work week (Monday through Friday).

For additional information on bus permits and fees, please contact the State Parks Division at 860-424-3200 Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm or at deep.stateparks@ct.gov.

Content Last Updated April 2022