The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) today announced the start of the 2025 Ferry Season. The historical Chester-Hadlyme Ferry will begin its 2025 season at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, April 1. However, due to sustained high water levels on the Connecticut River, the Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry will open at a later date.
The Chester-Hadlyme Ferry and the Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry are some of the most unique modes of transportation in the country, where pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles are all welcome. Last season, the Chester-Hadlyme Ferry and the Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry combined to carry more than 100,000 passengers and 45,000 vehicles across the river.
“Spring is here and that means another ferry season on the Connecticut River. No matter if someone is driving, walking, or biking, the ferries are an enjoyable way to travel,” said Connecticut Department of Transportation Bureau Chief of Public Transportation Benjamin Limmer. “It’s going to be another great season on the Connecticut River. We’re looking forward to welcoming back crews and passengers, and we invite first time riders to come and enjoy these wonderful services.”
The Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry is the oldest continuously operating ferry in America, which began service in 1655. At one time, two horses on treadmills supplied the power to propel the vessel across the river. In 1876, the ferry was modernized to steam driven crafts. Today’s craft is a three-car barge named the Hollister III that is towed back and forth by the Cumberland, a diesel-powered tugboat.
The Chester-Hadlyme Ferry launched in 1769, and CTDOT began operating the service in 1917. It can carry eight or nine cars and 49 passengers, and thanks to having a propeller and rudder on both ends of the boat, and travels back and forth without needing to turn around.
When the ferries are in service, they operate on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. and on weekends from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Whether walking, biking, or taking a car, paying a fare is easy using the Token Transit app or by scanning the QR code at the ferry landings.
Weather conditions, water levels, or mechanical issues may impact ferry operations, with any closures and delays shared online. Members of the public are encouraged to sign up for alerts on the real-time travel and traffic information website CTroads.com.
For additional information on the ferries, including fares, schedules, and complete history, please visit CT.gov/DOT/CTferries.