Connecticut Parkways

Use of CT RTE 15 and CT RTE 796 is limited

Passenger Vehicles Only Image

Prohibited parkway vehicles

Trucks and some other vehicles cannot use two of Connecticut’s parkways:

  • CT Route 15 (Merritt Parkway and Wilbur Cross Parkway) between the New York State Line & I-91 in Meriden, CT
  • CT Route 796 (Milford Parkway)

This page provides the details you need to avoid being ticketed for a traffic violation.

There have been NO changes to the regulations governing the use of State highways designated as "Parkways" since 2014."
The following is provided for clarification, is not an all-inclusive list, and any omission should not be considered as permissible.

Prohibitions by size and appearance

You cannot drive a vehicle on the Merritt Parkway, Wilbur Cross Parkway, or Milford Parkway that:

  • Is more than 8 feet tall
  • Is more than 24 feet long
  • Is more than 7 feet 6 inches wide (excluding mirrors)
  • Has business branding, advertising, logos

Examples of prohibited vehicles

Type of vehicle Exceptions Examples

Passenger vehicles

May use Parkways subject to the HEIGHT, LENGTH, AND WIDTH limits noted above providing they have no business branding, advertising, or logos thereon which would classify them as a vehicle used for commercial purposes.

N/A

Commercial vehicles

PROHIBITED

  • Vehicles with commercial license plates
  • Vehicles with branding, advertising, or logos
  • Trucks

Trucks

PROHIBITED

  • Rental trucks (U-Haul, Budget, Penske, etc.
  • Tractor trailers
  • Box trucks

Recreational vehicles (RVs)

PROHIBITED

  • Personal RVs
  • Rental RVs

Trailers/towing

PROHIBITED
Exceptions as noted to the right

  • Utility trailers
  • Car trailers
  • Tow trailers
  • Camper trailers
    Exception:
  • A vehicle which has become disabled while using the parkway may be towed from the parkway but only by a registered wrecker or a wrecker vehicle which is defined as follows:
  • A vehicle is properly registered, designed, equipped and used exclusively for the purpose of towing for compensation wrecked or disabled motor vehicles.

Buses

PROHIBITED

All buses, including commercial buses, bearing BUS license plate or otherwise.

Combination license plated vehicles

Generally PROHIBITED
Exceptions noted to the right

Combination Plated vehicles with Gross Vehicle Weight Rating fully loaded of 7500 lbs or less and without business branding, advertising, or logos etc. which would classify them as a vehicle used for commercial purposes.

School buses

Generally PROHIBITED
Exceptions as noted to the right

Two-axle four-wheeled type II registered school bus that satisfy all of the following:

  • Gross vehicle weight rating of ten thousand pounds or less
  • Owned by or under contract to a public, private, or religious school or public school district
  • Engaged in the transportation of school children to and from school or school activities
  • Camper Trailers
    Are not more than:
  • 98 inches high (8 FT 2 IN)
  • 84 inches wide (7 FT 0 IN)
  • 203 inches long (16 FT 11 IN)

Service buses

Generally PROHIBITED
Exceptions as noted to the right

Service buses that satisfy all of the following:

  • Owned by or under contract to a public, private, or religious school or public school district
  • Engaged in the transportation of school children to and from school or school activities. Are not more than:
  • 8 feet high
  • 7 feet 6 inches wide
  • 24 feet long

Services buses for students with special needs

Generally PROHIBITED
Exceptions as noted to the right

Service buses for students with special needs that satisfy all of the following:

  • Owned by or under contract to a public, private, or religious school or public school district
  • Engaged in the transportation of school children with special needs to and from school or school activities
    Are not more than:
  • 120 inches high (10 FT 0 IN)
  • 90 inches wide (7 FT 6 IN)
  • 288 inches long (24 FT 0 IN)

Hearses

PROHIBITED
When in procession otherwise allowed provided the vehicle does not exceed the HEIGHT, LENGTH, AND WIDTH limits noted above.

N/A

Contact Information

Office of the State Traffic Administration
Connecticut Department of Transportation
2800 Berlin Turnpike
Newington, CT 06131
Phone: 860-594-3020
Fax: 860-594-2552
Email: DOT.OSTA@ct.gov