Westbrook, Connecticut, where the Connecticut River empties into Long Island Sound, is a beautiful area to explore. Snag an RV to explore Westbrook and the surrounding region very soon. Travel trailers are the most popular option, and they start at $89 per night. Those on a limited budget will want to consider popup campers as they begin at about $40 per night. Get around Middlesex County easily in a Class C motorhome starting at about $175 per night.Â
New Haven, Connecticut is a fantastic city to explore, and you may want to start your visit at Yale University. Art lovers will want to visit the Yale University Art Center and the Yale Center for British Art. Everyone will have a great time spending a couple of hours at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History.Â
Durham, Connecticut is an outdoor lover's paradise where you will want to explore Cockaponset State Forest and Millers Pond State Park. You will also want to hike at Miller Tree Farm and explore Tri-Mountain State Park.Â
Regardless of the season, you will want to spend time exploring Middletown, Connecticut. Spring is the perfect time to play at Empower Leadership Sports and Activity Center, where you will find scavenger hunts and more than half a mile of ziplining aerial adventures. In the summer, go swimming for an afternoon at Wadsworth Falls State Park after hiking to see the waterfalls. Fall is the perfect time to tour the garden at General Mansfield's home. On a clear winter night, head to Van Vleck Observatory to stargaze.Â
Originally, Westbrook was part of the Saybrook Colony, which started in about 1635 as settlers tried to escape the oversight of King Charles I. The area was called Pochoug until 1810, when residents petitioned the Connecticut General Assembly to change the name to Westbrook, complaining that they could not spell and had trouble pronouncing the original area's name. Legislators agreed to the name change. The original settlers earned their living by fishing for shad.Â
David Bushnell built the world's first submarine in Westbrook in 1775. George Washington paid for Bushnell's ground-breaking work. The first submarine attack occurred on September 6, 1776, but the surprise attack on England's boat failed because the submarine's pilot had only 20 minutes of air.
James Lewis constructed a cabin on Grove Beach in 1870, and others soon followed, establishing this community's tourism industry. You will not want to miss driving across The Singing Bridge, which was constructed in 1923 by the American Bridge Company. This 127-foot Pratt through-truss bridge decking sounds like it is singing when cars drive across it. Another attraction that you will not want to miss is the Salt Meadow National Wildlife Refuge, established as the first national wildlife refuge in the state in 1972. The government established McKinney National Wildlife Refuge in 2005. When you get hungry, you can find many restaurants along Boston Post Road, including Cristy's Restaurant, Haywire Burger Bar, and Bill's Seafood Restaurant.Â
Old Lyme – This community of about 7,300 people is called the Home of American Impressionism, and you will want to visit the Florence Griswold Museum to learn more about the art movement. You will love seeing the sea captain homes near this community's downtown area. Rocky Neck State Park is a fantastic place to play on the beach.Â
11 RestaurantsÂ
9 Gas StationsÂ
1 State ParkÂ
1 CampgroundÂ
1 RV dump stationÂ
Essex – Head northeast from Westbrook for about five miles on Connecticut 153, and you will be in Essex. One attraction that you will want to explore in this community is the Connecticut River Museum, where you can see a full-size replica of the Turtle submarine. Opt for the combination ticket to take a ride on a steam train and a riverboat when visiting this community of about 6,600 people.Â
9 RestaurantsÂ
3 Gas stationsÂ
1 RV Dump StationÂ
Old Saybrook – This community of about 10,000 people is home to the Katherine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, where you can learn more about this actress' life and watch various performances. Harvey's Beach is a favorite with families because the water is exceptionally shallow during low tide. Follow the boardwalk through the riverside marsh at Fort Saybrook Monument Park to see the interpretative signage allowing you to learn more about this area's ecosystem.Â
20+ RestaurantsÂ
12 Gas StationsÂ
3 CampgroundsÂ
2 RV dump stationsÂ
Acadia National Park is home to Cadillac Mountain, which is the tallest mountain on America's Atlantic seacoast. Wildwood Stables offers carriage rides at this park. You could also bring your horse to ride along the well-groomed trails. Great Head and Otter Cliffs are ideal places to go climbing.Â
When you visit Shenandoah National Park, it is easy to understand why President Hoover used it as a retreat. Take the 2.5-hour tour of Rapidan Camp, where he stayed and went fishing in the nearby streams and often entertained important guests. The only road through the park is Skyline Drive, and you will want to stop at its midway point to have a picnic and go horseback riding. End your visit by climbing Old Rag, which is the highest point in this park.Â
If you love seeing waterfalls, go to Cuyahoga Valley National Park as this park has over 100 of them. Take a hike along Brandywine Creek to see the 65-foot-tall Brandywine Falls. This park was once home to many covered bridges, but the only one remaining is Everett Covered Bridge, and it is an ideal place to take family photos, especially in the fall. Ritchie Ledges is another perfect hiking area.Â
Hammonasset Beach State Park is the largest state park in Connecticut along the Atlantic seacoast. Spend a day playing on the beach and swimming in the ocean. This park is also a great place to fish in the ocean without needing a boat. There are many terrific places to go hiking and biking.Â
Rocky Neck State Park near East Lyme is a terrific place to go fishing and crabbing. You can often spot ospreys, cranes, and herons while hiking along the nature trails. This state park is a great place to go boondocking, and water is available in the campground.Â
Head to the Connecticut Marine Headquarters to visit Ferry Landing State Park. This small state park offers a boardwalk where you can fish in the Atlantic Ocean, and it also can be a great place to go crabbing. Bring along your lawn chair and have fun bird-watching at this park.Â
When you are in Old Saybrook, be sure to stop at Fort Saybrook Memorial Park. This location is very near where the first military fort was built in Connecticut. Throughout the park, you will find boulders with memorial plaques on them telling about the fort and people who were instrumental in its construction. This is especially a beautiful place to visit in the spring because there are many cherry trees in its park-like setting.Â
Westbrook Arts and Crafts Festival – This June festival on the Town Green features about 60 juried arts and crafts vendors and local produce.Â
Congregational Annual Church Fair – Featuring arts, crafts, food, and family games, this fair is held in August on the Town Green.Â
Westbrook Harvest Festival – Dress your dog up and bring it to this October festival, where it can win a prize. Other Halloween activities and attractions are available, including balloon artists and face painting at Westbrook Outlets.Â
Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge – Bring your camera to capture nature photos, participate in educational programs, and go hunting at this refuge.Â
Westbrook Park – This park contains a large playground with activities for different age groups.
The Preserve – This forest covering parts of Old Saybrook, Essex, and Westbrook is the largest remaining unprotected coastal forest between Boston and New York.Â
It is easy to find terrific campgrounds near Westbrook, Connecticut, and you will want to see the castle at Gillette Castle State Park that William Hooker Gillette constructed. You may want to camp at Wolf's Den Family Campground, where you can fish, swim, and play family games. Witch Meadow Lake Family Campground is another outstanding choice because of its 14-acre pond where you can swim, fish, and float. You will also want to think about GrandView CampResort & Cottages, where you will love seeing the beautiful Connecticut countryside.Â
If you choose to camp where you do not have full hookups, then you may need to use RV dump stations in Connecticut. While area campgrounds may offer this service, you can also find one at the southbound rest area near Wallingford and the Meriden. Hammonassett Beach State Park and Rocky Neck State Park have ones that are very convenient to use.Â
Using a Connecticut RV storage facility is a great way to keep your RV secure when not in use. For over 110 years, people have been storing their stuff at Anthony Augliera Moving, Storage, and Theatrical Transfer, and you may want to think about one of their outside parking spaces. Mashview Marina LLC offers outdoor storage for boats and RVs, and they also have a mechanic. U-Haul Trailer Hitch Super Center of Hamden offers outside parking, and they have wide turnaround spots.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Westbrook, CT, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Westbrook?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Westbrook from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Westbrook?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.