During my fall road trip through New England, I added a day trip to Mystic, Connecticut to my itinerary. Now, I do have to be honest. Sometimes, you make plans and you’re super excited about them and other times, you add thing to your itinerary because you feel like you have to. Mystic, CT was one of those places that I felt like I had to go since I was already in the region. So it got added as a day trip.
My plan was simple: visit Mystic Seaport, do some shopping in Olde Mystick Village, and finish with a short hike to Mount Misery. I did all of these things and had a wonderful day. In fact, my one day in Mystic CT ended up being one of my favorites of the trip.
The Highlights of Mystic
Like always, this is not an exhaustive list, but rather what I think to be the highlights for tourists. Later, I’ll provide an itinerary for one day in Mystic, CT.
Mystic Seaport Museum
Mystic Seaport is an open air museum that sits right on the Mystic River. The museum tells the story of the village of Mystic and it’s early years as an historic fishing village. As someone who grew up in a fishing village (although nowhere near as historic as Mystic), I wasn’t sure if this was going to be of interest. Boy was I wrong. The museum is amazing and a must do with your one day in Mystic.
There are numerous buildings throughout the museum complex and each gives a different bit of insight into the history of Mystic. Yes, you’ll visit plenty of buildings relating to fishing and see where they made boats, rope, and other tools. However, you’ll also see the school, stores, and even the print shop where newspapers were printed. Besides all of the buildings, there are ships to tour as well.
When you first arrive, look to see what demonstrations are being offered. The demonstrations can drastically vary in subject, so if there’s one that catches your interest, make sure to take note of it so you can plan your day appropriately. Beyond the scheduled events, you’ll find that some buildings are staffed and will give demonstrations and answer questions for whoever is there at the time.
Tickets are $31 for adults (less for children). Your ticket is valid all day and you can even leave and come back throughout the day. I toured in the morning, left to get lunch, and came back for one last demonstration in the early afternoon. Learn more about ticket options.
Olde Mystick Village
Just up the road from Mystic Seaport is Olde Mystick Village. It feels very touristy, but there are some fun shops and several restaurants. That said, I did enjoy wandering through all of the shops. The one that stands out the most was a Christmas shop which I think had every Christmas ornament ever produced. If you can’t find a Christmas ornament here, it does not exist.
Mystic Aquarium
I did not visit Mystic Aquarium, but when researching what else I could do in Mystic, CT this popped up continuously. The aquarium is Connecticut’s biggest aquarium and is only one of two facilities in the United States that have sea lions. If aquariums (or animals) are your thing, be sure to include this in your visit.
Adult tickets start at $42 (children’s tickets are less). Learn more about ticket offerings.
Mystic Pizza
This is another thing I had to mention. Many people include a stop at Mystic Pizza on their trip through because of the 1988 movie of the same name. I skipped this, electing to eat a phenomenal lobster roll overlooking the river (while on a quick break from the Mystic Seaport Museum). I have no regrets.
Bonus – Mount Misery
This final one isn’t necessarily located in Mystic, but I looped it in to my day trip and now it’s on this list. Because of it’s close proximity to Mystic, I’m including on my one day in Mystic itinerary.
Pachaug State Forest is located in eastern Connecticut, just near the Rhode Island-Connecticut state line. There are many hiking options here, so if you really enjoy hiking, you could easily make this more than just a road side break. For me though, it was just a break from driving and a way to get in a little exercise.
One of the most popular hikes here is a climb to the top of Mount Misery. Despite it’s ominous name, this is a nice hike to a great view overlooking the forest. I was a bit early for the fall colors, but I could see hints of the colors starting to change. I can only imagine how beautiful it would be during peak fall colors.
To get here, you can use Google Maps and follow directions to the Pachaug State Forest Parking located on Cutoff Road. There is no fee to enter the park. Once parked, you’ll walk west down Cutoff Road toward the trees. Shortly after you enter the forest, you will see a sign on your left pointing you to Mount Misery. Follow this sign and then look for the blue blazes painted on the trees to guide your way.
Several reviews of this hike that that it’s a good idea to have a map because it was sometimes difficult to follow the blue blazes. I didn’t have this problem, but I still think it’s a good idea to have a map or some other form of guidance, just in case. Quite frankly, it was more confusing trying to figure out where I needed to go once I got to the parking lot.
The entire hike is 1.9 miles and has about 230 feet of elevation change.
How Long Do I Need in Mystic?
For most people, one day is sufficient and will allow you to get to the highlights. I arrived in Mystic just before the Mystic Seaport Museum opened at 10:00 and summited Mount Misery at 4:00.
Sample Itinerary for One Day in Mystic CT
Your one day in Mystic will ultimately come down to how you wish to spend your time, but here’s what I recommend.
10:00 am – Mystic Seaport
12:00 pm – Break for lunch
1:30 pm – Olde Mystick Village
3:00 – Mystic Aquarium or Drive to Mount Misery
Do I Need to Stay In Mystic?
Even if you plan on spending one day in Mystic, CT, it is not necessary to stay here. I stayed in West Greenwich because it gave me convenient access to Mystic, CT, Providence, RI and Newport, RI.
How Do I Get to Mystic?
The most convenient way is to drive. This will make it easier to visit everything you want to in Mystic. I’ve included distances from some popular locations below.
Mystic, CT to Boston, MA: 1 hour 40 minutes, 100 miles
Mystic, CT to Newport, RI: 55 minutes, 50 miles. Note that the most direct route involves a toll bridge.
Mystic, CT to Providence, RI: 50 minutes, 50 miles
Mystic, CT to West Greenwich, RI: 30 minutes, 30 miles
If you don’t have a car, there are public transportation options. There is an Amtrak station in Mystic (check Amtrak’s website for an up to date schedule). The train station is a one mile away from Mystic Seaport. I haven’t used this method, so I can’t speak to how reliable it is.
Continue Your Adventure
Connecticut: For more in Connecticut, consider visiting one of its many state parks.
New England Itineraries: For an awesome introduction into New England, try this 10 Day Road Trip from Providence, Rhode Island to Portland, Maine. For those with less time, I’ve put together a series of one week New England itineraries, each focusing on a different region in New England.
More in New England: In nearby Rhode Island, you can tour one of the over the top mansions of Newport. In Maine, stop in Portland to do the Mail Boat Cruise and Cape Elizabeth. In Vermont, don’t miss the charming town of Stowe. And if you’re heading to Stowe from the Berkshires in Massachusetts, make sure to swing through Albany, New York.