Chester–Hadlyme Ferry

The Chester–Hadlyme ferry carries cars, bikes and walkers across the Connecticut River between Chester and Hadlyme, landing right below Gillette Castle. Connecticut DOT runs it from April 1 to November 30: weekdays 7:00 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. and weekends 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed Thanksgiving. There is no timetable; it crosses on demand. A car costs $5 on weekdays and $6 on weekends, and walk-ons and cyclists pay $2.

How the Ferry Works

CTDOT runs the ferry on demand during operating hours. There are no scheduled departures: you drive or walk to the landing on either bank and board when the boat comes over. The boat goes back and forth as traffic arrives.

Weather, water levels or mechanical problems sometimes stop service during the season. CTDOT posts closures on its real-time travel site, CTroads, so check it before you plan a route around the ferry.

Fares

• Car, SUV, truck or motorcycle: $5 on weekdays, $6 on weekends.
• Pedestrians and cyclists: $2, every day.
• Commuter book: $60 for 20 crossings ($3 each), sold on board.

Pay on board with cash or a check (exact change preferred), or buy a ticket in the Token Transit app. CTDOT warns that a Token Transit ticket stays valid for only 10 minutes after you activate it, so activate it just before you board.

Where to Board

Chester side (west bank): Ferry Road, Chester, CT 06412. From Route 9, take the exit for Route 148 (exit 8, formerly exit 6) and follow the signs to the landing.

Hadlyme side (east bank): the landing at the foot of Gillette Castle State Park. The Friends of Gillette Castle State Park describe a flat, hard-packed dirt parking area here, benches with a view up the river, and a kayak and canoe launch. Look up from the lawn and you can see the castle on the hill and the outside of Yukitaka Osaki's house (Aunt Polly and the Osaki house).

Ferry to the Castle

From the Hadlyme landing, park roads and trails climb to the castle. The Friends note that a trail leads from the castle down to the river, so you can visit both on foot. Driving, follow the park road up to the main lot by the visitor center (parking and directions). Castle tickets are separate from the ferry fare (castle tours).

A Ferry Since 1769

CTDOT says a ferry has crossed here since 1769. It began as Warner's Ferry and carried supplies across the river during the Revolutionary War. The boat in service today, according to the Friends, is the Selden III, built in 1949: an open, self-propelled vessel 65 feet long and 30 feet wide that holds eight or nine cars and 49 passengers. In August 2026 Governor Lamont announced $8 million in federal and state funding to replace the historic vessel.

At the Hadlyme landing, DEEP and the Connecticut Art Trail have placed a "Viewpoints" exhibit showing where the painter William Chadwick worked on his 19th-century view of the river from Ely's Ferry Road.

When the Ferry Isn't Running

From December through March, and whenever CTroads shows a closure, cross the river on the East Haddam Swing Bridge instead. The Friends say it opened in 1913, runs 899 feet and swings open for boats on the hour and half hour. From Route 9, take exit 10 (formerly exit 7) and follow Route 82 east and the park signs (directions).

Nearby

• Things to do in East Haddam: the Goodspeed Opera House, the Swing Bridge and nearby state parks.
• Kayaking the Connecticut River from the Hadlyme landing.