Old Saybrook Travel Guide

Trek Zone

Town

Facts and practical information

Nestled on the banks of the Connecticut River, Old Saybrook is a charming coastal town that offers a wealth of history, natural beauty, and a vibrant arts scene. With its picturesque New England setting, this hidden gem is a perfect destination for those seeking a peaceful retreat or an adventurous getaway.

One of the town's most notable landmarks is the Saybrook Breakwater Lighthouse, which stands proudly at the entrance of the Connecticut River. Built in 1886, this iconic lighthouse is a testament to the town's maritime heritage and offers stunning panoramic views of the coastline. Visitors can take a leisurely stroll along the breakwater to reach the lighthouse and enjoy the tranquil waters that surround it.

For history enthusiasts, a visit to the General William Hart House is a must. This beautifully restored colonial-era home provides a glimpse into Old Saybrook's past and offers guided tours that showcase the town's rich history. Explore the meticulously preserved rooms and learn about the prominent figures who once called this place home.

Nature lovers will find solace in the abundance of outdoor activities available in Old Saybrook. The town boasts several pristine beaches, including Harvey's Beach and Town Beach, where visitors can soak up the sun, swim in the crystal-clear waters, or simply enjoy a leisurely walk along the shoreline. The nearby Great Island Wildlife Area is a haven for birdwatchers and hikers, offering miles of scenic trails and opportunities to spot a variety of bird species.

In addition to its natural beauty, Old Saybrook also has a thriving arts scene. The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, named after the legendary actress who called Old Saybrook home, hosts a wide range of performances, from live theater to concerts and film screenings. The center's intimate setting provides a unique experience for art enthusiasts.

Alternative names: Settled: 1635Population: 10.6 thous.Area: 21.6 mi²Elevation: 36 ft a.s.l.Coordinates: 41°17'32"N, 72°22'51"W

Location

ConnecticutUnited States

Contact

Website

Social media

Add

Old Saybrook Top Attractions

Old Saybrook Attractions - What to See and Explore

Old Saybrook offers many attractions and places to visit. Here are the most important ones: Raymond E. Baldwin Bridge, Gen. William Hart House, Lynde Point Light, The Kate - Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center. Below you will find a complete list of places worth visiting.

Bridge
Raymond E. Baldwin Bridge
The Raymond E. Baldwin Bridge is a concrete segmental bridge composed of eleven spans crossing the Connecticut River between Old Saybrook, Connecticut and Old Lyme, Connecticut. The bridge carries Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1, with an average daily traffic of 82,500 vehicles.
Historical place • Museum • Georgian architecture
Gen. William Hart House
The Gen. William Hart House is a historic house at 350 Main Street in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. Built in 1767 for a politician and colonial militia leader, it is a good example of Georgian residential architecture.
Lighthouse • Vernacular architecture
Lynde Point Light
The Lynde Point Light or Lynde Point Lighthouse, also known as Saybrook Inner Lighthouse, is a lighthouse in Connecticut, United States, on the west side of the mouth of the Connecticut River on the Long Island Sound, Old Saybrook, Connecticut.

41°17'25"N • 72°22'32"W
The Kate - Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center
Concerts and shows • Music venue • Performing arts
Concerts and shows • Theater
Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center
The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, known as The Kate, is a performing arts center in Old Saybrook, Connecticut that opened in 2009.
41°17'45"N • 72°22'41"W
Saybrook Country Barn
Shopping • Park
Colonial architecture • Saybrook Manor
Bushnell-Dickinson House
The Bushnell-Dickinson House is a historic house at 170 Old Post Road in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. With a construction history dating to about 1790, it is a fine local example of Federal period residential architecture. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
Georgian architecture • Old Saybrook Center
Ambrose Whittlesey House
The Ambrose Whittlesey House is a historic house at 14 Main Street in Old Saybrook, Connecticut that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. The house was built in two sections. The first section was one story high, built in 1765, measuring 16 feet by 30 feet. This is now at the rear of the house.
41°17'20"N • 72°21'18"W
Black Horse Tavern
The Black Horse Tavern is a historic building at 175 North Cove Road in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. Built c. 1712 by John Burrows, this 2+1⁄2-story wood-frame structure is one of few early 18th-century buildings still standing in Connecticut, built on land that was among the earliest settled in the area.
41°17'18"N • 72°22'35"W
Humphrey Pratt Tavern
The Humphrey Pratt Tavern is a historic house at 287 Main Street in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. Built in 1785, it was associated with the locally prominent Pratt family for many years, and served as a tavern and stagecoach stop in the 18th and 19th centuries.
41°17'9"N • 72°22'35"W
James Pharmacy
The James Pharmacy is a historic building at 2 Pennywise Lane in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. Built in an evolutionary manner beginning about 1820, it is significant as the home and workplace of Anna Louise James, who was the first African-American woman pharmacist in the state, and owned the pharmacy for some time.
41°17'16"N • 72°22'46"W
Acton Public Library
Library
41°17'21"N • 72°21'26"W
William Tully House
The William Tully House, also known as Hartsease or Heartsease, is a historic house at 135 North Cove Road in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. Built about 1750, it is a well-preserved and architecturally unusual example of period architecture.
Park • Old Saybrook Center
South Green
The Old Saybrook South Green is a 20-acre historic district that encompasses the historic town green and nearby streets in Old Saybrook, Connecticut.
Georgian architecture
John Whittlesey Jr. House
The John Whittlesey Jr. House is a historic house at 40 Ferry Road in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. With a construction history estimated to date to the 1690s, it includes in its structure one of Connecticut's oldest surviving buildings.
41°17'14"N • 72°24'31"W
Elisha Bushnell House
The Elisha Bushnell House is a historic house at 1445 Boston Post Road in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. With a construction history dating to 1678, it is one of Connecticut's oldest surviving buildings, exhibiting an evolutionary construction history.
41°17'2"N • 72°22'8"W
Samuel Eliot House
The Samuel Eliot House is a historic house at 500 Main Street in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. Probably built in 1737, it is a well-preserved example of Georgian residential architecture, and one of Old Saybrook's older buildings.
41°19'25"N • 72°22'30"W
Parker House
The Parker House is a historic house at 680 Middlesex Turnpike in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. It is a roughly square 1+1⁄2-story wood-frame structure with a gambrel roof, built in 1679 by Deacon William Parker.
41°18'48"N • 72°21'51"W
Jedidiah Dudley House
The Jedidiah Dudley House, is a historic house on Springbrook Road in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. Built in the second half of the 18th century, it is a good example of period architecture, and is notable for its association with a family of ferry operators on the nearby Connecticut River.

Day trips

Old Saybrook – popular in the area (distance from the center)

In the vicinity of Old Saybrook, it's worth seeing attractions such as: Mystic Seaport (Mystic), Submarine Force Library and Museum (Groton), Montauk Point Lighthouse (Montauk).

22 milesE
Museum, Maritime museum
Mystic Seaport, Mystic
Mystic Seaport, nestled in the picturesque town of Mystic, Connecticut, is a quintessential New England attraction and a treasure trove for maritime enthusiasts. This expansive museum, often referred to as The Museum of America and the Sea, offers a unique glimpse into...
17 milesNE
Museum, Specialty museum, Military museum
Submarine Force Library and Museum, Groton
The Submarine Force Library and Museum, located in Groton, Connecticut, stands as a testament to the rich history and technological advancements of the United States submarine force. This unique museum is the only submarine museum operated by the United States Navy...
31 milesSE
Lighthouse
Montauk Point Lighthouse, Montauk
Perched at the easternmost tip of Long Island, the Montauk Point Lighthouse stands as a sentinel over the tumultuous waters where the Atlantic Ocean meets Block Island Sound. Constructed in 1796 under the direction of President George Washington and authorized by the...
13 milesNE
Racetrack, Sport venue, Sport
Waterford Speedbowl, Waterford
Rev up your engines and prepare for an adrenaline rush at the Waterford Speedbowl, an iconic car racing track nestled in the city of Waterford, Connecticut. This asphalt oval track has been fueling the excitement of motorsports enthusiasts since 1951, offering a...
28 milesW
Museum, Natural history museum, History museum
Peabody Museum of Natural History, New Haven
Nestled in the heart of New Haven, Connecticut, the Peabody Museum of Natural History offers a captivating journey through the Earth's past for visitors and locals alike. This renowned institution is a part of Yale University and stands as an educational landmark...