Getting Around Hartford: I-95 crawls and local shortcuts
Commutes, congestion, transit, and parking: what getting around Hartford really takes.
Lynn, Our Local Expert Guiding Your Move
Lynn has lived in Connecticut almost her entire life, and knows the difference between shoreline charm and quiet river towns. She's sampled pizza and donuts all over the state visiting all 169 Connecticut towns. Her most memorable (and probably last ever) move involved the trifecta of a hurricane, loss of power, and an August heatwave (so don't even get me started on moving horror stories!). She knits, bakes, metal detects beaches, and firmly believes New Haven pizza is a food group of its own. At Snappy Scout Lynn turns decades of CT discoveries into sage moving advice you'll enjoy reading and actually use.
Read moreWritten with local insight from Snappy Scout relocation experts
How Do You Get Around Hartford?
Commutes, congestion, transit, and parking: the daily logistics nobody puts on the listing.
The time I spend getting to/from work every day is
30 minutes on average, but 15 if all the stars align.
Traffic congestion areas to avoid
The I-84 Aetna Viaduct and I-91 by the Charter Oak Bridge during rush hour.
Ability to get around without a car
Doable downtown and on the CTfastrak line, but snow laughs at optimism.
Locals dream of driving around in a
Subaru Outback, snow ready, UConn sticker included.
The reality is that most locals drive
A ten-year-old Camry with a Dunkin' cup holder and heroic ice scraper.
Quirky local driving habit
Yielding to buses like CTfastrak royalty, then flooring it.
The likelihood of finding parking
Downtown, decent in garages; West Hartford on weekends, impossible.
#1 driving tip
Charter Oak jammed? Try the Putnam Bridge, thank me later.
Where I Go for a Quiet Escape
Mortensen Riverfront Plaza provides a great escape, especially in warmer months. You can people and bird watch, and sometimes boats will make their way up to the city, adding to the picturesque vibe.
— Lynn Nelthropp
Connecticut Local Expert
Ready to See If Hartford Fits You?
Compare neighborhoods, check the routes, or head back to the full Hartford guide for the bigger picture.