Arriving in New Haven, CT with a rented RV

Two adjacent public lands extend the playbook for renters whose trip plan extends beyond city limits: Hammonasset Beach State Park and Sleeping Giant State Park. The two arterials worth scenic-drive time are Coastal US-1 east toward Mystic and Merritt Parkway to the New York border (no commercial vehicles). Tank-dump access lives at Hammonasset Beach State Park; propane at U-Haul of New Haven on 30 Welton St, Hamden, CT 06517.

The calendar moment that swings local availability is International Festival of Arts & Ideas on two weeks in mid-June — all in-town parking restricted; campgrounds within 30 mi book out. Aim for Late May through June and mid-September through mid-October; skip January and February. The single most expensive mistake locals see arriving rigs make is taking the merritt parkway in any RV class, and it merritt parkway bans all commercial vehicles and trailers; ct state police enforce at every entrance ramp.