Our 110 Connecticut State Parks and 32 State Forests host a combined 17 million visitors to our parks and forests each year, including tourists, students, scouts, campers and other program participants. We offer a variety of natural surroundings like trails, beaches, rivers, paths, nature centers, and overlooks in our beautiful state parks and forests.

We offer many options for year-round field trips across the state, as our parks and forests are open 365 days per year, from 8am to sunset (with the exception of Dinosaur State Park which operates with special hours).  Field trips can range from no-cost options, like self-guided hikes, beach days, trail walks or picnics, to affordable structured programs provided by our engaging education and outreach team.

Can’t make it out to the park for an on-site field trip? We may have programs available that we can bring to you! These programs are typically available in the summer months, but we may be able to accommodate requests during the off-peak season as well.

Our education and outreach team looks forward to helping you plan your program!

Field Trips Arriving by Bus

Permits are required for full size buses (seating 30 or more passengers) and must be reserved at least 14 days in advance during the peak season from Memorial Day to Labor Day.  A limited number of permits are available for designated park and forest locations. 

Permits are not required for buses seating fewer than 30 passengers, but chaperones should call ahead to the park they plan to visit to ensure that there are no conflicting groups, programs, maintenance projects or any other scheduled events that may impact a visit.  

All buses must remain at the state park or forest location at all times in case of inclement weather or the need for an emergency evacuation.   

For information on how to obtain permits, fees, and park locations that can accommodate buses, please visit Bus Permits and Fees (ct.gov).