A 257-Year Tradition Continues With the Arrival of the Chester-Hadlyme Ferry

LYME, CT – In Lyme, spring comes in on the Chester-Hadlyme Ferry.

It’s been that way since 1769.

Connecticut Department of Transportation Bureau Chief of Public Transportation Jeffrey Gonneville in a news release welcomed pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers to the ferry, which runs April 1 to Nov. 30.

“With spring comes the return of one of our most beloved traditions: the opening of ferry season on the Connecticut River,” Gonneville said. 

The DOT said the Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry will open later due to elevated water levels on the river. 

The two ferries carried a combined 91,000 passengers and 42,000 vehicles last year. 

The Chester-Hadlyme Ferry began service 257 years ago as Warner’s Ferry and is one of the oldest continuously operating ferries in the United States. It is also Connecticut’s second-oldest ferry service, after the Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry, which began in 1655. 

The current vessel, the Selden III, has been in operation for more than 75 years, according to the DOT. Built to carry eight or nine cars and as many as 49 passengers, the ferry features propellers and rudders at both ends, allowing it to reverse course without ever turning around.

The eastern landing in Hadlyme is on the Gillette Castle State park property at the base of Seventh Sister Hill, with a road and footpath leading up to the eccentric, century-old home of the late actor William Gillette. 

The western landing is on Route 148 at Ferry Road in Chester. 

When in service, the ferries operate weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. and weekends from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cash or check payment is accepted on board. Fares can also be paid through the Token Transit app or via QR code at the landing.

Service is subject to change due to weather, water conditions or mechanical issues. Real-time updates and delay notifications are available through CTroads.org.

For additional information on the ferries, including fares, schedules, and complete history, visit CT.gov/DOT/CTferries.