Connecticut Early Music Festival

There is no rail station at PVD that heads toward Connecticut, so the train route is two legs: (1) airport terminal to Providence Station via RIPTA bus routes 1, 20 or 66, which stop on the commercial roadway in front of the terminal ($2 single ride), or via MBTA commuter rail from the adjacent T.F. Green Airport station into Providence; (2) Amtrak Northeast Regional from Providence (PVD station code) to New London Union Station (NLC), about 52-55 minutes, roughly 9 trains per day. Most Northeast Regional and some Acela trains stop at New London Union Station, which is downtown on the waterfront and also hosts Shoreline East trains and local SEAT buses.

Intercity coaches run from downtown Providence (main hub at the Rhode Island Convention Center parking garage area, note this is downtown, NOT at the airport; take RIPTA route 1/20/66 from the terminal first) to New London, arriving at New London Union Station / the 27 Water St Greyhound stop downtown. Roughly 5 departures per day on the Boston-NYC corridor.

For the final leg from New London Union Station to the Connecticut College campus: SEAT Route 1 (Norwich-New London via the western side of the Thames River) serves the Williams Street stop near campus, with southbound service back to Union Station; hourly Monday-Saturday plus Sunday service per Connecticut College's transportation page. Pay cash on board or via the Transit app. New London SmartRide microtransit (book via Spare Rider app or 860-934-5234, Mon-Sat 8am-midnight) is an on-demand alternative for the same hop.

Direct door-to-door from PVD to New London, approx 51 miles down I-95. Uber's own route page lists this as an established route with no pickup restrictions noted at either end; both Uber and Lyft operate in the New London area. Connecticut College is an open campus and this is a small seated classical festival, not a gated mega-fest.

Approx 5-minute drive across the Thames River to New London; 10 minutes to Mystic. Well-positioned for the Stonington-end concerts as well as the Evans Hall home base. Free breakfast and parking.

Typically $70-130 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates

360 Route 12, Groton, 06340, New London, CT

Typically $70-130 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates

173 Route 12, Groton, 06340, New London, CT

Typically $70-130 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates

404 Bridge Street, Groton, 06340, New London, CT

Typically $70-130 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates

Approx 5-minute drive to Connecticut College; not walkable (I-95 frontage location). Free parking and hot breakfast.

Typically $120-220 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates

Approx 1.8 miles from Connecticut College (short drive or SEAT Route 1 bus up Route 32); the only full-service downtown option, and a walkable ~0.5 mile from New London Union Station, the best pick for anyone arriving by Amtrak without a car.

Typically $120-220 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates

The area's upscale full-service option (indoor pool, spa, restaurant); approx 10-minute drive to Connecticut College and convenient to the Stonington/Mystic-end venues.

Typically $120-220 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates

2 Proteus Avenue, Groton, CT 06340

Typically $120-220 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates

35 Governor Winthrop Boulevard, New London, CT 06320

Typically $120-220 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates

2100 Post Road, Warwick, RI 02886

Typically $100-190 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates

2138 Post Road, Warwick, RI 02886

Typically $100-190 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates

2081 Post Road, Warwick, RI 02886

Typically $100-190 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates

New London and the surrounding shoreline towns (Waterford, Niantic, Mystic/Stonington) carry a steady stock of coastal Airbnb listings, and this small seated classical festival (June, a few hundred attendees per concert) does not itself move the market, but June is the start of Connecticut-shoreline summer season, so booking ahead is sensible for waterfront towns like Stonington and Old Lyme. A shoreline rental between New London and Stonington is a good base for attendees doing multiple concerts across the scattered venues.

Southeastern Connecticut has Hipcamp-listed private-land tent sites and glamping within reasonable reach of the shoreline venues (plus state-park camping at Rocky Neck in East Lyme, near the Niantic concert venue), a budget-friendly June alternative to hotels for attendees who don't mind driving in to the indoor concerts. The festival itself offers no camping.