Gillette Castle Interior & Visitor Center open daily 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Memorial Day - Labor Day, and weekends through Columbus Day.
Advance purchase of tickets is highly recommended. Tickets are sold by the state, not the Friends.
Grounds are open daily, year-round, from 8 a.m. until sunset.
Please note that the East Haddam Swing Bridge is undergoing a major multi-year renovation (see the link for schedules and webcam links). The bridge closure schedule outlines days the bridge is scheduled to be completely closed. Alternatives are the bridges through Middletown or Old Saybrook, and the seasonal Chester-Hadlyme ferry.
General Information
Purchased by the state of Connecticut in 1943, the medieval-inspired mansion is a historical treasure that was built decades earlier by William Gillette, a native son of Hartford, Connecticut.
Gillette Castle State Park is situated at 67 River Road, East Haddam, CT 06423 and is part of the Connecticut state park system managed by the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection. Visit our Directions page to get information on scenic routes to the Castle.
Hours
The Castle and Visitor’s Center are open 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. daily from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through the Monday of Labor Day weekend, then on weekends only from Labor Day through Columbus day. The final Castle tour of the day is at 4 p.m., and ticket sales end before 4 p.m. The grounds remain open year-round every day from 8 a.m. until sunset.
Parking and admission
Parking and access to the grounds are free.
Admission to the Castle is $6 for anyone 13 years of age and older.
Children 6-12 are $2. Children 5 and younger are admitted free of charge.
Tickets are available for up to 12 individuals for specific time slots in 15-minute intervals. To guarantee a slot, advance purchase is recommended. To pre-reserve a slot, guests should check online at the Reserve America website and look for "Gillette Castle State Park Tours" to purchase a ticket. Tickets will be available for purchase in the Visitor’s Center as well, but availability is limited to 12 visitors every 15 minutes.
The last ticket is sold at the Visitor Center at 4 p.m. and the last entry into the Castle is 4:15 p.m.
DEEP honors Charter Oak passes, library passes, and Connecticut Disabled Veterans Passes for free admission into the Castle.
Park ground and amenities
In addition to the historic building, the park features scenic views of the Connecticut river, hiking trails, and picnicking spots. A trail leads down to the river where you can catch the historic Chester-Hadlyme ferry from April through November.
Park amenities include the Castle museum, the “Sherlock’s Grill” food concession, and the visitor’s center - which contains restrooms, Gillette’s restored locomotive and the Friends gift shop.
The Friends gift shop features a unique collection of books, clothing, art, postcards, Gillette-themed souvenirs, and vintage items. All proceeds from the gift shop support the Friends of Gillette Castle State Park. Show your Friends membership card or proof of membership and receive a 15% discount off your purchases! Not a member yet? Become a member today!
CONNECTICUT RIVER AND REGION
Situated on a hill above the Connecticut River, the Castle has a stunning view of the natural and undeveloped banks that are characteristic of the waterway. Due to the presence of large, shifting sandbars at the mouth of the river, the Connecticut river is the only major river in the northeastern United States that does not have a large city and port at its mouth. These features also reduced development of the river for commercial purposes, and so a view from the Castle is in some ways a step back in time.
A trail leads from the Castle to the river, where you can catch the historic Chester-Hadlyme ferry from April through November. Check the ferry schedule and pricing (bring cash for the ferry ride at this time), and hear more about ferry history and the relationship to the Castle on our YouTube video about it, which includes pictures from the time when the ferry was horse-drawn.
The Connecticut River Valley is rich in history and interesting attractions. To help you make the most of your visit to the region, our local attraction pages describe some examples of the nature, history, theatre, artistry and fun that can be found within a 10-30 minute drive from the Castle. Check it out on our local attractions page!
We have put together information and images to assist those with mobility challenges in planning a visit to the park. This accessibility page will be updated based on feedback, so please take a look at it and let us know if you need additional information!
hiking trails & MAPs
Trails follow the old railroad path and range across this beautiful property that includes ponds, woods, picnic areas and views of the Connecticut River. The trails have been newly re-blazed. In 2020, the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection updated the map, which also is posted here on our site.
The East Haddam Garden Club has created a Gillette Castle State Park Tree Walk! This trail follows a portion of William Gillette’s three-mile-long, narrow-gauge railroad route. This particular path winds through the woods, over a bridge, a trestle, and on to “the tunnel.” Numerous trees, shrubs and ferns along the trail and around the lily pond have been identified for your interest.
As you enjoy a self-guided hike along the beautiful trails at Gillette Castle State Park, are you curious about the history of the trails you will traverse? Check out the new Hiking & History Map created by the Friends of Gillette Castle State Park, which provides information layered on top of the recently updated DEEP map! Print it at home, and bring more insight to your hike!