Visiting Mystic from Newport

[georgiatraveler]

Has anyone rented a car in Newport and driven to Mystic Connecticut? We will be in port (in Newport) on Sunday October 11th.

 

Thanks,

Karen

[SailBadtheSinner]

Google offers 3 routes for Newport to Mystic, the quickest & shortest is 1h 01m and 44.7 miles, the longest & slowest 1h 07m and 49.6 miles. Each route has supporters. I prefer the route that spends less time on 2 lane state roads and by passes high density areas which is not the shortest or the longest route.

 

I don’t see a problem in getting there and return; either of the routes is OK. I see a problem in getting a rental car on a Sunday in Newport. If you do a Google on car rental newport ri, you’ll see that there is one agency within walking distance of the tender dock - Hertz® Car Rental – Newport, 105 Broadway. More than that I really can’t provide an answer on what car rental agencies are open on Sunday :(.

 

I would get busy calling the agencies from the Google search.

 

[georgiatraveler]

SBtS, Thanks for the info about the car rental and travel times. I've tried to dig up car rental info online but haven't been too sucessful. The person I am traveling with really wants to go to Mystic, but I'm not totally sold. I would rather enjoy Newport and not have the added stress of driving. Maybe if there isn't a car available the problem will be solved!

[alphakitty]

Not likely to get a rental car in Newport on a Sunday.

 

I personally don't think it's worth the drive to Mystic. It's a fairly small downtown area, there is the Seaport, the Aquarium and a shopping center called the Olde Mystic Village that has lots of speciality shops, but I think there is so much more to see and do in Newport. :)

[Rick02809]

I don't believe that there are any car rental agencies by the Cruise dock, I think the closest is in Middletown (one town over from Newport) Mystic village is nice, hoewver there is a lot to do in Newport that is similar ro Mystic. I would save the limited time on shore to visit the local area instead of wasting 3 hours in a car.

 

Here is a good list of things to see in Newport...

 

There are a lot of shops on America's Cup Boulevard, and Thames Street which is across the street from the Visitor's Center.

 

If you go to http://www.google.com and Google “Newport RI Taxi Cabs”, you will get a good list, I would keep the numbers handy in the event that you can't get on the bus, or get stranded and need a quick ride to the ship.

 

If you feel like walking to the mansions, it can be quite an endeavor, head South on America's Cup Boulevard (keep the water on your right), until you hit the "Wave" statue (surfer's feet sticking out of a wave) at the statue, that intersection is Memorial Boulevard, a 5 minute walk up a slight hill will take you to Bellvue Ave, or the Million Dollar Mile. Take a right on to Bellevue and you can stroll the grounds.

 

If you go to http://www.newportmansions.org , you can "Pre-tour" the mansions to see which one(s) that you are interested in. I recommend taking a cab to Belleview Ave, however Newport on a Sunday can be quite congested.

 

October 10-11 the Beavertail Lighthouse in Jamestown (you need a cab fare to get over the Pell Bridge $4. toll each way plus cab fare) will be open to tours http://www.beavertaillight.org

 

October 10-12 The 17th Annual International Oktoberfest will be held in Newport at the Newport Yachting Center (traffic will most definitely be a nightmare if you plan on cabbing it to the mansions, so allow for added time.

 

October 17-18 Bowen's Wharf will be having the Seafood Festival , Great food, sample a "Stuffie" stuffed quahog and New England Clam Chowder. http://www.bowenswharf.com

Regardless, if you get off of the ship by 9 AM, you will have no problem taking in the local shops and restaurants, and touring the mansions, and still making it back to the ship on time.

 

http://www.newportwaterfrontevents.com

 

Another nice excursion is the 72’ Schooner “Madeline” the tour will take you through Newport harbor, out to Fort Adams and the surrounding area, each tour lasts about 90 minutes, tickets $ 27.00 per person http://www.cruisenewport.com

 

I highly recommend this tour, I have done it in the past, and it is a nice relaxing excursion!

[georgiatraveler]

Thanks for all of the input about Mystic. We are going to stay in Newport, which is what I wanted to do all along :)

 

We still haven't decided exactly what to do in Newport, so I appreciate all of the info. I did see that te Oktoberfest Festival would be going on...so if all else fails it will be beer and sausage!!

 

Karen

[georgiatraveler]

Just to follow up with this post. We ended up staying in Newport and loved it. It was probably my favorite port. We did a cruise on the Rumrunner II, a restored boat used during prohibition to run (quickly)out to buy alcohol brought down from Canada. The boat ride and the tour guides were great...and it was only $18 for a 90 minute tour!

 

I think if I'm ever in Newport again I will definately do a boat ride on an Americus Cup boat (ship??). That looked like fun too. We saw some of the mansions from the water, but did not make it to the cliff walk.

 

We also had fantastic clam chowder at the Black Pearl, but alas no signs of Captain Jack Sparrow.

[SailBadtheSinner]

I'm glad you enjoyed Newport which is one of my favorite places to visit.

 

Next time, make it a visit by car so that you can spend more time enjoying Newport and seeing more of what New England offers.

 

 

 

SBtS