Where is the meeting point?

The meeting point is 301 Thames St, Groton, CT 06340; check the dock signage for Nautilus Dock departures.

How long is each cruise between stops?

Each crossing between sites takes about 15 minutes; a full loop is roughly one hour.

Can I hop off and reboard later?

Yes — the all-day hop-on/hop-off ticket lets you disembark at any landing and catch a later departure.

Are tickets available for children and veterans?

Yes — the operator lists adults at $15, children (4–17) at $5, infants free, and active military & veterans at $5.

Is parking available at the docks?

Parking is available at all three launch sites—Fort Trumbull State Park, City Pier, and Thames River Landing.

Who can I call with questions?

For questions call 860-407-5655 or consult the Thames River Heritage Park website for partner site info and schedules.

Hop On, Hop Off Harbor Cruise: Explore the Thames River Heritage Loop from Nautilus Dock

Step aboard the open-air Thames River Heritage Park harbor cruise at Nautilus Dock in Groton and spend a day shuttling between New London and Groton’s waterfront landmarks. The hop-on, hop-off service connects Fort Trumbull State Park, City Pier in Downtown New London, and Thames River Landing in Groton, with each crossing taking roughly 15 minutes and a full loop clocking in at an hour. Meeting point: 301 Thames St, Groton, CT 06340.

This short, salty route threads the lower Thames River estuary into Long Island Sound, where brackish currents and tidal flats frame colonial stonework and 19th-century wharves. The boat's open deck makes it easy to scan shorelines for salt marsh grasses, shorebirds and the silhouette of the Groton Monument, or to study architectural highlights such as the New London Custom House Museum and the Garde Arts Center from the water. The working-waterway feel—commercial piers, small craft harbors, and naval facilities—gives the ride an authentic coastal Connecticut character.

What makes this harbor cruise special is its flexibility. Buy an all-day pass and ride the loop as a one-hour sightseeing circuit, or hop off to wander museums and historic houses: the Nathan Hale School House, Shaw Mansion and Monte Cristo Cottage sit within easy walking distance of downtown New London landings. On the Groton side, Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park and the 135-foot Groton Monument are minutes from the Thames River Landing. The hop-on/hop-off format turns a short ferry crossing into a curated walking tour without the logistics of driving or parking between sites.

Practical details matter: tickets are inexpensive—the operator lists adults at $15 and children at $5—and departures run weekends from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM with regular hourly schedules. Each cruise segment is about 15 minutes, so you can plan museum visits or a waterfront lunch and be back on the next boat. The route is family-friendly and low-effort: no specialist gear or fitness level required beyond sensible shoes and a light jacket.

For photographers and history buffs alike, this harbor cruise delivers compact, coastal New England scenery and layered stories of maritime commerce, Revolutionary War moments, and 19th-century civic pride. Use the boat as transit, as a moving viewpoint, or as a slow, social way to sample both sides of the river in a single afternoon. It's a practical, scenic shortcut to the Thames River's past and present.

Plan to arrive 15–20 minutes before departure; parking is available at all three launch sites. Staff can answer itinerary questions at 860-407-5655, and the Thames River Heritage Park website lists partner sites and seasonal updates. If weather turns, the boat provides some overhead cover; bring layered clothing and a small rain shell to stay comfortable on breezy crossings aboard.

About Thames River Heritage Park

Thames River Heritage Park is a New London, Connecticut organization that preserves and interprets the history, culture, and natural resources of the Thames River estuary. The organization offers a curated series of guided 75-minute boat tours and talks that connect passengers with regional stories, including maritime history, Indigenous heritage, African American experiences, Gilded Age estates, Revolutionary War events, and local folklore. Tours feature collaborations with recognized local experts and institutions: UConn faculty, members of the Mohegan Tribe, Connecticut Sea Grant scientists, historians from the New London County Historical Society, and local authors. Many programs explicitly support area heritage sites and nonprofit partners through ticket revenue.

Departing from locations such as Fort Trumbull State Park, the tours navigate landmarks like Pine Island, Bushy Point, Bluff Point, and riverbanks that witnessed significant historical events. The schedule includes specialized programs — for example, guided conversations about emancipation and abolition; profiles of notable women of the Thames; natural-history excursions; a haunted-harbor ghost tour; and focused narratives on Benedict Arnold’s 1781 burning of New London. Most offerings emphasize education, community engagement, and place-based interpretation tailored to adults, families, and history enthusiasts.

Thames River Heritage Park emphasizes transparent partnerships, local scholarship, and stewardship of the river corridor. Tickets and public programs make regional history accessible while reinvesting in heritage organizations. Visitors can expect knowledgeable narration, close river access to shoreline sites, and an opportunity to support ongoing preservation and interpretation of New London’s maritime landscape. Seasonal schedules vary; check the foundation calendar for details and updates.