If you’ve ever been to Connecticut, you know it’s got some great coastal cities and plenty of charming rural towns as you go farther inland. The beautiful beaches and magnificent forests make it a great place to fly drones. Still, there are a few hidden gems you don’t want to overlook.
In this post, we’ll go over drone flying regulations in Connecticut and 7 beautiful locations whose aerial views you won’t want to pass up.
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Drone Laws in Connecticut - U.S. Federal Drone Laws
To fly a drone in Connecticut, you need to first abide by federal drone laws. To fly a drone for fun, this means passing The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Then follow FAA rules for recreational flyers, which include staying within line-of-sight of your drone, flying below 400 ft., and registering your drone if it weighs more than 0.55 lbs (250g). Drone registrations cost $5 and are good for 3 years.
NOTE: This article is purely for entertainment purposes only. It is the responsibility of the pilot to properly research, follow, and abide to all local, state, or federal aviation laws. FAA permission may be required for flight within these listed locations.
To fly a drone commercially (i.e. for work or business), you need to learn and follow the Part 107 rules for small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS), pass a Knowledge Test, and register your drone with the FAA.
Keep in mind, the federal National Park Service also prohibits flying drones in National Parks and other lands and waters that it runs. In Connecticut, that includes the Coltsville and Weir Farm Historical Parks, the Appalachian and New England Scenic Trails, and the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route.
Local and State Drone Laws for Connecticut
On top of federal regulations, you should know local and state drone laws that are particular to Connecticut. For example, drone flying is illegal in Connecticut State Parks, State Forests and other lands operating under the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). Different regions, counties, and cities will have their own drone flying regulations, too. For example, the Town of Greenwich prohibits any model aviation in parks without prior authorization.
It’s rules like these that are easy to miss. So try to verify local drone regulations whenever you can with an app like Aloft that features Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) in case you need it. Now that you know the basic rules of flying drones in Connecticut, here are our top 7 places to fly a drone in Connecticut:
The Best Places to Fly a Drone in Connecticut
Video Credit: Travel Drone
1. Hartford
Hartford is the capital of Connecticut, a big city split by the Connecticut River. If you go downtown, you’ll find Bushnell Park, the oldest publicly funded park in the U.S. with 50 acres of green space, a pond, and a historic 20th-century merry-go-round. The park has several monuments, including the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch, which honors local Civil War veterans and features two towers that stand 116 feet off the ground. Try flying your drone above the towers to get a unique aerial view of this grand memorial.
In the south-west corner of Bushnell Park, you’ll find the historic Connecticut State Capitol. Built out of marble and granite in the late 19th century, this impressive 287 ft. building features Gothic and Renaissance architectural styles, several statues of former state politicians, and a gold dome cupola. The surrounding grass and walkways and the skyline in the background make it an incredible site to view from above with a drone. At night, the building is even lit up from the outside to add a bit of magic to its imposing presence.
If you head east, you’ll land on the Mortensen Riverfront Plaza. This is a great spectacle to view by drone because you can capture some impressive modern buildings, including a science center and a giant convention center, with the powerful Connecticut River in the foreground. You’ll probably see lots of people jogging and walking along the plaza, too.
If you want to fly over another park, head over to Elizabeth Park on the West End of Hartford. The 102-acre park has a pond and a formal rose garden that contains 15,000 bushes of 800 rose varieties. Looking down from a drone’s perspective, you’ll discover intricate patterns formed by the garden beds, arches, and paths that center on a gazebo that you can’t fully appreciate from the ground.
When flying in and around Hartford, note that the Hartford–Brainard Airport (KHFD) is located near the center of the city. As a result, the majority of the city is in Class D airspace and requires approval with the FAA using the LAANC system.
Video Credit: ManxCat73
2. Old Saybrook
Old Saybrook is one of the oldest towns in Connecticut located on the Long Island Sound. We suggest taking your drone out over the Old Lyme Bridge, a 1,660 ft. Amtrak truss bridge whose intricate steel beams and struts give it an industrial look that would make for some excellent black-and-white throwback drone footage.
You can also check out Saybrook Point on the Connecticut River. It has a large marina with lots of sailboats and a hotel resort with some grand luxury houses. Here, you can get some nice drone shots looking out over the pier toward the water. For some peaceful, romantic footage, wait till twilight or dusk.
If you head over to Lynde Point, you can fly over a sparkplug lighthouse called “Breakwater Light” or “Outer Light.” It’s 48 ft. tall and one of two lighthouses off Lynde Point. Or check out Cornfield Point on the corner of the peninsula for more excellent views.
Fortunately, Old Saybrook is in unrestricted Class G airspace. So you’re clear for takeoff. Just remember to keep situational awareness and stay alert for any other aircraft that might be around.
Video Credit: SkyCrawler
3. Mystic Seaport
Mystic is a colonial seaport and shipbuilding town on the Mystic River, which flows into Fishers Island Sound. We recommend flying over “Seaport Village,” a recreated 19th-century village with dozens of real New England buildings imported from all over New England as well as large century-old ships, including a reproduction of the Mayflower.
If you head downtown, you can fly over a charming waterfront district, more than 80 shops, and the Mystic River Bascule Bridge. It’s a famous 218 ft. drawbridge from 1922. You might try launching your drone from the Mystic River Park to the southeast of the bridge. It has a nice boardwalk for fishing that makes for a good take-off spot. Even Steven Spielberg shot some scenes from his 1997 film Amistad at Mystic Seaport.
Keep in mind, Mystic is in controlled Class D airspace because of the nearby Groton-New London Airport (KGON). That means flights are allowed but only with LAANC approval.
Video Credit: The Video Guy
4. Saville Dam
Saville Dam is an earthen embankment between Barkhamsted Reservoir and Lake Mcdonough. It’s 135 ft. tall and 1,950 ft. long. It also features an iconic tower with a cone roof and majestic wooden double doors that looks like something out of Game of Thrones. The tower coupled with the beautiful still reservoir water can definitely make for some picturesque drone photos and videos. The location is surrounded by thick trees that make it look especially idyllic in the fall when the leaves are changing colors.
Luckily, Saville Dam is in Class G airspace. So you don’t need to worry about any special drone flying restrictions.
Video Credit: Brandon Malin
5. Westport
Along the Long Island Sound, you’ve also got Westport, a vibrant New England town split by the Saugatuck River that’s popular for flying drones. In fact, the city briefly considered using “pandemic drones” in early 2020 to detect coughs and fevers in residents only to vote down the program over obvious privacy concerns. But as long as you don’t intrude on others’ privacy and follow appropriate drone regulations, Westport is an excellent place to fly.
At the center of town, there’s an old 287 ft. string bridge from 1884 called the William F. Cribari Memorial Bridge (formerly Saugatuck River Bridge). Fly your drone over the bridge to capture some stunning aerial footage. And if you’re here in the winter, you can get some cool drone shots of the bridge strung with Christmas lights that reflect in the river below it.
If you’d rather hit up some sandy beaches, head over to Compo Beach. It’s a 29-acre park with plenty of space to fly and capture the Long Island Sound. The beach is open all year, but you’ll need to pay a fee to park there in the summer.
Again, Westport is in Class G airspace. So you can fly here without any restrictions.
Video Credit: Arthur Lee
6. Ragged Mountain
If you want to look over all of central Connecticut, check out Ragged Mountain. It’s a small mountain between Southington and Berlin, CT whose summit reaches 761 ft. Here, you’ll get some fantastic panoramic views of the surrounding green forests. You’ll also see three bodies of water that touch the mountain: Wassel reservoir and two Hart’s ponds. The mountain itself has a waterfall, boulder caves, and a lot of high bluffs and ledges that make for great drone footage. Hike around and up the mountain to catch some vantage points.
Here, you’re still in Class G airspace, so there are no restrictions on flying drones.
Video Credit: Dropframe Productions
7. Stamford
Last on our list of places to fly a drone in Connecticut, we have the city of Stamford. It’s the second largest city in Connecticut and only an hour from New York City by car. It even has a few of its own skyscrapers. If you head over to Harbor Point, you can fly over a historic district with over 400 buildings mostly built within 1870 to 1930. Or you fly over the Pulaski Street Bridge, a wrought-iron lenticular through-truss bridge over the Rippowam River. Or the Harbor Point Commons Park with its giant fountain. You can even fly around the marianas that have free parking and access via Amtrak or Metro North. And no matter where you fly, there’s plenty of nightlife movement to capture in the evening.
To fly over some more open spaces, check out the city’s parks. Cummings Park is a 79-acre park on the beach with baseball diamonds and tennis and basketball courts. Record some fun sports on the beach this way. Or try Cove Island. It’s a slightly bigger park with a wildlife sanctuary that contains 50 species of butterflies and 309 species of birds. Just keep in mind that for both parks, you’ll need a parking pass to park there.
Stamford is in Class G airspace, but be careful not to fly too far west or you’ll run into Class D airspace from Westchester County Airport (KHPN) in New York.
Connect with Drone Pilots in Connecticut
Well there you have it! The best places to fly a drone in Connecticut. If you want to connect with other drone pilots, try joining the CONNECTICUT Drone Club on Facebook.
And if you need professional drone footage, we recommend hiring a licensed commercial drone pilot. Our pilots at The Drone Life thoroughly understand Connecticut drone laws and we partner with all types of business, large and small. Schedule a free consultation with one of our drone experts today to start your project.
This article is purely for entertainment purposes only. It is the responsibility of the pilot to properly research, follow, and abide to all local, state, or federal aviation laws. FAA permission may be required for flight within these listed locations.
