The town of Mystic and the Mystic River are located off Mystic Harbor and both are among the most popular boating areas in Connecticut. With a wide array of marine services, thousands of moorings and a setting that is relatively well-protected, the town of Mystic and the Mystic River fill up quickly in season. This is the home of the Mystic Seaport museum, a popular local attraction.

Inside the Mystic River are no less than seven marinas, and many of them have facilities available for transient guests. Like any popular boating center, you will be well served to call ahead and arrange your spot for the evening in advance, or arrive early to the first-come first served moorings outside the river’s entrance. There are spots for anchoring about, but most of them are not conveniently located close to town.

Use NOAA Chart 12372.

To reach Mystic River, you will have to work your way up Mystic Harbor from Fishers Island Sound. Mystic Harbor is approached form the south between Ram Island Shoal and Morgan Point in the town of Noank. The start of the approach into Mystic Harbor from Fishers Island Sound is marked by green can “1” about a mile southwest of Swimming Rock. From here, head north toward red nun “2” and green can “3” marking Planet and Swimming rocks, respectively.

The rest of the channel up to the town of Mystic hugs the west shore of Mystic Harbor for about a mile, and then it bends back to the east at Mason Island. Picking up from red nun “2” and green can “3,” plot a course for quick flashing red buoy “4,” and note on the chart that this is a rocky area that requires your attention. Next head toward quick flashing green “5” at the start of the narrow entrance channel to Mystic, and then follow red nuns “6” through “20” until you reach green can “19” at the eastward bend south of Sixpenny Island.

Green can “21,” red nun “22,” green can “23” and red nun “24” complete the turn between Sixpenny and Mason islands. The cruise into Mystic from here is simple and easy; just follow the well placed string of buoys up to the town of Mystic at the Mystic Swing Bridge (eight-foot closed vertical clearance, opens at :40 past the hour from 7:15 a.m. To 7:15 p.m. And on demand at all other times).

Once you have cleared the swing bridge, you will find marinas lining both sides of the channel up to the next opening bridge (bascule, four-foot closed vertical clearance), which opens on signal. The Mystic Seaport is located near the head of the river past the second opening bridge, and there are more than 50 transient slips available here (call ahead for reservations). In town provisioning is easy, with a grocery store, pharmacy and liquor store all close by.

In addition to an extensive field of hefty moorings, Mystic has over 14 marinas in the harbor and up beyond the Mystic Swing Bridge. All but five of these marinas cater to transient guests, and several of them have haul-out facilities and fuels. Mystic is an excellent town for historic and seafaring exploration and is the location of the Mystic Seaport Museum, the town’s biggest draw.

One of the most popular attractions in Mystic is the Mystic Seaport Museum, which has hundred of interactive exhibits on the seafaring history in Mystic and New England. You can board tall ships, watch a wooden boat being built, or just wander the grounds taking in the scenery. The Mystic Aquarium is also a popular spot in Mystic and has many exhibits on the native life on the Connecticut sea coast. Fore a detailed calendar of events, see the “Helpful Links” section below.

The only taxis you will find in Mystic are water taxis, so if you plan to explore the town or make an extended provisioning trip ashore, a bicycle or a comfortable pair of walking shoes are in order.

The closest airport to Mystic is the Groton-New London Airport, which is located about four miles away to the southeast on the Groton peninsula. Although major carrier air service is not available, you can arrange charter flights to larger airports necessary.

Bradley International Airport is about 50 miles away to the northwest in the city of Hartford, and the T.F. Green International Airport is also located 50 miles away, but to the northeast in Providence, RI.

For a detailed transportation schedule, see the “Helpful Links” section below.

Guide to Mystic Country

Mystic Calendar of Events

Mystic Seaport

Mystic Aquarium

Bradley International Airport

T.F. Green International Airport