Bradley International Airport: where to stay, areas and recommended…

Bradley International Airport is in Windsor Locks, about fifteen miles north of Hartford: there's no direct train, but bus route 30, the Bradley Flyer, connects the airport to Union Station and downtown in a semi-express run of about thirty minutes, every day. Staying near the airport pays off for dawn flights or short layovers, since there's little around besides hotels; those who want to stay in the Connecticut capital for work or for an evening out find hotels clustered on a handful of downtown streets, some just steps from the Bradley Flyer's terminus.

Airport area (Windsor Locks)

Airport area · Free shuttle a few minutes from the terminal; the airport is five minutes from the I-91 exit.

Best for: Dawn flights or short layovers, without needing to go into Hartford.

Pros

A few minutes from the terminal, convenient for an early-morning flight
No risk linked to traffic toward Hartford

Cons

Nothing around but hotels and highway interchanges, nothing for the evening
Hartford is still about twenty minutes away by car or half an hour by bus

Recommended hotels in this area

Fairfield Inn Hartford Airport: Five minutes from the terminal with a free shuttle; reviews praise the buffet breakfast and the check-in staff.

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Union Station (direct bus to the airport)

Near the airport link · The Bradley Flyer (route 30) departs from Union Station, seven minutes on foot away, and reaches the airport in about half an hour.

Best for: Those who want historic downtown Hartford while staying near the terminus of the bus to the airport.

Pros

A few steps from the terminus of the direct bus to the airport
In the historic 1881 building, steps from Bushnell Park

Cons

The bus isn't as frequent as a regular city line: check the schedule before an early flight
The neighborhood's evening life is quieter than elsewhere downtown

Recommended hotels in this area

The Goodwin: In the 1881 Queen Anne building, a national historic landmark; reviews praise cleanliness and staff, seven minutes on foot from Union Station.

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Downtown and Convention Center

City centre · Bus route 30, the Bradley Flyer, from downtown (about half an hour), or car/taxi in 20-25 minutes.

Best for: Those attending a conference or who want to stay near the Connecticut River and the downtown museums.

Pros

Connected to the Connecticut Convention Center by a covered walkway
Walking distance to museums such as the Wadsworth Atheneum and the Science Center

Cons

The neighborhood empties out in the evening outside conference or event hours
Same trip to the airport as the other downtown zones, no extra advantage

Recommended hotels in this area

Hartford Marriott Downtown: Connected to the Connecticut Convention Center by a covered walkway, with views of the Connecticut River; reviews praise cleanliness and staff.
Residence Inn by Marriott Hartford Downtown: Rooms with a kitchen a few steps from the XL Center; reviews praise the free breakfast and the staff.

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