Facility Overview

The parking facility at 351 N Frontage Road serves as the main surface parking grounds for the prominent New London Mall in New London, Connecticut. Designed as a sprawling, single-level outdoor commercial lot encompassing over 1,200 parking stalls, it offers exceptional visibility and expansive circulation aisles tailored for high-volume consumer traffic. Because this is an open-air surface parking deck without parking garage decks or low-hanging structural beams, it imposes no vertical height clearance restrictions. Drivers operating standard sedans, compact crossovers, heavy-duty pickup trucks, full-size SUVs, handicap-accessible vans, and even high-roof commercial sprinters or vehicles equipped with roof racks and cargo carriers can maneuver and park here with total confidence.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Strategically situated along the Interstate 95 corridor, this location serves as a primary retail, medical, and dining center for southeastern Connecticut. The lot directly serves major retailers and service destinations on-site, including ShopRite, Marshalls, HomeGoods, PetSmart, Chili's Grill & Bar, Skechers, and Hartford HealthCare GoHealth Urgent Care. Beyond the immediate shopping plaza, several prominent regional hubs and educational institutions are within a rapid 5-to-10-minute drive:

• Connecticut College & Arboretum (~1.5 miles north): A quick 5-minute drive to the historic collegiate campus and 750-acre native plant sanctuary.
• United States Coast Guard Academy (~2 miles northeast): Accessible in under 7 minutes, making it a handy stop for visiting families and cadets seeking dining and retail essentials.
• Downtown New London & Historic Waterfront District (~2 miles southeast): A short drive leads directly to the Garde Arts Center, local maritime galleries, dining on Bank Street, and the Thames River waterfront.
• New London Union Station & Ferries (~2.2 miles southeast): Strategic jump-off point when driving toward Amtrak, Shore Line East commuter trains, and the Cross Sound and Block Island ferry terminals.
• Ocean Beach Park (~4.5 miles south): A straight 10-to-12-minute commute south leads directly to the award-winning public beach, boardwalk, and recreation facilities on Long Island Sound.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Access to the parking facility is exceptionally straightforward, featuring multiple wide entrances situated directly along North Frontage Road and Bayonet Street. Positioned immediately off Interstate 95 (Exit 82/82A), arriving motorists can exit the highway and transition smoothly into the plaza within seconds without navigating narrow downtown streets. The lot's design incorporates wide perimeter distributor roads and multi-lane intersections that ease departure even during peak evening shopping hours or weekend rushes. For public transit users, the Southeast Area Transit (SEAT) system operates Route 14 directly through the plaza, providing regular scheduled bus service connecting New London Mall with Union Station, Connecticut College, and neighboring shopping centers.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• Expansive Open-Air Capacity: Over 1,200 standard and oversized surface parking stalls laid out across well-maintained asphalt.
• Electric Vehicle Fast Charging: Equipped with an 8-stall Tesla Supercharger hub situated near Chili's Grill & Bar, offering rapid DC fast charging for EV drivers.
• Unrestricted Overhead Headroom: Zero vertical height limit, accommodating high-profile SUVs, vans, and commercial service vehicles.
• ADA Accessible Stalls: Plentiful designated disabled parking spaces positioned directly outside main storefront entrances, complete with curb cuts and ramped walkway transitions.
• Illumination & Safety: Broad overhead floodlight poles throughout the lot ensure excellent nighttime visibility and driver peace of mind.
• Complimentary Customer Parking: Open, permit-free visitor parking during regular retail, dining, and medical hours.

Ideal For

• Retail & Grocery Shoppers: Daily visitors heading to ShopRite, Marshalls, HomeGoods, and PetSmart who require wide spaces for trunk loading and grocery cart access.
• EV Travelers & Road Trippers: Drivers traversing the I-95 corridor between New York, New Haven, Providence, and Boston seeking convenient charging and quick dining options.
• Healthcare & Urgent Care Patients: Direct front-door parking for visitors utilizing Hartford HealthCare GoHealth Urgent Care or UCFS Healthcare behavioral services.
• College & Academy Visitors: Parents and alumni visiting Connecticut College or the Coast Guard Academy needing a central staging point for supplies and casual dining.

Visitor & Driver Tips

When visiting the plaza, note that North Frontage Road is a one-way arterial running parallel to Interstate 95; if you miss the initial entrance near Chili's, remain in the right lane to take the subsequent secondary entrance rather than attempting a turnaround. EV drivers heading to the Tesla Superchargers will find them positioned in the western sector of the lot near the restaurant pad. While spaces closest to ShopRite and the medical clinics turn over frequently, quieter and more spacious stalls are readily available toward the outer perimeter and along the eastern frontage. Parking is complimentary for active customers and patrons of the plaza.