Facility Overview

The Water Street Garage is a multi-level, covered parking structure centrally located at 160 Water Street in the heart of downtown New London, Connecticut. Operated to support both municipal visitors and regional transit commuters, this facility provides protected, multi-tier parking sheltered from coastal New England weather conditions. The garage layout features well-defined travel lanes, standard parking bays, and direct elevator and stairwell access to street level. Standard passenger sedans, compact crossovers, and standard SUVs can navigate and park comfortably. However, drivers of lifted pickup trucks, commercial delivery vans, high-roof conversion vans, or vehicles equipped with rooftop cargo boxes should heed posted clearance limits (typically 6 feet 8 inches) and consider open-air municipal lots along the waterfront if additional vertical clearance is required.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Situated directly along the New London waterfront and transportation hub, the Water Street Garage offers unmatched convenience for commuters, maritime travelers, and cultural visitors alike. Key nearby destinations include:

• New London Union Station: Just a 2-minute walk (less than 500 feet), providing direct access to Amtrak Northeast Regional and Shore Line East commuter rail lines.
• Cross Sound Ferry & Block Island Express: Located within a 3- to 5-minute walk, serving ferry passengers traveling across Long Island Sound to Orient Point, Long Island, and Block Island.
• New London Waterfront Park: Directly adjacent, offering scenic strolls along the Thames River, public pier access, and summer concert spaces.
• Garde Arts Center: A premier historic performing arts venue located approximately 0.4 miles away (an 8-minute walk up State Street).
• Historic Downtown & Bank Street Dining: Just steps away, featuring local seafood eateries, craft breweries, art galleries, and boutique shops.
• Custom House Maritime Museum: Located less than a 5-minute walk away on Bank Street.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

The parking garage provides straightforward ingress and egress via Water Street, connecting smoothly to Atlantic Street and State Street. It is ideally positioned for drivers arriving from Interstate 95 (Exits 83 and 84) and Route 32, making the final approach from the highway brief and intuitive. Following peak ferry arrivals or major events at the Garde Arts Center, traffic control lights onto Governor Winthrop Boulevard and Eugene O\'Neill Drive keep exiting traffic moving steadily. In addition to Amtrak and commuter rail services at Union Station, the facility sits adjacent to the SEAT (Southeast Area Transit) downtown bus transfer points, making multimodal connections effortless.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• Multi-level covered parking protecting vehicles from rain, coastal winds, and winter snowfall.
• Elevator and covered stair towers for swift access between parking decks and street level.
• Designated accessible (ADA) parking spaces located conveniently near elevator banks.
• Well-illuminated parking bays, pedestrian stairwells, and entry corridors.
• Automated pay stations accepting credit and debit cards, along with mobile app payment integration via ParkMobile.
• 24/7 operating hours accommodating early-morning rail departures and late-evening ferry arrivals.

Ideal For

• Ferry Passengers: Long-weekend and day-trip travelers boarding the Cross Sound Ferry to Long Island or the fast ferry to Block Island.
• Rail Commuters: Daily and weekly Amtrak and Shore Line East passengers traveling to New Haven, New York City, Providence, or Boston.
• Theater & Event Guests: Visitors attending concerts, theatrical performances, and film screenings at the Garde Arts Center.
• Waterfront Visitors & Diners: Diners enjoying Bank Street restaurants and attendees of waterfront festivals and fireworks displays.

Visitor & Driver Tips

During peak summer weekends and major holiday travel periods, the garage experiences high demand due to ferry departures. Travelers taking the Cross Sound Ferry or heading to Block Island are strongly encouraged to arrive 45 to 60 minutes before scheduled departure times to secure a parking bay and complete ticketing without rushing. Note your deck level and parking bay number before descending to street level. If parking for multiple days while traveling by train or ferry, ensure your payment session covers the full duration of your trip to avoid municipal ticketing or citation.