Looking for entertainment, history, and high-end amenities all in one place? Head to Mashantucket! Located in southeastern Connecticut, Mashantucket is best known as home to Foxwoods Resort Casino, but it also offers cultural heritage, outdoor adventures, and a luxurious getaway experience. Whether you're gaming, shopping, or learning about Native American history, Mashantucket is a one-of-a-kind destination.
Mashantucket, CT Highlights:
- For Families: Explore the Mashantucket Pequot Museum – An immersive museum showcasing Native American history with life-size dioramas and interactive exhibits.
- For Outdoor Enthusiasts: Hike Lantern Hill Trail – Short but scenic trail with panoramic views of the surrounding forest and lakes.
- For Kids: Bowl and play at High Rollers Luxury Lanes & Lounge – Family-friendly bowling alley with retro glam and fun eats.
- For an Adventure: Try ziplining at HighFlyer Zipline – Soar above the Foxwoods towers for a thrilling ride and amazing views.
- For Shoppers: Browse Tanger Outlets at Foxwoods – Over 80 designer and brand-name stores under one roof.
Best Time to Visit Mashantucket, CT
The best time to visit Mashantucket is from April through October. Warmer months offer better conditions for hiking and outdoor adventures, while the resort amenities and events are enjoyable year-round.
How to Get to Mashantucket, CT
- If you are traveling by car: Located near I-95, Mashantucket is about 1 hour from Providence, 2 hours from Boston, and 2.5 hours from New York City.
- By Train: Take Amtrak to New London, CT (approx. 25 minutes away) and use a taxi, rideshare, or shuttle to reach Mashantucket.
- By Bus: Foxwoods runs charter bus services from many Northeast cities; check their official website for schedules.
Where to Stay in Mashantucket, CT
- Grand Pequot Tower at Foxwoods – Upscale rooms, a spa, and direct casino access with beautiful forest views.
- Great Cedar Hotel – Centrally located in the resort with easy access to shopping and dining.
- The Fox Tower – Sleek and modern hotel offering nightlife, pools, and luxury accommodations.
Best Things to Do in Mashantucket, CT
⮕ Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center
Explore Native American history and admire fascinating cultural exhibits.
© Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center
-
What is the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center?
-
When did the museum open to the public?
- The museum was opened to the public in 1998 and strives to foster understanding of the history and culture of the Pequot and other indigenous people throughout the United States and Canada.
-
What can visitors learn about at the museum?
- The museum's 85,000 square feet of permanent exhibit space details the natural history of the Mashantucket region and the history of the Pequot, from their arrival to their reservation removal in the 1600s up through present-day Native perspectives.
-
What are some highlights of the museum exhibits?
- Exhibits include a recreated 16th-century Pequot village and daily showings of the 30-minute documentary film The Witness, which details the 1637 Pequot War.
-
What dining and shopping options are available at the museum?
- Indigenous cuisine is served at the Pequot Cafe, while Native artisan works are sold at the Trading Post Gift Shop.
110 Pequot Trail, Ledyard, CT 06338, Phone: 800-411-9671
⮕ Foxwoods Resort Casino
Try your luck at slots, table games, and exciting entertainment.
© Foxwoods Resort Casino
-
What is Foxwoods Resort Casino?
- Foxwoods Resort Casino is a spectacular 9,000,000-square-foot casino and resort complex in Ledyard, operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation since 1986.
-
Who developed Foxwoods Resort Casino?
- The resort was developed in cooperation with noted Malaysian developer Lim Goh Tong.
-
What gaming options are available at Foxwoods?
- Foxwoods offers six separate casino floors showcasing more than 5,500 slot machines, a race book facility, a bingo hall accommodating 5,000 players, and over 350 table games including poker, roulette, craps, baccarat, and blackjack.
-
What accommodations are available for overnight guests?
- Two hotel towers offer more than 2,200 luxurious rooms and suites with amenities such as a children's arcade and a 4,000-seat theater hosting mixed martial arts competitions and special events.
-
What shopping options are available at Foxwoods?
- An 85-store Tanger Outlets retail complex separates the resort's hotel towers, offering a variety of shopping experiences.
-
What dining options are available at Foxwoods?
- A wide variety of dining options are available for guests, including national chain favorites such as Hard Rock Cafe and California Pizza Kitchen.
350 Trolley Line Blvd, Mashantucket, CT 06338, Phone: 860-312-3000
⮕ High Rollers Luxury Lanes and Lounge
Bowl in style and enjoy upscale dining and cocktails.
© High Rollers Luxury Lanes and Lounge
-
What is High Rollers Luxury Lanes and Lounge?
-
What type of bowling experience does High Rollers offer?
- The venue features a vintage Vegas-themed lounge with 20 PBA-regulation bowling lanes, including six exclusive VIP lanes.
-
What other gaming options are available?
- Four Brunswick Gold Crown billiard tables are available for play, with private seating areas located at the top of each lane for guest use.
-
What dining options are available at High Rollers?
- The bar menu, crafted by award-winning executive chef Kevin Long, highlights build-your-own pizzas, clever burgers, and shareable appetizers such as buffalo teriyaki chicken sticks, Rhode Island calamari, and crab and scallion dip with truffle-herbed tortilla chips.
-
What drinks are available at High Rollers?
- Guests can enjoy an extensive selection of draft beer, fine wine, and craft cocktail lists, with high-end bottle service available for private groups.
350 Trolley Line Blvd, Mashantucket, CT 06338, Phone: 860-312-2695
Activities and Attractions for Couples and Singles:
⮕ The HighFlyer Zipline
Soar above Foxwoods and enjoy thrilling aerial views.
© xy/stock.adobe.com
-
What is The HighFlyer Zipline?
- The HighFlyer Zipline is one of the Foxwoods Resort Casino's most unique attractions, offering a mile-long journey over 350 feet in the air between the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center and the resort's Fox Tower.
-
How fast can riders go on the HighFlyer Zipline?
- Youth and adult riders can reach speeds of over 60 miles per hour while soaring through Mashantucket's forested canopies, reaching heights equivalent to a 32-story skyscraper.
-
How many lines does the zipline feature?
- The zipline features four parallel lines operating along Connecticut's highest zipline, sending one guest at a time on an unforgettable adventure.
-
When is the zipline available?
- Zipline experiences are offered daily throughout the summer, with limited operations during autumn, winter, and spring, weather permitting.
-
Who can ride the HighFlyer Zipline?
- Experiences are designed for riders weighing between 65 and 300 pounds.
-
Is transportation provided for participants?
- A complimentary shuttle service is offered between the Fox Tower and the museum for all riders and spectators.
350 Trolley Line Blvd Foxwoods Resort parking rotunda, Fox Tower Dr, Mashantucket, CT 06338, Phone: 860-312-3597
⮕ Spellbound Escapes
Solve puzzles and enjoy an exciting escape room challenge.
© Jérôme Rommé/stock.adobe.com
-
What is Spellbound Escapes?
- Spellbound Escapes is an exciting escape room game experience located at the Tanger Outlets retail complex at Foxwoods Resort Casino, opened to the public in October 2018.
-
Who created Spellbound Escapes?
- The immersive game experience was created by Jenny Killoran.
-
How does the escape room experience work?
- Participants must escape a themed room within 60 minutes or less by using clues found throughout the room to aid in their escape.
-
What themed puzzle games are available?
- Themed puzzle games include The Temple of the Laughing God, which challenges participants to uncover the secrets of mysterious Mayan ruins that are said to house the spirit of a malevolent entity.
-
How many participants can join each game?
- All games are designed for two to eight participants.
-
Are private group experiences available?
- Yes, private group experiences are available for team-building activities, birthday parties, and other special events.
455 Trolley Line Blvd Ste 540, Mashantucket, CT 06338, Phone: 860-222-8424
⮕ Lake of Isles
Play championship golf surrounded by scenic landscapes.
© Lake of Isles
-
What is Lake of Isles?
- Lake of Isles is a scenic golf course located across from the Foxwoods Resort Casino, owned and overseen by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation.
-
What makes Lake of Isles special?
- The beautiful 900-acre course was named as one of Golf Magazine's top 100 courses for 2017 and was designed by acclaimed golf architect Rees Jones.
-
How many holes does Lake of Isles offer?
- The course offers 36 holes of challenging play, which are seamlessly integrated into the surrounding natural landscape.
-
Are there resort packages available?
- Resort guests can combine their play as part of several golf experience resort packages, allowing players to stay in luxury at the nearby Fox Tower.
-
What professional instruction services are offered?
- Professional golf instruction is offered by the Troon Golf Academy, including 3D swing analysis, golf biodynamics, and 60,000 square feet of practice space.
-
What dining options are available at Lake of Isles?
- After a round of golf, players can enjoy delicious hearty pub fare and ice-cold beverages at Matches Tavern, which offers a spacious patio and six large-screen televisions.
1227, 1 Clubhouse Dr, North Stonington, CT 06359, Phone: 888-475-3746
Where to Eat:
⮕ David Burke Prime
Savor premium steaks and indulge in fine dining.
© David Burke Prime
-
What is David Burke Prime?
- David Burke Prime is a gourmet steakhouse located at the Foxwoods Resort Casino, opened to the public in July 2008 by the Craveable Hospitality Group.
-
What is David Burke Prime known for?
- The restaurant is known for its patented dry-aging process, with all meats hand-selected and cured at the restaurant's dedicated dry-aging room.
-
What classic steak cuts are available?
- Classic cuts include high-quality filet mignons, boneless short ribs, and grade-A Japanese wagyu steaks.
-
What other dinner specialties are served?
- Other delectable specialties include double-cut Berkshire pork chops, surf-and-turf dumplings with kombu ginger-soy broth, and lobster fra diavolo.
-
What beverage options are available?
- The restaurant offers an impressive wine list featuring thousands of premium bottles from around the world, along with extensive draft beer, craft cocktail, and fine liquor selections.
350 Trolley Line Blvd, Mashantucket, CT 06338, Phone: 860-312-8753
⮕ Alta Strada Foxwoods
Enjoy delicious Italian dishes crafted with fresh ingredients.
© Alta Strada Foxwoods
-
What is Alta Strada Foxwoods?
- Alta Strada Foxwoods is the Foxwoods Resort Casino branch of the popular East Coast Italian fare chain, originally opened in Massachusetts in 2007.
-
Where are other Alta Strada locations?
- Alta Strada also offers locations in Washington, D.C., Connecticut, and Northern Virginia.
-
Who is the executive chef at Alta Strada Foxwoods?
- The restaurant is helmed by acclaimed executive chef Michael Schlow.
-
What type of cuisine does Alta Strada serve?
- The restaurant serves up time-tested Italian favorites at brunch, lunch, and dinner, including a wide selection of comforting housemade pastas.
-
What pasta dishes are available?
- Pasta selections include mushroom mezzeluna, fettuccine primavera, and Italian sausage rigatoni with tomato cream.
-
What other signature dishes are served?
- Delicious Neapolitan-style pizzas are served in a variety of flavors alongside signature entrees such as veal saltimbocca, zuppa di pesce, and giant chicken parmesan.
-
Are beverages and desserts available?
- Fine wines and cocktails complement meals, along with authentic Italian desserts and digestifs.
240 Fox Tower Dr, Mashantucket, CT 06338, Phone: 860-312-2582
⮕ Guy Fieri's Foxwoods Kitchen and Bar
Savor bold flavors and enjoy comfort food with a twist.
© Guy Fieri's Foxwoods Kitchen + Bar
Guy Fieri's Foxwoods Kitchen and Bar is one of the latest restaurant offerings from celebrity chef Guy Fieri, best known as one of the leading personalities of Food Network. The restaurant, which is overseen by the Big Night Entertainment Group, offers seating for up to 375 diners and serves up brunch, lunch, dinner, and late-night delicacies throughout the week at the Foxwoods Resort Casino. Award-winning American-style cuisine pairs with an extensive beverage menu, which offers signature cocktails alongside draft beers and fine wines. Bold twists on traditional favorites include bacon mac-and-cheese burgers, crab cake sandwiches with Old Bay aioli, and jalapeno-apricot-glazed salmon with smoked sweet potatoes and grilled asparagus. Brunch selections include maple-bacon French toast, breakfast burgers, and signature Big Bite burritos, served alongside classic brunch drinks such as mimosas and oversized bloody marys.
350 Trolley Line Blvd, Ledyard, CT 06338, Phone: 860-312-5000
If you are interested in local events:
- Foxwoods Food & Wine Festival (Fall) – Sample gourmet bites, fine wines, and celebrity chef demos.
- Live entertainment at Premier Theater – Major artists and comedians perform throughout the year.
- Native American Cultural Celebrations – Seasonal events and performances at the Pequot Museum highlight local traditions.
If you are looking for unique day trips within 30 Minutes of Mashantucket, Connecticut:
- Mystic (20–25 min) – Visit Mystic Seaport, Mystic Aquarium, and stroll the charming downtown.
- Stonington Borough (25–30 min) – A quaint seaside village with colonial streets, art galleries, and waterfront views.
- New London (20–25 min) – Explore historic lighthouses, Fort Trumbull, and coastal parks.
- Groton (20–25 min) – Tour the Submarine Force Museum and the USS Nautilus.
- Preston & Ledyard (10–15 min) – Scenic countryside drives, hiking trails, and farm visits close to the resort.
Frequently Asked Questions:
-
Where is Ledyard, Connecticut located?
- Ledyard, Connecticut is home to the Mashantucket Pequot Indian Reservation, the federally-recognized home of the Algonquian-language Pequot tribe.
-
What is Ledyard best known for today?
- The region is best known today as the site of the Foxwoods Resort Casino, which is one of the world's largest public casinos by floor size and number of casino games offered.
-
What activities can visitors enjoy at Foxwoods Resort Casino?
- Resort visitors will find a wide variety of activities to suit guests of all ages, from gaming to entertainment and dining.
Plan Your Trip