Connecticut Library State Park Pass: How to Borrow One

Updated 2026-09-04 · Free · No sign-up

At some libraries. No Child Left Inside Library Pass runs in parts of Connecticut — call your branch before you drive. Verified against portal.ct.gov, checked 2026-09-04.

At a glance

ProgramNo Child Left Inside Library Pass
What it coversWaives entrance fees for 2 adults + up to 4 children (12 and under) at only 3 specific sites: Dinosaur State Park (Rocky Hill), Gillette Castle State Park (East Haddam), and Fort Trumbull State Park/Visitor Center (New London). Excludes camping and special events.
How to borrowBorrow at the circulation/information desk of participating CT public libraries; 3-day loan, first-come-first-served, picked up in person.
Day-use cost otherwiseParking free for CT-registered vehicles statewide; museum/historic-building admission otherwise charged at Dinosaur SP, Gillette Castle, and Fort Trumbull.
Sourceportal.ct.gov · checked 2026-09-04

Worth knowing

Connecticut already waives general parking fees statewide for CT-registered vehicles at state parks/forests, so this pass mainly unlocks museum/historic-building admission at the 3 named sites rather than general park entry. Program page references an Oct 2021-Dec 2022 validity window for the original pass batch — confirm current availability with CT DEEP/your library before relying on it.

How it works in practice

Passes circulate like books: a limited number per branch, usually one checkout per household, with holds allowed and loan periods of one to three weeks. Summer weekends empty the shelf first — place a hold early. And remember the pass covers day-use entry only; camping is a separate booking and fee everywhere.

Nearby & similar states

Idaho · Indiana · Maine · Maryland — same situation (Programs at some libraries). Or browse all 50 states.

↥ Check another state →   Browse all state park pass guides →

FAQ

Can I borrow a state park pass from a Connecticut library?

At participating libraries — No Child Left Inside Library Pass doesn't cover every system. Borrow at the circulation/information desk of participating CT public libraries; 3-day loan, first-come-first-served, picked up in person.

What does Connecticut state park entry normally cost?

Parking free for CT-registered vehicles statewide; museum/historic-building admission otherwise charged at Dinosaur SP, Gillette Castle, and Fort Trumbull.. That's what each borrowed-pass visit saves.

Does the borrowed pass cover camping?

No — these programs lend day-use entry passes. Campsites, cabins and boat launches are booked and paid separately everywhere.

Related