Chester-Hadlyme Ferry, Connecticut

This is one of two active ferry crossings remaining on the Connecticut River. The Chester-Hadlyme ferry began here as a private ferry, in 1769, and is now operated by the Connecticut Department of Transportation. It closes for the winter, forcing people to cross on bridges at East Haddam, three miles north, or Old Lyme, ten miles south. It has a capacity of around 9 cars, and sees around 100 cars per day, and takes five minutes. The other ferry operating on the river is the Rocky Hill-Glastonbury ferry, near Hartford, which is said to be the oldest continuously operating ferry service in the USA, starting in 1655. Both were going to be shut down by the state in 2011, but locals lobbied to keep them open, so far.