Overview
Bethany is a small town in Connecticut and one of three that compose Amity. It is rapidly growing as a town because it is set back from the rest of the surrounding areas but is in the middle of New Haven and Waterbury, two cities within CT. Although it contains both a High School and a Middle School, the Middle School is shared with Woodbridge and the local High School is a single one, located in Woodbridge for all of Amity.
1 things to do · 1 bars & cafés
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Bethany
Whitlock's Book Barn
The oldest used bookshop in Connecticut, "The Book Barn" (est. 1948) has over 20,000 used and rare books, from 10-cent novels and children's books to antiquarian collectors' titles.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 83°F; winter lows dip to about 15°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Oct and Aug. (climate data from nearby Waterbury)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- HVN Tweed New Haven Airport, New Haven — 12 mi away. Directions
- BDL Bradley International Airport, Hartford — 39 mi away (major hub). Directions
Follow Rt. 63 (Amity Rd.) directly into Bethany.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Get in
By car
- New Haven
Follow Rt. 63 (Amity Rd.) directly into Bethany.
- Waterbury
Rt 8 South onto 63 into Bethany.
By plane
- Tweed New Haven Regional Airport (HVN), 155 Burr Street, Phone: +1 203 466-8833. Served by American Airlines. Find 63 and take it through Woodbridge into Bethany.
- Bradley International Airport (BDL) in Windsor Locks (near Hartford), from which I-91 leads straight to New Haven, then take 63 into Bethany. It is about an hour away and a half away.
- Laguardia Airport in nearby Queens. It has flights nation and worldwide, and is about 1 1/2 hours away. Follow 95 from New York City into New Haven, then 63 into Bethany.
By train
- Metro North Railroad provides service between New Haven, New York and intermediate points. Take a car/taxi down 63 into Bethany.
- Amtrak provides direct service from Virginia to Boston and stops in New Haven. Simply take a car/taxi down 63 into Bethany.
Get around
Bethany is a small town without any centralized concentration of buildings, the only major roads are 63 and 69. A car is highly advised.
See
There's horse farms. And some vegetable farms. And someone has geese. You can drive around and see the various farm animals.
An old run down air field off 63 which has frequent farmer's markets, horse shows, and once a year a carnival.
In fall there are leaves. Colorful ones. Lots of trees on the side roads so it's a very tranquil drive.
There are many historic settings throughout the center of town, mainly the old church and surrounding. All of it is free to view.
Do
- Bethany West (Veteran's Memorial Park) is a pond. You can fish or swim. There's a big hill to sled down during winter, just don't hit the fence!
- Indoor Golf/Tennis, Located on a small road behind Teddy B's.
Eat
- Teddy B's, Open 7AM - 10PM, 136 Amity Rd (Rt 63), +1 203 393-1525 It is a small Italian/Greek restaurant.
- Country Corner Diner, Directly off of 63, a small family owned diner.
- Steve's Deli & Grocery, open 5AM - 9PM, 710 Amity Rd (Rt 63), +1 203 393-9111, It is primarily known for sandwiches but also has an assortment of dinner specials varying by the day of the week.
- Billy's Ice Cream, open 11AM - 10PM, 742 Amity Rd (Rt 63) +1 203 393-3294 A small ice cream parlour.
- Bethany Restaurant & Pizza, open 11AM - 10PM, 696 Amity Rd (Rt 63) +1 203 393-0700 If you want to eat there you have to go in the back, the front is only for pickup.
Drink
Drink Town & Country Liquors
(Rt 63), There are no bars in Bethany but there is this package store.
Sleep
There are no hotels in Bethany. Or bed and breakfasts. The nearest ones are in New Haven, Waterbury, or Orange/Milford (on the Post Rd)
Go next
New York is about an hour and a half away (depending on traffic). Simply take 63 into New Haven and get on the Merritt Parkway.
More immediate is New Haven (20 mins) which is kind of cool. It has museums and places to eat. Just don't go near the 95 entrance (Yale Ave), there's always construction.
Nearby
Hamden
City / town · 23 listings · 5 mi away
North Haven
City / town · 3 listings · 7 mi away
New Haven
City / town · 52 listings · 9 mi away
Wallingford
City / town · 8 listings · 9 mi away
Waterbury
City / town · 13 listings · 10 mi away
Orange
City / town · 3 listings · 10 mi away
West Haven
City / town · 6 listings · 10 mi away
East Haven
City / town · 21 listings · 11 mi away
My experience
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