Lower Quiet Corner Region

The Lower Quiet Corner occupies the east-central portion of Connecticut, stretching from the Windham area west toward the more rural communities around Lebanon and Mansfield. It is a predominantly rural region of farms, forests, reservoirs, historic villages and small downtowns. Visitors will find a strong agricultural and mill-town heritage, state parks, hiking trails, lakes, historic sites, seasonal farm attractions and a landscape that feels substantially quieter and less developed than much of central Connecticut.

Towns Included:

Brooklyn, Canterbury, Chaplin, Hampton, Lebanon, Mansfield, Plainfield, Scotland, Sterling, Windham

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The Main Cities Of This Region Are:

There are no incorporated cities in the Lower Quiet Corner, although Willimantic, within the town of Windham, functions as the region's most urban center. The former mill town has a compact downtown with restaurants, shops, galleries, cultural events and historic architecture, while the rest of Windham and the surrounding communities quickly become rural. The contrast between Willimantic's old industrial core and the surrounding farms, forests and small villages is one of the defining characteristics of the region.

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Major regional draws

Historic Sites & Heritage

• Windham Textile & History Museum

• Windham Mills Historic District

• Lebanon Green

• Jonathan Trumbull House

• Lebanon Historical Society Museum

• Scotland Historical Society & Palmer Memorial Hall

State Parks, Forests & Outdoor Recreation

• Mashamoquet Brook State Park

• Hopeville Pond State Park

• Bigelow Hollow State Park

• Nehantic State Forest

• Mono Pond State Park Reserve

• Nathan Hale State Forest

• Mansfield Hollow State Park

• Mansfield Hollow State Forest

Farms, Agriculture & Rural Landscapes

• Benton Hill Orchards

• Scottish Highlands & Agricultural Landscape

• Buell's Orchard

• Connecticut Audubon Society at Trail Wood

• Trail Wood

Lakes, Rivers & Water Recreation

• Mansfield Hollow Lake

• Quinebaug River

• Shetucket River

• Moose Meadow Brook

Nature, Wildlife & Scenic Places

• Trail Wood Nature Preserve

• Pine Acres Lake & Forest Areas

• Kitt Brook & Little River Areas

• Sterling Hill & Rural Sterling

Unique Attractions & Family Destinations

• Windham Airport

• Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum

• Willimantic Brewing Company

• The Frog Bridge

• Nathan Hale Homestead

• J. D. McCarty Center / Windham Mills area

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Meet Adoptable CT Shelter Dogs

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The Main Highways In This Region Are:

• I-395 is the major limited-access highway serving the eastern edge of the Lower Quiet Corner. It passes through Plainfield and Killingly-area communities, providing the region's primary north-south connection toward Norwich, New London and Worcester, Massachusetts.

The Main Routes In This Region Are:

• U.S. Route 6: One of the region's most important east-west routes, passing through the Windham area and connecting the Lower Quiet Corner with central Connecticut and Rhode Island.

• Route 12: A major north-south route through Plainfield, providing an alternative to I-395 and connecting the region with Norwich and points north.

• Route 14: Runs through Windham, Scotland and Canterbury, providing an important east-west connection through the central portion of the region.

• Route 14A: Serves Windham and surrounding communities, particularly the Willimantic area, and functions as an important local alternative to Route 14.

• Route 16: Runs through Mansfield, connecting the area toward Columbia and points west while providing access to Mansfield Hollow and the surrounding countryside.

• Route 32: The principal north-south highway through Windham and Willimantic, connecting the region with Norwich and the UConn area.

• Route 169: Runs through Canterbury, providing a scenic north-south route through one of the region's more rural agricultural landscapes.

• Route 195: Serves Mansfield, providing the primary connection between Willimantic and the Storrs/UConn area.

• Route 203: Runs through Windham, providing an important local connection around the Willimantic area.

• Route 205: Connects portions of Lebanon and the surrounding rural communities, providing access through the western part of the region.

• Route 207: Runs through Lebanon, connecting the town's rural interior with neighboring communities.

• Route 289: Serves Mansfield and the surrounding area, providing another connection through the northern portion of the region.

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To the North of this region is the “Upper Quiet Corner” Region

To the East is Rhode Island

To the South is the “Near Norwich” Region

To the West is the “North Central East” and the “Central East” Region

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