Stop and Smell the Roses at Elizabeth Park in West Hartford, CT

Mar 15

Written By Lindsey

This public garden is on the National Register of Historic Places and it’s one of my absolute favorite gardens in Connecticut.

And a bonus? It is entirely free to visit!

*The rose arches in bloom at Elizabeth Park in West Hartford, CT.*

Elizabeth Park in West Hartford, Connecticut:

Welcome to the Helen S. Kaman Rose Garden, located in Elizabeth Park. This rose garden is the oldest municipal rose garden in the country and it’s also the third largest rose garden in the country.

Elizabeth Park originally opened in 1897 and was donated to the City of Hartford for everyone to enjoy. Today, visitors can enjoy the rose garden, featuring over 15,000 gorgeous roses, including over 800 different varieties.

This spot can be very popular especially on weekends while the roses in bloom. You will likely see lots of other visitors walking through the gardens and you may see photo shoots underway as well (including graduation or wedding shoots).

The most popular spots in the garden are along the beautiful rows of rose arches and under the gazebo, located in the center of the garden. The arches are quite impressive, especially when in full bloom.

While the rose garden is the main attraction when in bloom, you can also explore the perennial garden, walk the path through the park to get your steps in, and say hello to the geese.

You’ll find lots of benches throughout the garden. The perfect spots to stop and smell the roses or enjoy a picnic in the garden.

When to See the Roses in Bloom:

The arches in the garden are in full bloom in mid-June into early July and the exact timing of peak blooms varies slightly each year depending on weather conditions. I generally like to visit the second or third week of June and have found the roses to be in peak condition then.

A note for those with a bee allergy: There are bees pollinating the roses throughout the garden and I found there to be a good number of bees along the rose arches in particular. For those with a bee allergy I would recommend exercising caution when entering the rose garden or consider a visit to the park earlier in the season to see the tulips (see below).

Admission:

The park is free to visit and donations are welcome. The park is open sunrise to sunset every day of the year and no advance tickets or reservations are needed.

If you are looking for a guided tour of the rose gardens, Elizabeth Park has offers tours during select days. You’ll find lots of other events in the park as well including their annual Rose Weekend which is usually the third weekend in June. Check out the Elizabeth Park Event’s Page for a listing of all of the events happening at the park throughout the year.

Parking & the Visitor Center:

Parking is available on-site and it’s free. I recommend mapping to 1563 Asylum Ave, West Hartford, CT which will take you directly to the parking area closest to the rose gardens. This parking area is also located next to the Garmany Visitor Center, which is open from May to October.

Stop into the visitor center to learn more about the history of the park. You’ll also find a gift shop here as well as restrooms.

*Elizabeth Park Map from* *https://elizabethparkct.org/visit/directions-and-parking/*

And you’ll find tulips at Elizabeth Park too!

While the rose garden gets all the attention, you’ll also find the beautiful Robert A. Prill Tulip Garden in Elizabeth Park, located right next to the rose garden. Plan for a visit in April to see the tulip garden in full bloom. You’ll find so many different colors of tulips here!