How Do I Get From Connecticut to Woodbury Common Outlets Without Driving?
Short answer: There is no direct train or bus from Connecticut to Woodbury Common Premium Outlets in Central Valley, NY. Your realistic choices are to drive yourself, go through New York City and catch an outlet bus, or book a private car. For a family or a group of friends making a full shopping day of it, especially on Black Friday or a December weekend, a chauffeured SUV or Sprinter van is the simplest option. It picks everyone up at home, drops you at the outlets, and brings you and your bags back. Book it hourly if you want the vehicle reserved for you all day, or as a drop-off with a set return time if you know when you'll be done. Absolute Transportation in North Haven runs these trips around the clock. Call (203) 938-0000 with your headcount, pickup address and the hours you plan to shop.
Where is Woodbury Common, and what are the 2026 holiday hours?
Woodbury Common Premium Outlets is at 498 Red Apple Ct, Central Valley, NY 10917, off Route 32 near the New York State Thruway (Exit 16, Harriman). It's in New York's Orange County, not the town of Woodbury, Connecticut. From the New Haven area it's roughly 90 to 100 road miles, which usually takes about two hours or more depending on traffic. From Stamford or Danbury it's closer to 55 to 60 miles.
The outlet's official hours page currently lists these hours (checked November 9, 2026):
- Regular hours: 10 AM to 9 PM daily
- Thanksgiving, Thursday November 26: closed
- Black Friday, November 27: 6 AM to 10 PM
- November 28–29 and December 11–23: 9 AM to 9 PM
- Christmas Eve: 9 AM to 6 PM. Christmas Day: closed. December 26: 8 AM to 9 PM
Hours can change, so check the official page again the week of your trip.
Quick comparison: ways to get from Connecticut to Woodbury Common
| Option | How it works | Best for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chauffeur, hourly | Car and chauffeur are reserved for a block of hours, from your door, through the shopping day, and back home | Families and groups who want flexibility and one place for bags | Agree on the meeting point and timing with your chauffeur; tell us if the day may run long |
| Chauffeur, drop-off + set return | Drop-off in the morning, pickup at an agreed time and spot | Groups who know their end time | You leave at the set time, so pick it realistically |
| Drive yourself | Your own car, I-84 or I-287 and Route 17/32 | Couples on a quiet weekday | Holiday traffic near the exits and a long drive home after a full day on your feet |
| Train or bus through NYC | Metro-North or Amtrak into Manhattan, then an outlet bus from Midtown or Port Authority | Solo shoppers with time to spare | Several transfers each way; carrying bags through the city |
| Shop closer: Clinton Premium Outlets | Connecticut outlet center off I-95 Exit 63 in Clinton | Shoreline shoppers who want a shorter day | Smaller center than Woodbury Common |
Is there a train or bus from Connecticut? Not a direct one. Woodbury Common's directions and transportation page lists bus services from Manhattan and Queens, including Coach USA/ShortLine from Port Authority, plus weekend Metro-North service to Harriman station, about two miles away, where you'd still need a taxi. From Connecticut that means going through New York City first, with bags, both ways.
Hourly or drop-off and return: which fits a shopping day?
- Choose hourly if your group shops at different speeds, wants to leave whenever you're done, or plans a stop for dinner on the way home. On an hourly booking the vehicle and chauffeur are reserved for your block of time. You can arrange with your chauffeur to bring bags back to the car between stores, but agree on a meeting point first, because where a vehicle can wait depends on the outlet's rules that day.
- Choose drop-off and set return if you know your end time, for example "back at the car at 5 PM." It's simpler, but you leave at the time you booked.
Where the car meets you: the outlet lists a designated rideshare pick-up and drop-off area in the Adirondack District, just past Bus Plaza 2, and rental lockers near Bus Plaza 1 and Market Hall. Before the day, we confirm the exact meeting point for your vehicle and how you'll reach your chauffeur, so nobody is searching the lots at closing time.
Which vehicle should you book?
Bags take more room on the way home than you think. Pick for the return trip, not the morning.
- Lincoln MKT or Aviator: up to 4 passengers. Fine for two or three shoppers.
- Cadillac Escalade or Chevy Suburban: up to 6 passengers, with more cargo room for boxes and bags.
- Mercedes or Ford Sprinter van: up to 13 to 14 passengers. The usual pick for a family outing, a friends' trip, or a club or office group.
Our fleet page shows each vehicle. If you're unsure, tell us how many people are coming and how much you plan to buy, and we'll suggest a size. Our luggage and vehicle size guide explains why passenger capacity and cargo room are not the same thing.
When to leave, and Black Friday tips
- Black Friday: the center opens at 6 AM. If you want the early hours, leave the New Haven area around 4 AM. Expect heavier traffic on Route 17 and Route 32 near the entrance as the morning goes on.
- December weekends: leave early enough to arrive near the 9 AM opening. That gives you more time before the afternoon crowds.
- Coming home: the drive back is after dark in December, which is when a long highway drive is least appealing after a day on your feet.
Prefer to stay in Connecticut?
Clinton Premium Outlets (20 Killingworth Turnpike, Clinton, CT) sits off I-95 at Exit 63 on the shoreline. Its listed hours are 10 AM to 8 PM Monday to Thursday, 10 AM to 9 PM Friday and Saturday, and 10 AM to 6 PM Sunday. It is closed on Thanksgiving and opens at 6 AM on Black Friday. It's a shorter day out for shoreline and New Haven County shoppers. We can plan either trip, or a holiday lights tour on the way home.
What to send for a quote
- Date and whether it's Black Friday or a holiday weekend
- Every pickup address (we can collect from more than one home)
- Number of passengers and any child seats needed
- Arrival time you want and when you expect to leave the outlets
- Hourly or drop-off with a set return
- Any extra stops, such as dinner on the way home
We don't post flat fares, because each trip is different. Tolls are included in your quote and a gratuity is applied. Our quote checklist shows what to compare between companies.
FAQ
Is Woodbury Common open on Thanksgiving? No. The official hours page lists it as closed on Thursday, November 26, 2026. It reopens at 6 AM on Black Friday.
Can you pick up in New York as well as Connecticut? Yes. We are based in North Haven, CT, and have held an NYC TLC license since about 2009. USDOT 1567094, CT livery permit 3117. Here's how to check a car company's licensing.
How far ahead should we book for Black Friday or December weekends? As early as you can. Larger vehicles like Sprinter vans are limited, so earlier is safer for peak shopping days. For anything in the next 24 hours, call rather than send a request online.
Can the chauffeur wait at the outlets all day? On an hourly booking the vehicle is reserved for you for the whole block. Where it parks between pickups depends on the outlet's rules, so we confirm a meeting point with you in advance. If you'd rather not keep a vehicle all day, book a drop-off with a set return.
Book your outlet shopping day. Absolute Transportation is at 341 Washington Ave, North Haven, CT, and runs 24/7. Call (203) 938-0000 with your date, headcount and pickup addresses, and we'll quote a sedan, SUV or Sprinter van for Woodbury Common or Clinton.