The Connecticut River at Middletown is wide, slow, and navigable — this was an active port into the 19th century, and the river's breadth here still feels maritime. The riverfront is accessible via a riverside park below Main Street, and a boat launch allows easy access for kayaks and canoes. Rental equipment is available seasonally.
The river view is one of Middletown's best assets. Looking south from the Arrigoni Bridge, or standing on the bank at low tide, the scale of the river is clear: this is not a stream but a genuine river, and the light on the water on a clear afternoon can be very fine. The Middletown-Portland railroad bridge just downstream is photogenic in an industrial way. Swimming is not recommended due to currents and periodic pollution advisories.