Norwich, CT area guide

Things to Do Near Backus Hospital (Hartford HealthCare)

Groceries, food, days-off ideas and shopping close to Backus Hospital (Hartford HealthCare) in Norwich, Connecticut. Made for travel nurses and RTs on contract.

5 groceries8 restaurants8 to do5 shopping

Photo: CLK Hatcher / CC BY-SA 2.0

Groceries

Closest grocery stores to stock the fridge on week one.

• Stop & Shop

  Stop & Shop grocery store

  ~0.3 mi / ~2 minMap
• S. & A. Market

  Local grocery store

  ~1.8 mi / ~6 minMap
• ShopRite

  ShopRite grocery store

  ~2.8 mi / ~7 minMap
• Big Y

  Big Y grocery store. Listed hours 7 AM to 9 PM daily

  ~4.1 mi / ~10 minMap
• Aldi

  Aldi budget grocery store. Listed hours 9 AM to 8 PM daily

  ~7.4 mi / ~13 minMap

Restaurants

Local spots with working websites. Places marked open late or early are handy around a night shift.

• Mr. Pan’s Chinese RestaurantOpen late

  Chinese restaurant

  ~5.3 mi / ~13 minWebsite
• Domino’sOpen late

  Pizza quick-service spot

  ~0.6 mi / ~2 minWebsite
• Irene’s Family RestaurantSit-down

  Italian restaurant

  ~0.5 mi / ~2 minWebsite
• Canggio Restaurant and BarSit-down

  Restaurant

  ~0.6 mi / ~2 minWebsite
• These Guys Brewing CompanyPub

  Pub

  ~1.8 mi / ~6 minWebsite
• The Royal PunjabiSit-down

  Indian restaurant

  ~1.9 mi / ~6 minWebsite
• Fat Cat Grill and BarSit-down

  Pizza restaurant

  ~1.9 mi / ~6 minWebsite
• Old Tymes RestaurantSit-down

  Restaurant. Listed hours 7 AM to 2 PM daily

  ~1.9 mi / ~6 minWebsite

Things to do

Parks, water, breweries and more for your days off.

• Upper Dam Heritage Park

  Park, good for a walk between shifts

  ~0.7 mi / ~2 minMap
• Mohegan Park

  Nature preserve, a good spot for a quiet walk outside

  ~1.4 mi / ~5 minMap
• Franklin Park

  Local park with room to stretch your legs

  ~1.6 mi / ~5 minMap
• Spaulding Pond

  Lake. If you fish, get a Connecticut license first

  ~1.4 mi / ~5 minMap
• Fairview Reservoir

  Reservoir. If you fish, get a Connecticut license first

  ~2.3 mi / ~6 minMap
• Brewett City Pub

  Local brewery

  ~9.2 mi / ~16 minWebsite
• B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill

  Local brewery

  ~16 mi / ~21 minWebsite
• John F. Slater Memorial Museum

  Museum, good for a rainy day off

  ~0.8 mi / ~3 minWebsite

Shopping

Malls and big stores for anything you forgot to pack.

• TJ Maxx

  TJ Maxx, discount clothes and home goods

  ~2.6 mi / ~6 minMap
• Walmart

  Walmart department store

  ~4.1 mi / ~10 minMap
• Target

  Target for clothes, home goods and basics

  ~7.3 mi / ~12 minMap
• Crystal Mall

  Shopping mall

  ~16 mi / ~21 minMap
• East Brook Mall

  Shopping mall

  ~19 mi / ~25 minWebsite

Laundromats

Closest self-serve laundromats for scrubs and linens when your rental or RV park doesn’t have a washer.

• Perfect Wash Laundromat

  Self-serve laundromat

  ~0.5 mi / ~2 minMap
• Franklin Street Laundromat

  Self-serve laundromat

  ~1.7 mi / ~6 minMap
• Wauregan Laundromat

  Self-serve laundromat

  ~1.8 mi / ~6 minMap

Coffee shops

Nearest coffee shops, local spots first. Places marked “Opens early” are handy after a night shift.

• Starbucks

  Starbucks coffee chain

  ~3.2 mi / ~8 minMap
• Starbucks

  Starbucks coffee chain

  ~4.6 mi / ~11 minMap

Gyms

Closest gyms to keep your routine on contract. Ask about short-term or month-to-month memberships.

• Planet Fitness24 hours

  Planet Fitness gym

  ~0.5 mi / ~2 minMap

Nearby RV parks

Monthly-stay parks near Backus Hospital (Hartford HealthCare) from our RV parks list. Call to confirm the rate and a spot for your dates.

• Ross Hill RV Park

  170 Ross Hill Rd, Lisbon, CT 06351

  From $650/mo (standard), $700/mo (full hookup), $800/mo (elite)

  ~11 mi / ~20 minRates & phone

Need a license for Connecticut? See the state licensing boards, then run through the contract checklists and housing tips.

Looking for your next contract? See Connecticut travel contracts posted by staffing agencies.

Sources: place data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), plus each place’s own website and Wikidata. Last checked Oct 2026.