With a fascinating maritime history, Connecticut’s coastline today is characterized by bobbing sailing boats, sandy beach boardwalks, and islands sheltering nesting seabirds.
Add seafood stands, historic buildings, and well-heeled commuter towns, and you have the perfect New York day trip or holiday destination – either by car or train.
Whether you’re here to tackle a kayaking trail, admire waterfront summer houses, or to take the kids fishing, crabbing, and seashell collecting, Long Island Sound has a beach that will fit the bill.
Rocky Neck State Park
Best beach for camping
If you’re after a place to set up camp – or your campervan – near the beach, head to Rocky Neck State Park. The 710-acre park has the perfect mix of easy beach access, nature trails, and unexpected diversions (here comes the Amtrak train!) to keep the whole family entertained for days on end. This location is ideal for crabbing and fishing off the stone jetty, with Fourmile River spilling into the sound near here.
Away from the beach (which can get crowded in the height of summer) there are nature trails and boardwalks in the salt marshes. Anyone looking for Baker’s Cave may be disappointed to find it is not really a cave as such, but it’s a fun exploration in any case. Also, pack your binoculars as there are herons, cranes, and ospreys to spot in the park.
The impressive wood-and-cobblestone Rocky Neck Pavilion, built during the Great Depression and now closed, still draws visitors who enjoy the views over Long Island Sound from the headland. The campground has been constructed to preserve the natural appeal of the park with plenty of wooded areas to camp in the shade.
Hammonasset Beach State Park
Best for classic family holidays
Southeastern Connecticut’s Hammonasset Beach State Park is the state’s busiest park with two million visits a year. It’s the place to go if you like your beach experience thronging with fellow holidaymakers. The two miles of sandy beach here means you can always find a spot where your neighbors won’t accidentally kick sand in your lunch. Facilities in the park include the newly renovated Meigs Point Nature Center, which houses over 50 species of wildlife from various habitats.
When you’re done swimming, sunbathing, and people-watching at the beach, explore the boardwalk, and enjoy hiking and mountain biking trails in the park. If time allows, visit the local institution, Lobster Landing, a century-old seafood shack that promises the world’s best lobster roll (a bold statement but a local favorite!) For those wishing to extend their stay, rustic cabins or tent sites are available, although they tend to sell out quickly in the high season.
Ocean Beach Park
Best for entertainment
New London may have seen happier days, but the beach resort to its south remains a beacon of fun. Located at the southern end of Ocean Avenue, this beach is blessed with soft sand and calming waves. However, if you have children in tow, be prepared to navigate past the amusement rides to reach it. Beyond the rides, you can walk the beachfront boardwalk, with a stop at the ice-creamery.
If you’re looking for more activities for the kids, Ocean Beach Park offers water slides, a water spray park for younger children, a playground, and an Olympic-sized swimming pool. It doesn’t end there; the park also features a games arcade and an 18-hole miniature golf course. The parking fee includes admission to the beach area, but the pool and attractions all have additional costs.
Timing your visit for the Wednesday evening magic show or square dancing on the boardwalk can enhance the experience. For a breather from the excitement, there is a nature trail winding through the tall grasses leading to a bird-watching observation deck.
Calf Pasture & Shady Beach
Best for kayaking
If you love the idea of the beach but can’t sit still on a towel for more than five minutes, Norwalk’s Calf Pasture & Shady Beach is your ideal destination. It may not be the best spot for swimming or lounging due to rocky patches, but you can spend your day by the water playing games like beach volleyball and bocce, as well as paddling in the sea.
For added adventure, consider hiring a kayak. With approximately 23 islands located off the coast, there are half- and full-day kayaking trails available. In recent years, dolphins and seals have been spotted back in the sound. The larger Chimon and Sheffield Islands serve as bird sanctuaries, home to seabirds such as egrets, herons, oystercatchers, cormorants, and terns, and cannot be accessed by boat. Shea and Grassy islands are both open to the public with sheltered picnicking spots. If that’s not enough, you can also hire kayaks and plan for an overnight camp (with prior permits from the City of Norwalk). Kayakers can also pass the historic Sheffield Island lighthouse on their journey.
Silver Sands
Best for nature
If you enjoy the beach, hiking, and nature, you will love the beach at Silver Sands State Park. This location offers tidal marshes, broad sand flats, and a walk out to Charles Island, providing a different experience from Ocean Beach Park with its amusement park atmosphere.
From the car park, visitors can tread across the salt marshes and Fletchers Creek on a 200-foot raised boardwalk to reach the beach. Here, if it’s low tide, you’ll see a shelly sandbar linking the island with the mainland. However, please note that the tide rises quickly and currents can be strong; do not venture out unless you are sure it’s low tide. You can check the tide timetable online before you arrive. With sufficient time, you can cross the sandbar and circle the island (sturdy footwear is advised) before heading back to the beach. Charles Island is closed between May and September to protect nesting herons and egrets in spring and summer. Picnic tables are available near the main (currently free) parking area, and the wooden boardwalk continues around the coast to the picturesque Walnut Beach, about a mile away.
