It’s summertime and the living is easy, especially when you’ve got your feet in the sand and the Long Island Sound as your vista.
With more than 332 miles of coast, Connecticut shoreline’s has plenty of spots where you can stake your umbrella and while away those lazy, hazy hours when the weather is hot and skies are blue.
Not sure where to go? We’ve got you covered with this insider’s guide to some of the state’s best beaches.
Rocky Neck State Park
244 West Main St. (Route 156), East Lyme
Hours: 8 a.m. to sunset
What’s not to like about Rocky Neck? Covering more than 700 acres, it’s a family-friendly summer destination with plenty of activities and options.
Located a quarter mile off of Interstate 95 in East Lyme, the park is easy to get to.
A long, wooden boardwalk makes finding a spot on the sand to call your own relatively easy, a bonus on crowded, summer days.
Know Before You Go
In addition to boasting a half mile, white-sand beach, Rocky Neck State Park offers 7 miles of mixed hiking and multiple-use trails, some of which ascend nearly 100 feet above the waterline, providing breathtaking scenic views of the ocean.
Added Perk
Kids and rail enthusiasts will enjoy watching Amtrak commuter trains speed along the tracks that cross through the park.
Amenities
Restrooms, changing facilities, picnic tables, picnic area, hiking, biking, nature trails, saltwater fishing, food concessions, boardwalk, pavilion and lifeguards 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through the summer season.
Rocky Neck State Park also has a 160-site campground. Reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance at reserveamerica.com.
Parking
Free. Starting this year, all of Connecticut’s state parks are offering free parking to residents displaying a Connecticut plate (cars with out-of-state plates are required to pay a parking fee).
Rocky Neck State Park offers approximately 2,000 spaces, which, on warm, summer days, often fill up by 10 a.m. Arrive when the park opens at 8 a.m. to ensure a spot.
Make Sure To Bring
The walk between the parking lots and the beach can be fairly long. Beach carts that accommodate chairs, towels, blankets and other items can help make the commute easier, as well as coolers and other items that have a strap, rather than a handle.
Leave At Home
While alcohol is permitted in designated areas of the park, it isn’t allowed on the boardwalk or beach. No pets are allowed on the beach, boardwalk or campground. Dogs are allowed on the hiking trails as long as they are leashed and owners dispose of waste.
Point of Interest
A large, salt marsh serves as the perfect habitat for a variety of fish and wildlife, including an extensive bird population. Depending on the season, visitors can see osprey, cranes, herons and swans, among others.
Where to Eat Nearby
Skippers Restaurant
167 Main St., Niantic
skippersseafood.com
Casual, self-serve dining (tables inside and out) with fish and chips, fried clams, and other typical seafood fare.
The Shack
324 Flanders Road, East Lyme
Diner-style, table service, with sandwiches, soup, wraps, burgers, comfort food and homemade pies.
Gumdrops & Lollipops
334 Main Street, Niantic
Adorable throwback diner with typical fare including burgers, seafood, sandwiches, soups, delectable desserts and loads of ice cream.
While You’re In The Area
Make sure to take time to stroll along Niantic’s downtown area. Charming boutiques and antique shops line the streets of this wonderful seaside village.
Hammonasset Beach State Park
1288 Boston Post Road, Madison
Hours: 8 a.m. to sunset
Before being taken over by the colonists, Hammonasset, which translates into “we dig holes in the ground,” was once a settlement farmed by woodland Indians.
Today the sprawling, family-friendly park extends more than 2 miles along the Sound and is Connecticut’s largest public beach, drawing more than a million visitors a year.
Roughly an hour’s drive from Hartford, Hammonasset is about a mile off of Interstate 95 in Madison and features a long, wooden boardwalk.
Know Before You Go
Parking lots often fill to capacity on weekend days during the summer and on holidays. To ensure a spot, arrive close to when the park opens at 8 a.m. or after 2 p.m., or plan to visit on weekdays when parking is almost always available.
Added Perk
In addition to being the largest beach in the state, Hammonasset is also the largest campground, offering 558 sites, which can be reserved up to 11 months in advance through reserveamerica.com.
Amenities
Restrooms, changing facilities, showers, summer concession stands with beach food fare (cash only), picnic tables and shelters, car-top boat launch, walking trails, and lifeguards, seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Parking
Seven parking lots with 7,000 to 8,000 spots are available. Parking is free for vehicles with Connecticut license plates. There is a daily fee for non-residents of the state.
Make Sure to Bring
Along with sunscreen, water, and snacks, you might want to bring your bike. There’s a 2.5-mile multiuse trail that runs partially along the beach.
Leave at Home
Though dogs are permitted in the park, they aren’t allowed anywhere on the beach. Alcohol is also taboo on the beach but permitted in the picnic area for people 21 and over. Flotation devices are also prohibited, but approved lifejackets are acceptable.
Point of Interest
The Meigs Point Nature Center (meigspointnaturecenter.org) at Hammonasset Beach State Park is a new environmental education center. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the center features a variety of animals including turtles, snakes, crabs and fish, as well as a Touch Tank for up-close viewing. Admission is free.
Where to Eat Nearby
Lenny & Joe’s Fish Tale
1301 Boston Post Road
ljfishtale.com
Casual, family-friendly seafood with lobster and clam rolls, chowder and other standard fare.
The Clam Castle
1324 Boston Post Road
clamcastlect.com
Roadside dining with outdoor seating. Seafood, hamburgers, hot dogs, fries.
Ashley’s Ice Cream
724 Boston Post Road
ashleysicecream.net
The perfect post-beach stop for homemade ice cream, featuring flavors like Bourbon Brown Sugar, Nutella Chip and Lemon Pie.
While You’re in the Area
Stop by R.J. Julia Booksellers (rjjulia.com), an award-winning bookstore on Madison’s charming main strip at 768 Boston Post Road.
Ocean Beach Park
98 Neptune Ave., New London
Hours: 9 a.m. until 9 or 10 p.m. (depending on day and entertainment schedule). Open Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day
A popular destination since the 1940s, New London’s Ocean Beach Park teems with nostalgia and family-friendly activities.
The expansive, white sandy beach along a half-mile boardwalk offers excellent views of the Atlantic and of ferries that chug past all day long.
In addition, the 50-acre park also has amusement rides, an arcade, miniature golf, waterslides, kiddie spray park, playground and nature trails.
Know Before You Go
With planned events six nights a week, plan on staying well-past sunset. Entertainment includes classic car cruise nights, magicians, movies on the beach, bands, as well as fireworks held on various nights throughout the summer.
Added Perk
Ocean Beach Park has an Olympic-sized, freshwater pool on site, open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; it costs $8. Guests are provided with a wristband, allowing for re-entry.
Amenities
Sandbar Café and outdoor deck with full restaurant menu, food court, ice cream, snack stands, gift shop with basic sundries, restrooms, changing facilities, lockers, picnic area, and lifeguards onsite daily until 6 p.m.
Parking
Ocean Beach Park offers more than 1,400 parking spots, but on busy days the park sees upwards of 10,000 visitors, and lots can fill up. Plan to come early if you want a spot. Street parking is available, but limited.
The cost to park is $23 per car on weekends, $17 on weekdays, and includes admission to the park. Season parking passes are available for $120.
Make Sure to Bring
Your binoculars. Ocean Beach Park offers a nature walk with a bird-watching observation deck.
Leave at Home
Pets, alcohol, glass and drones are not allowed at Ocean Beach Park. Bikes, skateboards and scooters are prohibited on the boardwalk.
Point of Interest
Connecticut’s oldest and tallest lighthouse, New London Harbor Light, is located right nearby and the infamous, red lighthouse, New London Ledge Light, is visible from the beach.
Where to Eat Nearby
Fred’s Shanty
272 Pequot Ave., New London
freds-shanty.com
Walk-up service with seafood, burgers, hot dogs, fried baskets and ice cream.
Captain Scott’s Lobster Dock
80 Hamilton St., New London
captscottsnl.com
Walk-up service with lobster rolls, New England and Rhode Island chowder, clam fritters, hamburgers, hot dogs.
Paul’s Pasta Shop
223 Thames St., Groton
paulspastashop.com
This popular homemade pasta spot is just across the Gold Star Memorial Bridge. Be prepared to wait for a table at this casual sit-down restaurant.
While You’re in the Area
The Submarine Force Museum and historic ship Nautilus (ussnautilus.org) at One Crystal Lake Road in neighboring Groton are worth a visit, especially for kids and naval enthusiasts. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (except Tuesdays). Admission and parking are free.
Harvey’s Beach
Great Hammock Road (Route 154), Old Saybrook
Hours: 10 a.m. to sunset (bathroom and changing rooms close at 5 p.m. weekdays/5:30 p.m. weekends).
Old Saybrook’s public beach is a summer magnet due to its New England charm and family-friendly appeal.
Measuring around a half acre, its diminutive size and lack of waves makes Harvey’s an especially good choice for families with young children, who flock there all season long.
During low tide, the beach becomes all sandbar and extends out at least a couple hundred yards. Abundant tide and wade pools are left in its wake, great for exploring or just wandering along the sand.
Know Before You Go
Parking is limited at Harvey’s Beach, and once the lot is full, visitors are turned away. Plan on arriving early, especially on weekends.
Added Perk
Mini-Golf at Saybrook Point (oldsaybrookrec.com/info/facilities), a perennial favorite activity after spending the day at the beach, is 2 miles away. Open Memorial Day weekend through Columbus Day (hours and days vary), the cost per round is $5.
Amenities
Restrooms, changing rooms, outdoor rinse station, picnic tables, playground, concession stand and lifeguards 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekends, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
Parking
Seventy-five spots available, first come, first serve. No parking allowed on Great Hammock Road (violators will be ticketed). Cost is $10 per car load on weekdays, $20 on weekends and holidays.
Make Sure to Bring
Water shoes. The beach has a fair amount of broken shells, and if you plan to explore the sandbar when the tide goes out, they’ll come in handy.
Leave at Home
Alcohol and pets are not permitted on the beach.
Point of Interest
Once home to screen legend Katharine Hepburn, Old Saybrook opened the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center (katharinehepburntheater.org) in 2009 in her honor. The facility houses a museum and 250-seat theater featuring music, opera, film and dance events.
Where to Eat Nearby
Saybrook Soup & Sandwich Company
745 Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook
yummey.com
Great spot for soup, salad and sandwiches. Perfect to grab takeout for the beach or a picnic, as well as casual self-serve eat-in.
Johnny Ad’s
910 Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook
johnnyads.com
Roadside stand with picnic tables offering seafood, sandwiches, lobster rolls, chowder, ice cream, kid’s menu.
Penny Lane Pub
150 Main St., Old Saybrook
pennylanepub.net
Charming two-story English style pub with traditional pub fare like burgers, fish & chips and shepherd’s pie. Casual, sit-down dining with patio seating at the Main Street patio and Portobello Alley during the spring and summer months.
While You’re In The Area
Consider taking a scenic excursion aboard the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat just a few miles away in neighboring Essex. Trips are available several times daily (the last one leaves at 3:30 p.m.) beginning on June 16, and running through the end of August (essexsteamtrain.com).
Sherwood Island State Park
Photo Courtesy of Sherwood Island State Park
Sherwood Connector (Exit 18), Westport
Hours: 8 a.m. to Sunset
Sherwood Island State Park in Westport has the distinction of being the first state park in Connecticut.
Named after the farmer and family who settled on the land in the 1600s, Sherwood became a shore park in 1914, and has since grown into a 235-acre recreation area with more than a mile of beachfront.
While many visitors come to spend the day at the beach, it’s also a popular spot for kayaking, fishing, biking, bird-watching, shelling and rock collecting.
Know Before You Go
When choosing between Sherwood’s East and West Beach, pick East beach for its finer sand; West beach has more rocks and shells.
Added Perk
Between the salt marsh and East Beach is a seasonal nature center that offers nature walks, bird watching, learning activities for adults and children, a touch tank and various reptiles for viewing. Admission is free.
Amenities
Restrooms, changing facilities, showers, food concessions, picnic tables, picnic shelter, 18-hole disc golf course and lifeguards from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the summer season.
Parking
Offering more than 4,000 parking spots, Sherwood Island State Park rarely, if ever, runs out of parking spots. That said, Sundays are often the busiest day of the week, and the lot can come close to filling to capacity. On hot, weekend days, arrive early to ensure a spot. Free parking for cars with Connecticut plates.
Make Sure to Bring
Water shoes are strongly recommended at Sherwood Island because of the many shells and rocks.
Leave At Home
Alcohol is not permitted anywhere in the park, and dogs are not allowed during the summer season (April through September).
Point Of Interest
Set beneath a Black Cherry tree in the park is Connecticut’s 9/11 Memorial. Dedicated in 2002, the living memorial is set on Sherwood Point where, on 9/11, people were able to view the smoke rising from the New York City skyline. The park also served as a staging area for relief efforts for the city after the terror attack.
Where To Eat Nearby
Westfair Fish & Chips
1781 Post Road East, Westport
All seafood, and nothing but seafood. Fish and chips, fried shrimp, fried oysters, fish cakes, lobster and seafood bisque, among other options. Very casual, easiest to do take-out.
Little Barn
1050 Post Road East, Westport
littlebarnct.com
Popular local haunt in a funky, little barn. Casual, table-service, family-friendly. Great selection of appetizers, salads, burgers, comfort food, sandwiches, kid’s menu, and outdoor dining in the summer.
Saugatuck Sweets
575 Riverside Avenue
Perfect for that after-beach ice cream stop. Hard ice cream, frozen yogurt, shakes, baked goods, gifts and candy. Outdoor tables overlooking the Saugatuck River.
While You’re In The Area
The Maritime Aquarium (maritimeaquarium.org) in nearby Norwalk is the only aquarium focused on Long Island Sound and is one of the largest attractions in Connecticut. Drawing more than half a million visitors a year, the aquarium features live exhibits, multimedia displays, a shark and ray touch pool, sea turtles, moon jellies, otters and seals, along with many other exhibits.
Sarah Lemire 