Love Hammonasset state beach!!! Favorite beach within easy driving distance. Lots of parking and nearby eateries. Great place to bike and enjoy nature also! Lots of family fun too! read more

Hammonasset Beach State Park - Parks Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

As far as state beaches and parks go Hammonasset is one of my favorite. Sadly I don't get here as much as I would like. There are 3 or 4 different beach areas with lots of parking. There are bath houses, a snack shack, lifeguards in season, paths for walking and biking. The nature center is a great place and very educational. You can camp for a fairly good price. You can just come for a beach day and lay in the sun or you can come and go fishing. It's fairly clean and well maintained. A lot of updates have been made over the last few years. I really enjoy it here especially now that for state of CT residents parking is free! read more

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A fantastic way to spend a spring day while practicing social distancing. The area of Meigs Point offers trails along the Connecticut coastline with areas of beach, trails and rocky sections along the way. There is plenty of room to maintain distance and a plethora of parking spaces. The is a hut and labyrinth path to explore right on the beach to explore to help ease the mind. read more

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Beautiful beach for walking (especially with your dog when allowed) or just relaxing and having a nice swim, and especially wonderful place to watch the sunset. Tons of parking and a large camping area. read more

There is something for everyone here. Miles of beaches, camping, clean and large bathroom facilities, walking trails, areas for fishing, marshes, and the nature center which is awesome. Everything is clean and although busy a great place to be. read more

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Hammonassett state park is high on the list for state attractions with the campground extremely popular. It's wonderful to see soo many people taking advantage of the park. I do get perturbed by the people that utilize the pavilions and don't clean up after themselves! Not responsible, mature or conscientious enough to take back out all they brought in. They should be fined! read more

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Perfect place to relax on a sunny day. Located on the shoreline, this beach has multiple areas to choose to park, pick a spot, and relax. Sunny days can be few and far in between and this place was darn near perfect to enjoy one of those days. Technically still the off season, so parking is still free and certain things are not open that are normally. However, do not let it turn you away from feeling the breeze in your hair and the sun on your skin! read more

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We camp here every summer ("camp" is used fairly loosely at this campground) and it is so much fun. I have a 7-yo son, and there are always packs of little kids that he can join up with and bike around with. There's a camp store that is always packed with little kids getting their first taste of freedom, with wads of cash in their hands. The campground here is 100% a family vacation environment. If you want to sit around and get drunk with your buddies, you are not going to have a good time here. Likewise if you are looking to commune with nature. The campground is basically a series of paved parking lots with walkways to the beach. Everyone has tents and picnic awnings and bikes all over the place; the kids get sunburnt and sandy; and everyone is in bed by 11:00. It's very very clean, even the restrooms. The administration does a fantastic job of keeping everything in working order, keeping the beach clean, keeping everything well stocked. read more

Acres of beach. Some open fields for impromptu soccer games or other sports. Nature and jogging trails. The park has a reported 900 acres, including camping grounds (with reservation). read more

The largest beach The largest beach in Connecticut, how can it not get 5 stars. Sure it gets crowed it the summer but the beach is long enough so if you walk a bit you still can find a place for your self. There is a great broad walk to take a hike on and a great nature center for the kids as well as views of Faulkner's island on a clear day. Meigs point is great place for everyone, including a place to launch or land kayaks. Throw in a couple of concessions stands for crummy food and several huge parking lots and a campground and you have the best beach in all of Connecticut. read more

This is a large and beautiful beach area, with lots of walking trails and a nature center for kids. Parking is somewhat expensive for out of state residents during summer, but it is free to enter the rest of the year. You can also get an annual state park pass if you're planning on being a frequent visitor. The park also has plenty of special events like car shows and fun runs throughout the year. Check the schedule on the web site! The park also has a campground and cabins to rent for overnight visitors. I've never stayed there personally, but the campground looks nice. read more

Hammonasset Beach State Park - A view from one of the nature trails around Meigs Point - Parks Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

Bathrooms are a health hazard, have not been cleaned in who knows how long. Poop is smeared on the walls, floor and toilet. Showers are horrendous. There are young children that have to use those showers and bathrooms. I wouldn't want to bring my kids here!!! read more

This beach is huge! I don't know how we got so lucky but the entire place was empty. There are a ton of shells!! Connecticut might not be known for its sandy beaches, after all, the rest of the state is beautiful but we were happy to have the beach anyhow. There is plenty of parking, handicapped accessible ramps, great public restrooms for a beach, and feet showers for sand. This might not be a destination beach but it is a great state beach. read more

Three parts: 1) the beach itself is beautiful- long stretch, soft sand, wide, great swimming, sea grass & sand dunes beyond. 2) gets crazy crowded w a colorful variety of folks: foreign speaking people, lots o kids, barely suited teens, loud w all kinds of tunes cramping the air 3) The park is cool for camping, cook outs, strolls, nice pergolas, picnic areas, showers, restrooms. $13 in state vehicle. But If your out of state it's like $20! read more

The beach is ok. not great. the sand is course. I like to go to Miegs point and sometimes there a lot of kids from the nature center which can be a pain....but the worst part? HORSE FLIES!!! I should've known better when the sign at the entrance said.."No refunds for bees and flies" Those buggers bit my ankles for 2 hrs straight..I finally had enough and had to leave. Such a disappointment...I'd rather drive an extra hour for a nicer beach. read more

Hammonasset Beach State Park - Peaceful - Parks Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

Hammonasset is much more than just a beach - with its camping, hiking, biking, nature center, outdoor pavillions, kite flying, snack bars, and more and more .. its a really cool place to go in the winter for a nice walk on the boardwalk or to sit in the sand and catch some rays. In the winter its peaceful, cold, but still a nice respite from the bustle of modern life.. usually we end up here a dozen times over the summer and its always nice. sometimes it does get VERY buggy - but after all, it is a beach situated on a marsh full of insects. last year we were swarmed by dragonflys. i mean like hundreds, it was amazing and creepy like out of The Birds, but with dragonflys. read more

Hammonasset Beach State Park - Desolate winter .. Digital IR shot at Hammonaset - Parks Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

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Very nice beach in CT. Very easy to find. Right off 95. There are actual 3 beaches here. The first beach you'll encounter is West Beach. Then you have middle beach and then finally east beach. My first time here, I didn't know what one I liked better, so I decided just to go with West Beach since it was the first one off the rotary. Along the way to the parking lot - I encounter a goose family. Some of them were in the street, so I had to stop. I love wildlife so this was a great start! Parking lot is massive. Weekdays parking is $9 and weekends $13. However, you can also purchase a yearly pass, and it is then also good at all CT state parks. I think I want to do that next year! There is lots of parking here! However, no spot was too far from the beach. The beach was very clean and pretty. It is a perfect place to sit, relax and enjoy wildlife. The sand gets very hot. I highly recommend wearing flip flops on the sand. I spent 6 1/2 years on the west coast of Florida, where you can walk on the sand and not have your feet burn if you walk on it. I forgot about hot sand can get! Nice little cafe, and reasonably priced too. I loved strolling along the shoreline. The seagulls are beautiful, and don't care all about you. They must get so used to people! Perfect place to get away for the day by yourself with a book, or w/ friends, family, loved ones, etc. read more

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More than just another day at the beach. Hammonasset is Connecticut's largest shoreline park. Offering more than 2 miles of beach to enjoy swimming, strolling along the boardwalk, or just relaxing in the sun and surf -- it's a must-visit if you're in CT. As CT's largest public beach, there are hundreds of (primitive and electric) campsites available for the nature enthusiast. During the day you can fish, enjoy the hiking trails or chill out on the swimming beach. There are launch ramps for boating as well. The beach itself has nice shady and sandy areas where you can collect seashells and relax with the fam. Farther down the beach, there is a less-crowded more rocky area. Here you can jump from rock-to-rock, take advantage of the nature trail, or just soak in the sun. Bring your bike! Don't miss the trail beyond the beach--great views there Altogether the beach is huge and well maintained. Lots of nice changing facilities and restrooms. Plenty of parking. For 2016, admission for CT residents is $13 per car and $22 for out-of-state plates. Definitely come early to avoid the crowds. read more

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Beautiful, peaceful, vast, not overcrowded, quiet, easy parking, dog friendly, soothing, calming ocean sounds, soft breeze. They also have camp grounds, a store, a nature center, a cafe. It was free to get in (might not normally be free but it was free today...maybe cause of the weather or because it was late afternoon). Great place to stop and take five minutes with nature. Conveniently located just off the 95Freeway on the drive between New Haven and New London. It's no Yellowstone, or Yosemite, but for what it is, a nice peaceful beach away from the main road, with nature trails and ocean, it is beautiful. Not breathtaking, but beautiful non the less. read more

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Beautiful beach with multiple parking locations. They provide showers, bathrooms as well as a grill for some food. There are lifeguards present and plenty of space making it unlikely to be too crowded. read more

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This is an amazing Connecticut beach park: very clean and huge beach park with different natural areas. Hammonasset is an ideal place to enjoy outdoor activities. Parking is expensive during summer but it's worth it. Perfect place to spend time with family and take pictures for photography lovers :) For "bird" lovers, you can enjoy watching and taking pictures of birds. read more

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Not a bad beach. Pros: Not super crowded Lifeguard Relatively clean Changing area Cons: No real surf to speak of Kind of rocky/shells Concessions are limited (just a little table selling hot dogs and a few beverage vending ms Hines). read more

Hammonasset Beach State Park - Not so crowded on a Saturday afternoon in August - Parks Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

OMG. Hammonasset is such a beautiful state park and beach!! I love the seemingly endless stretches of paved trail, the well-maintained expanses of sand, the kept shrubbery and wildflowers...just about everything here! I can see why Hammonasset is easily everyone's favorite beach in Connecticut. I could easily spend a day here, lounging on beach chair with a page-turner, basking under the sun or running/biking/roller-blading around the park. The state park also offers campgrounds for those inclined (open from Memorial Day to Labor Day). The rest of the park is open from 8am to sunset. The sunsets are breathtaking! Make the drive down to Madison the next chance you get! You won't regret it!! read more

Pretty spot on the CT shoreline in Madison. It covers a large area so you can spread out. They have camping and a nature center. They have areas for fishing and a boat launch. The buildings are well kept- plenty of bathrooms too. We went for an hour long walk today along the middle beach section down to the camp sites. Saw two adorable cabins that they must rent out. Definitely worth a stop to stretch your legs- ride a bike- take a dip- whatever your fancy. read more

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Long Island Sound view. Lots of parking and cars. Dogs and people together. A beautiful afternoon we had here last week. The rocks in all kinds of sizes were from the prehistoric ages. Good place to sit and doing nothing but watching the water.. read more

I love how there are multiple beaches to choose from. You can visit the one that best suits your group. Need something a little quieter? Have a group of kiddos in tow who need access to snacks and the bathroom? There's something for everyone. If you have Connecticut plates on your vehicle, entrance and parking are free. Otherwise be prepared to pay a fee at the gate. I have friends who have camped here, with tents and with a camper, and they all rave about it. I'd love to try that out sometimes. It can be very crowded on a hot summer day. This is not some hidden spot that only the locals know about. So just be prepared, get here early, and if you're looking for a quiet spot of beach stay away from the pavilion area. read more

The jewel of the state! I walk here daily with my dogs on a toe path that runs from West Beach to Meigs Point, approx 1.5 miles. There's more to the park than just the beach & camping... There are pavilions for group picnics, paths to platforms to observe seals at certain times of year & a nature center for kids & nature loving adults! They have events such as Native American festivals, charity walks and classic car shows. Each season brings it's own beauty. Our entire family adores this park & highly recommend it as a tourist destination. read more

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I love Hammonasset. We have been camping there for years. There is plenty of beach. There are miles of trails to walk or bike. The easterly portion of the beach is a "shell beach" which is very cool to walk on or just hang out and look for seals. We try to go during the winter to visit the ocean. The sound of the waves and the smell of the ocean reminds you that summer is coming. The beach is very wide during low tide and the water is better for hanging out or swimming in. There is very little wave action most of the year which makes the beach ideal for little swimmers. There is a snack bar, a large picnic area, a large number of bathrooms and showers. There is also a nature center to visit. During the summer there are lifeguards. They do a great job keeping people from getting unruly. There is a small fee to visit during the summer but the size of the beach makes it well worth it. Come visit one of Connecticut's treasures. read more

This is a nice state park to not only go to the beach in but also take photos, explore the nature areas, and workout. I've enjoyed coming here especially in the past. I went today Fourth of July and I was disappointed. It wasn't the crowds, but it looked really unkept. It smelled anywhere near the showers and bath houses, the water looked dirty and polluted, a lot of seaweed. I love the park though especially the nature preserve but next time I won't dip in the water. read more

Hammonasset Beach State Park - Parks Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

We go camping here every year, since 2014. We were only able to come down once this year instead of our usual 2-3, because of Covid. It is such a great place to camp, we absolutely love it. The recent negative reviews are amusing at best, people complaining about port o potties and too many shells on the beach. The ignorance is real. Every establishment is doing its best amid this Covid madness with all the new regulations put in place. I can't imagine giving an entire state beach and campground a bad review because of a full port o potty that is only in place due to the state forcing them to close their typically clean bath houses. Hammonasset will always have 5 stars for our family of about 25 people who look forward to being there all year long! read more

Beautiful Park with a nice clean beach. We came here for a few hours to cool down on a hot & humid Summer Evening. Definitely a park to come back to and spend more time in. read more

Hammonasset Beach State Park - Parks Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

Only went to Middle Beach today, but it was lovely. Large, clean facilities (restrooms & vending machines,) plenty of parking, the beach itself was fantastic. One complaint, the $15 to park with our out-of-state license plates, resident is only $7. read more

With two miles of sandy beach, plenty of parking, and clean bathroom facilities, Hammonasset is easily my favorite beach in Connecticut. If you're planning to visit during a peak time, like a sunny summer weekend or holidays, here are some (hopefully helpful) tips: 1.) Arrive early in the day (like, 10 a.m. or earlier). In the afternoons, lines at the front gate can literally back up for miles -- and that's if parking doesn't fill up first. 2.) Speaking of parking filling up, the Meigs Point and East Beach lots are usually the first to go (last exit off the beach rotary). When they're filled, the rotary exit is blocked off so more cars can't drive down that way. 3.) There are rest rooms, showers, and changing stalls inside the beach pavilions, plus a few extra showers outside (parking lot side) of the pavilions so you can wash your feet off. Every time I've been to Hammonasset, the facilities have been nice and clean, even on the busiest days. 4.) The pavilions offer various things in the way of concessions. There are soft drink, water, and ice cream vending machines at the East Beach pavilion. On summer afternoons, there's also usually a vendor selling additional types of ice cream, plus hot dogs, hamburgers, fries and the like. I think one of the other pavilions has coffee...? All reasonably priced. Bring cash. 5.) If you come to the beach often, definitely look into getting an annual CT State Park pass for your car! It pays for itself after 5-6 visits, so it's a great deal if you're a beach bum or visit other state parks frequently. 6.) Definitely check out the campground! It's fun being within walking distance to the beach and super affordable, but plan your camp spot carefully -- most spots are in full sun, so if you want a shady corner for your tent, you'll have competition. read more

Great new paved walking trails. You could break it down to a 3 mile loop or a 5 mile loop. Both routes have bathrooms along the way. It's by the ocean, so it's not as hot as other trails. You park outside the entrance so you avoid any parking fees and it's easy in and out to route one. read more

Great place to hike the pup! Well maintained, pretty views, good for all hiking levels.

Beautiful park and beaches! It makes you feel wonderful just being here! The beaches are clean and inviting. Would definitely come here again! All that's missing is a good selection of food trucks! Other than that I have nothing but praise for this wonderful Park! What else can I say....they're telling me my review is too short! I don't know what else to write! Just come to this beautiful park...today!! read more

We live on the Shoreline Came to Madison for the day.. go early it's peaceful and beautiful. By 12pm it starts to get packed.. long walk to the beaches here.. just driovevup for a few hrs from South Shoreline Area.. water was beautiful and clean... the beach sand was course then most beaches in our shore area... Heading South is nicer .. West Haven /Milford/Woodmont/ Silversands.. read more

This state park is really nice for a local day at the beach. We went to the East Beach and it was clean and not crowded. When I arrived, I had no problem getting a parking spot. It features nice restrooms (odor free), clean, private changing areas, and a nice shower area to rinse the sand off. There is a little snack area for hotdogs, hamburgers, chips and stuff. The sand is a bit coarse and the ocean has some nice shoreline waves. We love collecting shells and rocks with the little ones and there were tons available. I would recommend it to anyone local. read more

Hammonasset Beach State Park - Parks Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

Alright I'm beginning to see a pattern here and feel the need to set the Hammonasset haters straight at least once a year. Guys, this is Connecticut's best beach. Period. It's the best beach in size and the best beach in quality. I know the state's shoreline like the back of my hand and no other beach, private or public, compares to it. You haters WISH you had a beach this nice in your backyard. Let me explain... To those who complain about the black flies... try reviewing a beach based on more than one visit. If you had visited the beach more than once you'd know that the flies are NOT present all the time or every day of the year. So give me a break. Yelpers can either listen to a Madison resident who FREQUENTLY visits Hammonasset or listen to a clueless city person who writes a review based on one visit. To those who complain about the beach being skinny in size... my advice is to try the other side of the park. When you do, you'll see that Hammonasset Beach has both wide and thin sections of beach. Because of shifting ocean currents the west side is actually shrinking in size, while the east side is expanding in size. The CT DEP is aware of this natural phenomenon. There's plenty of beach space on the east side to toss your frisbee or volleyball. So give me another break. You haters are showing your lack of knowledge of the park by reviewing a tiny slice of it and not the whole park in its entirety. And to those who complain about the camping rules being too strict, are you serious? You honestly think it's in the best interest of the park to allow little kids to ride their bikes at night? We're talking about the same roads that vehicles travel upon. IMO riding during the day is fine but at night it can be dangerous. Oh and another thing, the reason each campsite has a two car limit is because most campers want to feel like their camping in an uncluttered natural environment, and not in the middle of some parking lot. Camping is a minimalist experience and if you're in need of three cars to haul your crap, then perhaps camping isn't for you. Give me another break please. Lastly, saying Niantic's McCook town beach is better than Hammonasset is further proof that some Yelpers have a good sense of humor. God bless them. OK I'll play along. If your idea of a nice beach is experiencing no sand dunes, seeing no salt marsh ecosystem, no large streams, no nature center, no walking trails, no osprey nests, listening to the loud drone of passing trains, and swimming in the shadow of the state's only fully operational NUCLEAR POWER PLANT, then yea, I can see how some might prefer McCook beach over Hammonasset beach. *rolls eyes* read more

We camped her for three nights in a non electric site. Campground was clean; easy access to beach; camp store has most of everything you may have forgotten. Fire pits are not installed on each site, but you can bring your own or rent one from the camp store. The showers weren't the warmest, but most campgrounds usually aren't. Haha Playground for the kiddos, multiple dumpsters for easy trash disposal. We would stay here again. Also....Plenty of open spaces for groups, picnic tables, and bathrooms. read more