1. Rocky Neck State Park

    1. Rocky Neck State Park

    0

    East Lyme, CT

    Rocky Neck State Park

    3.8 (80 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 7:00 pm

    Rocky Neck State Park Photos

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    Beach
    Edwin V.

    Lil overpriced for small beach but it's ok ...seafood across the street also overpriced aswell....

    Lillian Faye B.

    Clean, very VERY busy, but ample parking. EVERYONE was there on this warm April Day (SPRING BREAK!!!) Bathrooms had toilet paper and soap.. Thank you!!!... Sand was in good shape. No litter, a few shells, people were grilling, playing sand games and sincerely enjoying themselves! It is an easy time getting in but very hard getting out as there is no traffic light, and you have to wait for a break in traffic to turn, making it very tough... The park officially opens on Memorial Day weekend and offers camping, concession stand, and life guards. https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Rocky-Neck-State-Park/Overview Despite the issue with no traffic light, it's one of our go-to as it is very family friendly.

    salt marsh
    Christine D.

    The water is nice. Full of jellyfish but nice. The beach is long but narrow so you do not have to walk far to the water wherever you plop down. The beach is a little rocky (thus the name) but still walkable. The water is fairly clear for CT. If you take a path to the right after going through the tunnel,there is a picnic area with a gorgeous view of the water and a nice jetty out to explore. We happened to also camp out at their campground and enjoyed ourselves. We had a nice flat spot with some trees, fire pit and picnic table. They had drinking water available nearby and full bathrooms/showers within walking distance. We were able to take a scenic walk past the salt marsh and osprey to get to the beach. Had a great, relaxing time there.

    Karen Kay F.

    Built in 1936 this magnificent, beautiful stone building atop the hill at Rocky Neck State Park, The Ellie Mitchell Pavilion (see photo image of dedication plaque), a true State of Connecticut treasure and landmark, is waiting to be renovated by funds allocated to the State Department, DEEP, to perform and complete its renovation. I understand back in the day, this grand venue with ballroom/dance hall were used for large events and gatherings. People would eat and dance in the hall and watch the ocean from window views, the terrace, and the rooftop patio. You can almost hear the big band music playing and the young couples dancing.... The exterior and the grounds of the building are open to the public to enjoy as well as the vast number of surrounding walking/hiking paths, roads and trails around it and the beach area. Visit the beach or the park and take a walk up to this wonderful stone "castle" and YOU TOO can enjoy the stunning, breathtaking and magnificent views of the beach, the Connecticut shoreline and Long Island Sound!!

    Theresa C.

    Rocky Neck State Park sits on the Long Island Sound in East Lyme, Connecticut is 710-acres between a salt marsh and a Tidal river. We stopped here on a road trip and spent a couple of hours hiking Rocky Neck's diverse trails with our dog. We saw many cranes and herons as we walked alongside the salt marsh. Then we headed towards the 4-mile river through meadows and woodlands. That trail climbed up to an overlook at Tony's Nose. We explored the pavilion and white sand beaches before heading back to the car.

    Boardwalk facing west entrance to the beach, Noon Friday. :)
    Kelly H.

    All the basics! The Osprey camp loop had a great tree canopy, flush toilets, and (free) showers with actual warm water. Not bad! Though no water hookup was at sites themselves, taps were all around the loop and dishwashing space was available by the bathhouses. Firewood was $5 a bundle, and available at the camp office as it should be! :) We also liked having a dump station when we left (and wish we knew about the clean water tap beside it so we wouldn't have to pre-fill before driving). Best of all was having the walking/bike route to the beach, seeing deer, herons, egrets, a garter snake, and blue claw crabs and schools of fish from the bridge. At the beach the water between tides was shallow enough to allow walking far from the shoreline, and clear enough to see tiny hermit crabs crawling on the ocean floor. The white beach sand appeared to be raked every morning. There are showers for a quick rinse when you leave the beach, and more communal showers in the beach restrooms (alas, not as warm as the camp shower!). We liked the long boardwalk and watching trains go by constantly--but recommend avoiding the poison ivy all along the woodsy part of the boardwalk. Apparently there's also a second entrance to the park, directly across from the Niantic KOA if you prefer more amenities, but entry for CT residents is free at the main gate too. In all, neither the most glamorous nor the roughest place to camp, and a great local escape!

    One of the few blazes in the park.
    Katherine P.

    We went here in the springtime, not for the beach, but for hiking on the trails. I will say that the beach area is really pretty, with nice white sand. The trails themselves were pretty well maintained, but some of the worst blazing that I've seen. Thankfully, we had maps, otherwise it would be easy to get lost here. The hiking and bird watching was great here, though, and I can see why this place gets really crowded in the summertime.

    Ma S.

    Rocky neck is my family's favorite beach in CT. We lived in Maine for seven years about 5 min from the ocean, we were used to the rocky coastline & always enjoyed the rocks more than sand around the beach. When we moved to CT, we were looking for rocky shores around known beaches and were disappointed everywhere. We went to half a dozen known beaches in CT as well as Rhode Island but none of them have giant rocks to sit on. We almost gave up until we discovered the Rocky neck state park, there are beautiful giant rocks to the right of the beach and plenty of shades to hid under, this has become our fav. beach in CT. We just came back here for July 4th weekend, only 1 hour easy drive from Hartford & what a relaxing day! We did a little fishing but no one caught anything including a bunch of other fisherman. I decided to snorkel around a bit, the water is cold but not freezing like Maine. I was able to scope out the deepest spot which is to the far right, near the tallest rock. Although fishes are not around today, we still had a great time. For others, there are sand beaches, BBQ pits, picnic tables, camping grounds, San bathing lawn etc. you name it. There is something for everyone. I think it's the best beach in CT!

    Dawn H.

    Very clean & the water is decent . You won't find a bunch of seaweed and oil in this water here . Even on a October afternoon the water wasn't that cold and my 7 yr old was able to enjoy one last hoorah at the beach. During the summer season they do have showers outside and a food shack that is pretty good . The train to NYC is on the route so you may see it pass by a few times when your there . Parking is a breeze and plenty of it. Beware it's made of rocks ,so you may want to park farther away of you don't like driving over them like I don't,lol. They have a nice camping sight just around the bend . Easy access to the highways ! Connecticut plates for all State parks are free now to get in all year long ! Maybe a small fee for outsiders.

    Bianca S.

    I wasn't expecting to see something so beautiful this beach made me feel like I was in Rhode Island or Cali . Where I'm from the beaches are small and cute so I don't run into beaches that make me feel like I'm on vacation . Hopefully you know what I mean if you're a traveler you get it lol . But anywho lovely beach nice and clean and I love a mix of different people which I saw & loved . This is definitely my new spot . Price: not sure I went after 6 Parking: plenty Very clean A lot of kids tho

    Beach area
    Shay B.

    This is a very beautiful beach. The sand is soft and white. The water can be colder than most in Connecticut but it's definitely one of the clearest. I would say you have about 50 meters from the sand to the ocean so it's close to see the little ones if you are far away. People also jet ski and driver there boats here. I would recommend coming to this beach. They also have camping grounds. I haven't personally stayed here for camping but I've heard good things.

    Nice day at the beach with the family.

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    11 months ago

    Great sandbar for the kids! The beach is usually not too busy. It's not the prettiest beach but it is a great family friendly place.

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    5 years ago

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    4 years ago

    That was ospreys bathhouse this is there I'm staying for two weeks I'll have keep using my own RV

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    4 years ago

    Beautiful spot with so many scenic views. Ample parking and stunning pavilion. Amazing beach and hiking areas.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Rocky Neck State Park

    Does it still smell bad at the beach?

    At low tide it smelled like low tide, but the sand itself was pretty clean and free of fleas. The water itself was salty but not silty (you're walking on sand, not river muck), and amazingly clear.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Rocky Neck State Park

    On the boardwalk, before entering the beach, there is an area where kids can get into flowing water and catch some fishes.

    Mentioned in 4 reviews

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    Soundview Beach

    Soundview Beach

    2.2(22 reviews)
    1.9 mi

    Well, this beach has changed massively! My rating is based on teenage memories, childhood memories…read more Going there as a kid there was so much freedom and fun. We could have campfires on the beach and you could be on the beach 24/7. Parking was a breeze, but we always rented a cottage across from Corsino's .... best fried dough and calzones I've ever had... Ever! It was definitely a month of family, fun. Aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, parents, sisters, girlfriends, boyfriends, and friends! I see now it says carousel shop?? It used to be just an awesome carousel where you would grab a ring every time you went around and if you got the golden ring, you got a free ride. My cousin was able to grab the rings so quick she'd grab two with two different fingers on one hand. Of course, the boys running the carousel would give her free rides anyway lol. Jimmy Palumbo maybe ha ha ha ha ha ha not sure lol I think one of the boys was related to Mr. Scaliban who owned a row of cottages. Rooster was one I know we stayed in. I wonder if they're still there... The cottages. There was a huge arcade with lines and lines of pinball machines. There was also a place that made leather snap bracelets that you could put your name on. I have the one that my Memere wore ... It says Chickie on it. That's what my Pepere called her lol Even the cops were nice! I remember live music at the Ocean Spray right at the end of Hartford Avenue... Just past the best lemon ice with the squeeze cups, so you could get every last drop! We would dance and eat while our parents drank and sang! Sounds like it's a lot different now.

    Very dirty low end beach. I love the ocean and beaches but I would never go to this beach other…read morethan to go to the italian ice place there.

    Photos
    Soundview Beach
    Soundview Beach
    Soundview Beach - Rangers walking directly by the cooler, had no problem with it, yet somehow mine was a Problem.

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    Rangers walking directly by the cooler, had no problem with it, yet somehow mine was a Problem.

    McCook Point Beach and Park

    McCook Point Beach and Park

    4.4(11 reviews)
    2.8 mi

    A playground near the beach with grass areas and trees, I mean what more could a kid ask for! There…read moreare multiple play areas for varying age groups. The park is in good condition, all new rubber mats along the bottom and trees surround the park so it's a beautiful spot to picnic that overlooks the water. During fall months there was no fee, I'm sure the summer it is packed here due to the beach. But if you have kids this is a fantastic place to spend a a few hours.

    Fantastic beach! It's not huge, but it's still a decent size. Brought my 4 yr old here on a Sunday…read moreand had a great time! We arrived about 10:30 and there was plenty of space. The nice guy in parking told us it was $30 to park for nonresidents (assume that's both parking and pass, though not sure), but free parking was available a short distance up the road and entry fee would be just $10. We went with that even though it meant I would be carrying everything to the beach. The parking was really not far... maybe one wide city block. It's literally across the playground (which you can't cut to since it's part of the park and fenced in). Then you go down the hill which is all sidewalk (good when you have kiddos), and down to the paid parking and beach. Once you arrive to the parking, you go to the restroom building on the left and there's a sign that says "passes" on the right side. Go there to pay the $10 pass. There were some rules I wasn't aware of, so some tips: umbrellas need to be behind the cones. I believe the life guard said it was to keep the incoming tide from washing it out? The tide did come up a little during the day we were there. Also, no boogie boards allowed anywhere at the beaches with life guards. What I didn't know, was it was allowed at the private beach strip between the two public beaches. There are houses overlooking the private beach area, but everyone seems to use it or at least walk it to get from one public beach to the other. I'm sure if someone really didn't want you hanging out there, they'd tell you, but we seemed to be allowed. We also were just 2 people and not a party hanging out, so that probably helps. The water was warmish in the shallow waves but cooler once in. Water is pretty clear and some areas had more seaweed than others, but not bad. There are a ton of boat type shells and not much of others. The sand and waters are full of nice pebbles, stones, and larger stones. There is also a floating raft a short distance out (of both public beach areas) that you can swim to, although we did not since my daughter still doesn't swim well. The beach gets busy after noon, but it wasn't too bad. There are a couple outdoor showers by the bathrooms that worked really well. We didn't use the bathrooms so not sure how they were. I don't know if there's a concession stand; I didn't see one. But there was an ice cream truck that came by at the main beach. A nice playground is up the hill a little bit from the beach that we were going to visit, but decided to keep moving and go home. I'd definitely come here again. For $10 and a little hassle of carrying your things a short distance, it's a really pretty and clean beach, with nice views of sailboats on the water. The waves are gentle too, so it's good for little ones. Still watch them though bc as the day went on, the waves got a little bigger and has a good pull for small kiddos.

    Photos
    McCook Point Beach and Park - Lots of different swing options.

    Lots of different swing options.

    McCook Point Beach and Park - Finding cool rocks at the beach.

    Finding cool rocks at the beach.

    McCook Point Beach and Park - Great spot!

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    Great spot!

    Smith Neck Road Boat Launch

    Smith Neck Road Boat Launch

    4.5(2 reviews)
    4.0 mi

    A place to go…read moresomewhere else Smith Neck boat launch area is frequently called the Great Island boat launch. It has a huge parking area and a pretty decent ramp but it can get pretty shallow in very low tides. Very large boats can be a bit of a problem but it's a great place for canoes and kayaks. Once off the ramp you have many options. You can go north up the huge Connecticut River or south down into Long Island Sound. Or if you have a canoe or yak you can explore the area around Great Island. You can't actually go on the island because it is so marshy with little solid land. Just as well because a huge number of large birds nest there. Better just to look and not disturb. It's a very easy area to get lost in a yak. Lots of small rivers and inlets and some very tall grass and reeds, so at times you can't see where you are going. No problem, you'll end up somewhere. The Black Hall River, the Duck River, the Back River and the Lieutenant River are all accessible from the ramp. However, if you decide to go up some of these you better make sure you have enough tide to get back out or you might end up carrying your boat back. Also a good idea to bring strong bug repellent if you decide to go into any of these small inlets. The flies can be fierce and want your blood. A extremely nice place to launch your boat, especially if you have a small one. I've been here a zillions times and never had my truck broken in to. Even though it can get a bit crowded during the summer everyone has always been pleasant and people here seem to enjoy helping and socialize with other boaters. Smith Neck is definitely one of the nicest and most pleasant launch sites on the Connecticut coast.

    I have launched my kayak off of here often. Once you get to the where black hall meets the sound…read morethere is a very secluded beach only accessible by kayak or very small boat. Directly behind it is a bird sanctuary. It is perfect. The sanctuary is fenced off so you wont be disrupting any habitats but some of the birds (depending on time of year) will get very "curious" of you and check you out. I have never had a real problem with it, though. The fishing is great up the Black Hall river as well and as a previous commenter mentioned just be sure to check tides because you could get stuck.

    Rocky Neck State Park - parks - Updated July 2026

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