Helpful Travel Stories

Salt Water Beaches

Bluff Point Park - Groton
Route 117 Exit from I-95. Right onto U.S. 1, left on Depot Road. Views of Fisher's Sound. It's a 1 1/2-mile hike or bike ride over a shaded path to a bluff. The beach is not a state-sanctioned swim area.

Bradley Point Beach - West Haven
Exit 42 off I-95. A 3 & 1/2-mile stretch of beach along Long Island Sound.

Calf Pasture Beach - Norwalk
Located off I-95 at Exit 16
33 acre beach is the largest in the area featuring miniature golf, fishing, softball, volleyball courts, sailboat-windsurf-kayak rentals. Offers a panoramic view of Long Island Sound and the Norwalk Islands. Daily Admission.
Phone: 203-854-7806

Clinton Town Beach - Clinton
Located at the foot of waterside lane. Beach passes are required and are available at the Town Beach Gate. Restrooms, Playground, Concession stand, Outside showers, Volleyball courts, Pavilions, Grills and parking facilities.

Esker Point Park - Groton
Groton Long Point Road. The park has a shaded picnic area, volleyball courts, a concession stand and is only a few hundred yards from Groton Long Point private beach Daily parking $1

Hammonasset - Madison
1 mile south Exit 62 from Route I-95. Hammonasset is Connecticut's largest public beach facility. Features two miles of white sandy beach. Phone: 203-245-1817

Harvey's Beach - Old Saybrook
Rte. 154, Old Saybrook. Offers a great sandbar with play equipment, concessions and lifeguard on duty. Daily pass $8. A season's pass $75 Phone: 860-395-3152

Lighthouse Point Park - New Haven
Lighthouse Rd. (Exit 50 off I-95). 82-acre park on Long Island Sound highlighted by a 150 year-old lighthouse; swimming, nature trails, picnic area, antique carousel in pavilion and more.

Ocean Beach Park - New London
Ocean Avenue (off Rte. 213.) Swimming in Long Island Sound & Olympic-sized pool, triple water slide, arcade, amusement park, picnicking, restrooms. Admission charge.

Rocky Neck - East Lyme
Located off State Route 156. Features over a mile of woods and beachfront. $5 weekdays, $7 weekends.

Sound View Beach - Old Lyme
Hartford Ave., Old Lyme. The younger generation rule at this beach. Parking is available for a fee in the town.

Connecticut Fresh Water Beaches

Black Rock - Watertown
Located on Route 6 - 2 miles west of Thomaston. The park connects with Mattatuck State Forest. Concession, flush toilets, and change house. Scenic hiking trail. Daily charge.

Burr Pond - Torrington
Located on old Route 8 - 5 miles north of Torrington. Burr is an 88-arce pond in the northern Connecticut hills. Picnic shelter, concession, boat launch ramp. Daily charge.

Chatfield Hollow - Killingworth
Located on Route 80 - 1 1/2 miles west of Killingworth center. Schreeder Pond is surrounded by natural caves and ledges in a wooded area. Hiking trails lead to Cockaponset State Forest. Daily charge.

Day Pond - Colchester
Located on Route 80 - 1 1/2 miles west of Killingworth Center. Park visitors can picnic, hike and swim at the small pond. Daily charge on weekends and holidays.

Gay City - Hebron
Located on Route 85 - 3 miles south of Bolton. This 18th century mill village offers picnicking, hiking and fishing. Daily charge on weekends and holidays.

Gardner Lake - Salem
Route 82. A pristine lake with swimming, paddleboats, a snack-bar and changing rooms. Daily charge.

Hopeville Pond, Griswold
Located on Route 201 - 3 miles east of Jewett City, take exit 86 off Route 52. The pond is surrounded by a pine forest. The park is known for its glacial geologic features. Daily charge.

Indian Well, Shelton
Located on Route 110 - 2 miles north of Shelton. The park features water falls on the western bank of the Housatonic River. The area is popular with picnickers. Daily charge.

Jacob's Beach, Guilford
Located on Seaside Avenue. Featuring swimming and boating. Restrooms. Lifeguard on duty. Daily charge.

Jennings Beach - Fairfield
Located on South Benson Road, off I-95 at Exit 22
Features playground, bathhouse and concession stand. Parking fee: $10 weekdays, $15 weekends.

Kettletown - Southbury
Exit 15 off I-84 - 5 miles south of Southbury. This park extends for about two miles along the east shore of Lake Zoar. Features hiking trails, a beach, and fields. Daily charge.

Lake Quonnipaug - Guilford
Located off Rt. 77 (exit 58 OF I 95) in Guilford. Beach and swimming area. Daily admission. Phone: 203-245-2785

Lake Waramaug - Kent
5 miles north of New Preston on Lake Waramaug Road (Route 478). Offers swimming, picnicking, hiking, field sports, fishing and more. Charge weekends and holidays

Mashamoquet Brook - Pomfret
5 miles southwest of Putnam on Route 44. The current park was formed by combing three parks. Visitors come to see the Wolf Den, Table Rock, and Indian chair stone formations. Charge weekends and holidays

Selden Neck - Lyme
5 miles southwest of Putnam on Route 44.The island park is accessible only by water. Campsites and beach are primitive but the ultimate in getting away. Charge overnight camping

Sherwood Island - Westport
2 miles south of Westport (Exit 18 off Connecticut Turnpike I-95). 1½ miles of beach on Long Island Sound with large open fields, fishing, and scuba diving. Daily charge. Phone: 203-385-4052

Squantz Pond - New Fairfield
Located on Route 39 - 4 miles north of New Fairfield. The pond is surrounded be steep wooded slopes. Offering fishing, hiking and boating. Daily charge.

Stratton Brook - Simsbury
Located on Route 305 - 2 miles west of Simsbury. Completely accessible by wheelchair. The bike trail runs past white pines and scenic brooks. Daily charge.

Wadsworth Falls - Middlefield
Located on Route 157 - 2 miles southwest of Middletown. Features a beautiful waterfall with an overlook. Hiking along a wooded area with a mountain laurel display. Daily charge.

Wharton Brook - Wallingford
Located on Route 5 - 2 miles south of Wallingford. Features wooded, sandy knolls, Excellent for picnics and relaxing. Charge weekends and holidays

Connecticut Beach Regulations

Properly fitted Coast Guard Approved lifejackets may be worn. Inflatables or other flotation devices are not allowed in the water.

Swim fins and goggles may be used. However, diving masks and snorkels are not permitted in the swim area. SCUBA divers must present a certification card, use an official diving flag, have a partner, and verify with park staff that they will be diving in an authorized location outside the swim area.

Swimmers must stay off buoys and lines.

Shoulder diving, pyramid building and other forms of potentially dangerous behavior are not permitted.

Sand or rock throwing, and any other form of discourteous behavior, is not allowed.

Bathing with soap, shampoo or other cleaning agents is a violation of the Health Code.

To allow for the quickest emergency response, please keep the beach area around the lifeguard chair clear.

All swimmers must clear the water when lightning is visible or thunder is reasonably close. Swimmers may reenter the water approximately 1/2 hour after the storm has passed.

Alcoholic beverages, glass, pets, and nudity are not allowed in the water or on the beach.

Ball playing, frisbee tossing and all "throw - catch" activities are not allowed in the water or on the beach.

Fishing is not permitted in swimming areas.