Hammonasset Beach State Park
Connecticut’s longest public beach, with about 3 km of sand, boardwalks and a salt-marsh nature center.
Hammonasset Beach is in Madison, about 35 km east of New Haven. It is Connecticut’s largest shoreline park, with roughly 3.5 km of sand, and in summer it offers lifeguards, changing rooms, snack stands and campsites. At the eastern tip, Meigs Point has a nature center and trails along the salt marsh, and it is a birdwatching hotspot during spring and fall migration. The waves are gentle, so it suits families. Traffic is heavy on summer weekends, and out-of-state vehicles pay higher entry fees, so arrive early.
Opening hours
08:00 to sunset
Nearby sights
- Thimble Islands
- Shore Line Trolley Museum
- Lighthouse Point Park
- East Rock Park
- Modern Apizza
- Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana
- Wooster Square
- Sally's Apizza