Visit-Connecticut.com - Salt-Water Beaches in Fairfield County & Southwestern Connecticut (CT)

Calf Pasture Beach

Calf Pasture Beach Road, off I-95 at Exit 16 Norwalk, CT Phone: 203-854-7806

Open May to October, daily. Parking fee charged

Part of Norwalk Harbor, this beach and recreation area is open for swimming, boating, fishing from a pier, and clam digging. Playing fields for volleyball, bocce, basketball, softball. There is a skate board park. Many tree-shaded picnic tables; the picnic areas at Shady Beach -- which is just a bit east from Calf Pasture Beach -- have grills. Food concessions are open in the summer.
Season & Hours: May to October, daily, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Parking fee: Free for Norwalk residents who have obtained a pass. Non-residents: $25 a day on weekdays; $30 a day on weekends; $10 after 5 p.m.

Jennings Beach

880 South Benson Road, off I-95 at Exit 22 Fairfield, CT Phone:

Sandy beach on Long Island Sound; parking fee Memorial Day to Labor Day

Large sandy beach with great views of Long Island Sound. Great for families. Lifeguards during summer; swimming lessons offered. The property is near a marina and a playground with a skate park. Beach is wheelchair accessible. It has concession stand, bathrooms, and volleyball poles. Special events at the beach include watching July 4 fireworks, and Bonfire on the Beach. Dogs allowed October 1 - March 31.
Fees: Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, a beach sticker is required to park in the lot. Vehicles without a sticker must pay to park from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Fee is weekdays, $20; weekends and holidays, $50.

Penfield Beach

Fairfield Beach road, off I-95 at Exit 22 Fairfield, CT Phone: 203-256-3010

Open: Memorial Day - Labor Day

Beach amenities include a playground, picnic area with public grills, food concession and restrooms.
Daily parking fee: week days, $20; weekends and holidays, $50. Learn more about seasonal stickers.

Seaside Park Beach

Barnum Dyke, Off I-95 at Exit 27 Bridgeport, CT Phone: 203-576-7233

Open: Memorial Day - Labor Day

Beach with a picnic area, food concession, bathhouse and restrooms.
Fees: Day passes are $20 for vehicles with Connecticut registration and $40 for cars with out-of-state registration. Annual passes are $10 for CT registered vehicle and $100 for non-resident vehicles.

Short Beach

Dorne Drive Stratford, CT Phone:

Short Beach is located adjacent to the mouth of the Housatonic River, and it provides recreation for citizens of all ages. The northernmost section provides handicapped access to the beach as well as least tern and piping plover nesting areas. Fisherman also use the marine basin to fish for snapper bluefish during the summer months. Farther south on the beach are picnic areas, a calisthenics course, a playground, and a sandbox. A concession stand/shower is located on the beach.

Sherwood Island State Park

Interstate 95 at Exit 18 Westport, CT, 06880 Phone: 203-226-6983

State park features a sandy beach, fishing areas, food concession, bathhouse, and swimming areas. Have a leisurely lunch in the picnic grove, swim in Long Island sound, or view marsh life from the observation platform. Because of the sharp rocks and shells at West Beach, visitors are urged to wear beach shoes. East Beach, which has lifeguards on duty from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Surf and shore fishing are allowed outside of swimming areas. - Hiking Map (PDF)

Weed Beach

Nearwater Lane, off I-95 at Exit 27 Darien, CT Phone: 203-656-7325

Beach amenities include public grills, picnic areas, tennis courts, restrooms. Reservations are required for the tennis courts.
Fees: Parking permits are required Memorial through Labor Day. Fees are resident vehicle, $40; senior residents, one free per family; non-resident taxpayer, $70; summer residents, $100; beach day pass, $40; boat launch, $45; daily boat launch, $65

State

Hartford Central

Litchfield Northwest

Mystic Eastern

New Haven South Central

Salt-Water Beaches - Fairfield County & Southwest CT