Connecticut's shoreline, along Long Island Sound, offers a good selection of salt water beaches for all tastes. Among the best of these is Ocean Beach in New London, with white sugar sand and lots of water park-style entertainment like a swimming pool, miniature golf, and game rooms. Beach communities stand ready to serve other needs, including full-service resorts and a good meal.
Connecticut offers visitors a wide variety of swimming areas – 23 in all – from lake beaches to sandy ocean stretches. Eight beaches – Black Rock, Burr Pond, Hammonasset, Indian Well, Rocky Neck, Sherwood Island, Silver Sands and Squantz Pond – have lifeguards who are typically on duty daily, from Memorial Day through Labor Day, mid-morning to early evening.
State & Local Parks in CT - Fees for CT State Parks and Forests - Connecticut Tide Tables & Charts
257 Atlantic Avenue Westerly, RI Phone: 401-596-9097
Ocean beach operated by the State of Rhode Island, but close to SE Connecticut; parking fees charged
Dorne Drive Stratford, CT Phone:
Fairfield Beach road, off I-95 at Exit 22 Fairfield, CT Phone: 203-256-3010
Open: Memorial Day - Labor Day
Captain Thomas Blvd. West Haven, CT Phone: 203-937-3651
Nearwater Lane, off I-95 at Exit 27 Darien, CT Phone: 203-656-7325
Waterside Lane Clinton, CT Phone: 860-669-6901
Open: Memorial Day - Labor Day, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. weather permitting
Barnum Dyke, Off I-95 at Exit 27 Bridgeport, CT Phone: 203-576-7233
Open: Memorial Day - Labor Day
Beach Street West Haven, CT Phone: 203-937-3651
1288 Boston Post Road Madison, CT, 06443 Phone: 203-245-2785
Beach Street West Haven, CT Phone: 203-937-3651
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
Captain Thomas Blvd. -- Exit 42 off I-95 West Haven, CT Phone: 203-937-3651
Small sandy beach and paved walkway; parking fee in summer
2 Lighthouse Road New Haven, CT, 06512 Phone:
End of Hartford and Swan avenues Old Lyme, CT Phone:
Silver Sands Park Road (Exit 35 off I-95) Milford, CT Phone: 203-735-4311
Saltwater swimming and fishing; free admission; lifeguards on duty Wednesdays through Saturdays
Interstate 95 at Exit 18 Westport, CT, 06880 Phone: 203-226-6983
Calf Pasture Beach Road, off I-95 at Exit 16 Norwalk, CT Phone: 203-854-7806
Open May to October, daily. Parking fee charged
244 West Main Street (Route 156) East Lyme, CT, 06357 Phone: 860-739-5471
Route 154 Old Saybrook, CT Phone: 860-395-3152
Open Memorial Day - Labor Day; parking fee
Park Avenue and East Broadway Milford, CT Phone: 203-783-3280