Hammonasset Beach State Park is located in Madison, CT. We arrived here on a cloudy, but sunny day, so the beach area wasn't super busy. For Connecticut residents admission is free. For non residents it can be as high as $22, per day depending on time of arrival and the day of the week. They had a substantial amount of campers and tents on the park side of the beach! They also have restrooms and showers. You can also find a snack and ice cream bar here. The walk to the beach from the parking was pretty short, since there's no boardwalk here. I found the sand to be pretty soft, the shells were the most prominent and the most aggressive the closer to the water. Unfortunately due to the wind and the cloudy sky, it was too cold for a swim. We used an SPF 70, and still walked away with a red back! The beach was clean and the water was clean. There were lifeguards on duty. I would return here again. read more

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I love coming to this beach. It's close and convenient. The only downside is there are no waves. It's compared to that of a still lake. My favorite beach thus far has been West Beach with the pavilions due to the amount of parties and get-togethers I'm able to have in this area. Middle beach I rarely visit while Meigs point is more of a popular spot with the nature center. read more

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This was a busy beach when we went on a Saturday afternoon. There were a lot of people sunbathing but nobody in the water that day. They have clean restrooms with a large covered pavilion. You can also walk on the trails along the beach. I was told by a close friend that the lagoon across the beach is a great place for bird watching too. There were a lot of birds flying around when we were there. read more

Hammonasset Beach State Park - Parks Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

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Had a great beach day with the fam at Hammonasset, specifically Meigs Point -- one of the three beach areas along with West and Middle Beach. We scored a prime spot right by the water and next to the food hut, after a little bit of parking roulette (but hey, it worked out!). The beach was clean, the vibes were right, and the food did what it needed to do. We ordered a cheeseburger, foot-long hot dog, surf & turf platter, and fish with fries. Nothing gourmet, but perfect for a beach snack. Bonus: the slushy was a hit -- especially in the heat! Only hiccup? Shells. So many shells. Great for collecting (my daughter was thrilled), but rough on bare feet -- so maybe bring those sandals. Overall, I'd definitely come back and already recommended it to a few friends -- who also loved it! Beach days done right. read more

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This is a beautiful state park in Madison. There's 2 miles of beach, there's also a campground, and it's very popular. They had nature preserve, too. There's free parking for cars with Connecticut license plates. On busy days there are plenty of rangers to help you park. It gets busy in the summer. There are nice views of Long Island Sound. The park is open every day from 8 to sunset. Camping is allowed from Memorial Day to Columbus Day. read more

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Good local beach. Lots of seashells. It has restrooms, a concession area offering food and drinks, plenty of parking, lifeguards, etc. read more

Hammonasset Beach State Park - Parks Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

Parking is free for CT residents & there are three beaches to choose from. I've been to two of the three and all have sufficient parking, lunch pavilions, food options (including cheeseburgers), seashells, and then hot hot sidewalks (wear or bring your shoes when walking about)!! Showers are available to rinse after you were in the sea & the beaches get quite crowded on the weekends around 11 or so. My group tries to arrive around 9-10am so we get to choose our spot. read more

On Friday, April 14th, 2023 temperatures inland were expected to reach 95 degrees. We were worried that it might be too hot even at the beach, but we were pleasantly surprised that, with the water temperatures in the 40s, the air on the beach was comfortable and cool. The pictures I took were taken at around 10:30am. When we left for lunch just after noon, the place was packed. Because this was pre-season, there were no lifeguards and we were able to bring our dog with us (on leash). The bathrooms were unlocked and cleaned. The grill wasn't open, and we didn't see any other concession stands. Also there were no fees to enter or park because it wasn't yet officially open. This is a beautiful beach. There are at least 3 different beaches there, with separate parking lots. And there is a paved path that people were walking and biking on. We are looking forward to returning some time. read more

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(To show how much Yelping means to me, our visit here was back in February and I'm just getting around to thinking about this now. Obviously I forget way more than I remember.) We were on our way to Essex for some Valentine dinner train action and surprisingly way ahead of schedule. Our destination is not exactly a metropolis of things to do especially in winter, so when I saw signs for Hammonasset I figured what the hell, it's only snowing and sub-30 degrees so a beach/ocean setting sounds great. Even though it was snowing and windy there were several cars puttering around and more people than I would have imagined out walking or heading to the Nature Center. We probably made it 20-30 minutes outside trudging along the snow covered sand before number one, we had to leave and number two, it was entirely too cold to be outside any longer. No fees in the offseason, everything was wide open and the off/on 95 was beyond easy. The park was beautifully quiet and peaceful and the roads were already treated/plowed which was nice. Of course it would have been better to have shown up in summer to have gotten the full experience but this one was good enough for being fun and of course different. read more

Full of debris today and they are mentioning that when you enter the park. I don't understand the reason for not cleaning the beach. We were there for 4 hours and nothing was happening. Hopefully they are going to fix it soon. read more

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Did not camp there this year, but we did camp last year. It was OK my first time there so I did not know which site to choose. We are in the sun, not good. And inconsiderate neighbors with their generator running all night. Walked down to the check-in station at about 1am and apparently that's closed so we had to listen to that all night cause there was no sleeping going on. Wish they would enforce the rules. read more

Green head flies!! Lots of debris in the water from rain storms. Garbage and a heroin baggies were n the beach. Normally it is not like this. Maybe wait awhile for them to clean up. read more

Such a beautiful area. I've been coming here for almost my entire life, enjoying the ocean spray, the sandy beaches and numerous shells, and interesting rocky parts too. They have quite a lot of structures and picnic areas, and a fine place to camp as well. It gets busy but it's well worth the adventure. Right off Route 1, access is easy, and there's plenty of food in the area. In the summer, they open the bathrooms and cafes. I love the Megs Point Nature Center very much. The staff is always friendly and informative. They have many tanks with local sea creatures, and plenty of activities for kids and adults. It's a wonderful area for a walk or bike ride, and the beach is trash free. Feels very wild and a great place for peace and quiet. read more

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The largest and most beautiful beach in Connecticut. My wife and her family used to come here for Summer vacation. We visit when we are in the area visiting our selves. As massive as it is I can't believe that they have to close the gates during the summer because e they a FULL. we came in October and it was empty. No fees to get in. Dogs are allowed on the beach. It was wonderful. It has grown so much in 20 years since the last time we visited. read more

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I'm going to grade HSP as a CT State Park rather than a beach. As a State Park, it's distinctive because it has a large section of space along the water, aka "a beach". But it's more than that. You can camp, bird, shell, bike, climb rocks and take photos. Parking is good except during peak times during peak seasons. We even go off season to hear the ocean and walk near the water. The beach itself won't be your favorite beach, but it hits a lot of the notes. There isn't much of a wave scene, the water runs colder than our favorite US beaches and the beach can be rocky. We usually have a good time though. read more

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COVID-19 era review: on New Years Day, this was the place to be! Hammonasset was a populated park all summer too; Twitter announced parking lot closure nearly each day. For a tiny but densely populated state with property lines extending to the shore, this is a coastal oasis. Best of all, it's free to CT residents/drivers. Like other state beaches you find shelters, beach showers, a nature center, and a HUGE campground. Reserve America says pets aren't allowed on the campground, but on this beach in the off season, pets were looking content. RA also says the campground has 87 sites electric hookups, a minority of the 500+, but many more than other campgrounds at CT parks. Skippable flat stones, oyster shells, periwinkles, and cobalt-colored mussels made for one very colorful stretch of beach. On our gray January day, it felt less populated than it was. In all, it was a peaceful place to start the year. read more

Hammonasset Beach State Park - Lovely marsh along the beach. - Parks Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

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Beautiful location! I have the pleasure to live right down the road from this location and I've had such wonderful experiences! The park is massive with well maintained roads and paths to allow cars in and out without issue. Additionally, all workers there have been extremely nice and enjoy their jobs. One recommendation is to plan your trip accordingly, as traffic can be hectic certain times of day; no issue with the park itself, just certain times are busier than others. Will continue to come here for hikes and to enjoy the scenery. read more

Sorry Hammonasset. We've heard for years how beautiful this place is, and it was really beautiful. The 3 stars are for the beauty and the setting. We switched up our beaches because of Covid that Rhode Island was discouraging visitors from out of state to cut down on crowds. So we decided it was time to check out another beach and head to Connecticut. We were prepared that there really wasn't any waves at this beach, so that wasn't a disappointment because there isn't ANY. We're beach walkers and were pretty excited to see how far this beach goes, BUT you can't walk on this beach!! Yes, it's allowed, but the slope is steep and full of rocks and shells. So you're either walking all wonky on the slope or stepping on something that hurts. The water was nice and at low tide you could walk out very far before you reached your waist. There seemed to be some sandbars too. But, when the tide came in it was a quick drop. It's probably a great place for families with young children. read more

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This place has always been a spot to disappear to when work or life gets to be too much. The family and I decided to escape here during the work week and current Pandemic situation to social distance whole enjoy the moving waves and warm sand while waiting for the rest of the family to arrive. I could see the areas near the bathrooms and showers getting more populated while the camp areas seem to be pretty packed as well but near the pavilions away from the visitors building you'll be comfortable to spread out and soak up some rays. I will express appreciation for many that actually respected the ring of sand that I outlined to maintain social distance except for the little toddler that wanted to say hi. He gets a free pass. Cheers to the summer. read more

Hammonasset Beach State Park - Parks Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

There's just something that makes Hammonasset special. It's my favorite beach in the state and where I love spending a beautiful sunny day, no matter the season. I enjoy birdwatching and visiting the Meig's Point Nature center. I could spend hours taking in the scenery on the walking path and will relax on the beach from sunrise to sunset. It truly is my happy place in Connecticut! read more

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It was not crowded, the sound of the water was peaceful, and walking along the shore was beautiful.

Awesome place to go camping fishing hiking we go to the campground all the time friendly environment beautiful place to visit

My friends and I had such a fun time watching the sunset this evening. Beaches were cleaner than usual, even after a full sunny day of guests, which I appreciated. The only thing I wish is for there to be less shells in the sand, jeez it hurts to walk along the water! But if you just wanna lay on the beach? Just put a towel/blanket down and problem solved. Note: If you're coming to watch the sunset, BRING BUG SPRAY or wear long sleeves/long pants. You'll regret it if you don't! I got bit by several bugs and discovered the itchy mess the next morning! COVID-19 precautions: signs posted in various parts of the beach telling people to stay 6 feet apart and keep within your own groups (immediate families). Something else to note, no plexi-glasses set up between the sinks in the bathrooms (as I've noticed in other stores). Only thing I have to say: bathrooms were kind of gross. Wish there was someone there to clean up in the evening, not sure if there is a staff member to monitor or clean the bathrooms any earlier. read more

Hammonasset Beach State Park - Parks Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

Not sure why, but in all of years of CT living, we never visited Hammonasset State Park. Until yesterday. I was there for a Yelp Community Service event where, equipped with a grabbing stick, a 5 gallon bucket and gloves, we picked up trash from the grounds, walkways and beach at Hammonasset. We did pick up some interesting things -a Venus ladies razor, a liter bottle of Watermelon flavored Perrier, a hair scrunchie, dozens of plastic juice box straws, dozens of water bottle caps, hundreds of cigarette butts, and a full bag of trash tossed into the woods by some slovenly despicable pig of a human being. By the time we were done, we had removed 5 pounds of trash from the Park and interacted with a lot of the park and beach visitors. It was very gratifying to see their smiles and hear their "thank yous". While walking the grounds, we agreed that Hammonasset is beautiful. Parking is free in any of their three lots. There is a short walk on a deck-like boardwalk to bring you down to the beaches. There is so much to do here, gorgeous grassy areas and pavilions for picnics and parties, very nice restroom with shower and changing facilities, a concession stand, a boat launch, Nature Center, and a campground for overnight stays. Thank you to our two Yelp Emilys and co-sponsor Cinder and Salt for organizing the day, for the nifty Volunteer T Shirts, and best of all, those ice cold slices of watermelon at the end of our shift. They tasted as good as we felt after cleaning up all that trash. read more

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My first exposure to Hammonasset was for an inaugural half marathon in the fall. At the time, I found running the end of the course by the beach quite beautiful, though I was unprepared for the sandy paths toward the end of the course. More recently, I have a more positive association with the beach. It's accessible, relatively no frills, and has free parking for CT residents. (You pay that annual fee on with your car registration, after all.) My usual strategy is to get there after noon to avoid the rush. I prefer going to Meigs Point, the southwestern-most tip. There are lifeguards and relatively clean bathrooms. I did notice a snack shack, but the vending machines are more accessible. The water is usually too cold for me, and sometimes I step on a lot of little shells, but with a blanket, sunglasses, and snacks, this spot is a no-brainer for those summer days. read more

Hammonasset Beach State Park - Lots of little shells at Meigs Point - Parks Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

Let me start by saying we purchase a season's pass to the CT parks as out-of -staters. It's well worth the $112 cost as we come down often from Western MA. Though after this initial trip I don't know if we'll get our money's worth. The beach is still clean and beautiful. No life guards today (Tuesday, May 26th, 2020), I don't know if there will be later in the year. My reason for single star, since covid-19 they have closed the bath houses, and bathrooms. Instead there are porta-potties. O.M.G!!! I didn't take pictures because I don't want to make anyone sick. They were absolutely DISGUSTING!!!! No water, no sanitizer. They were FILLED and overflowing with toilet paper. Some had no tp. According to the chart on the wall they were cleaned yesterday. I don't know how they could get so absolutely disgusting in such a short time. There were 1/3 the number of people there, this coming the day after Memorial Day. I'm shocked. It's shameful. There has to be a better way. The regular bathhouse after a busy weekend never looked like this. (We've closed the park!) I cannot believe a porta-potty with no water, no sanitizer and very little tp is a "safer" alternative. read more

Very impressive beach state park. This is basically the place to stay if you want walkable beach access on a budget in New England. The beach itself was nice, expansive, sandy with calm water. We were there on a warm sunny day in early Aug with temp in the low 80s. The water was cool but still great for swimming and you could walk out pretty far from the beach and still not be too deep. I could see a tiny bit of New York City from the shore! The nearby AC's grill was good, reasonably priced and made lunch at the beach very convenient. I was also really impressed with how diverse, friendly and welcoming many of the people staying here were. My son basically made friends almost immediately with a group of kids his age who had been staying here for 2 weeks. The streets inside the campground and really great for kids to cycle or skate around on. There are also connecting bike paths and greenways that made me wish I had brought my bicycle. Only drawbacks were the lack of trees or shade on the campsites. If you're just tent camping and dont have access to AC, that can be rough on a hot day. The sites are basically on a flat field with numbered lots with a few trees here and there at the borders. Each site itself is fairly large, with plenty of space to park your car and set up a few tents if needed. The campers and RVs seemed well accommodated on the sites as well. The bathrooms were clean enough but basically what you might expect from a state campground. All in all, I would definitely like to come back here someday if I'm ever travelling through Connecticut again! read more

I went to hammonasset today and got a cool spot on one of the pull off's going towards Mégis point. Thought it was going to be a nice relaxing day at the beach but once I put my chair down and laid my towel down the amount of sand flies that swarmed me was insane. They would not leave me alone and kept biting me. They did not stop the whole hour and half I was there I couldn't even lay on my towel or else I would have been covered in sand flies. I had noticed a lady down the way had bug spray so I asked to use some. I sprayed myself and went and tried to lay down on my towel and the bug spray made it worse. The flies were now biting me even more with the bug spray on. I don't think I'll be back. read more

Hammonasset Beach State Park - Parks Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

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So...I had a very intriguing day at the beach today...(See number 3). My DD and I drove to Madison, CT to meet up halfway with a friend she made at summer camp. At first, I got confused because we wanted to go to the beach, but Google took us to the park (Hammonnasset Beach State Park @ 1288 Boston Post Rd.), which is about a mile away from the shoreline. You have to use Google Maps and search for "Hammonnasset Beach," which will give you map coordinates and directions to the main entrance of the actual beach parking. Out of state cars pay $22 on weekends and holidays. Might be a bit steep for some, but if you're going with a group of people and want to stay all day, it may be worth it for these reasons: 1. This beach is clean. I didn't see trash while walking from the parking lot towards the beach. There's a huge recycling bin and trash bin outside the restroom/dressing room building to unload waste/recyclables. 2. The bathrooms were also clean and didn't smell bad. They were well ventilated. The toilets do not use water and there is no flushing mechanism. Human waste go down into a deep well where it's composted. (Okay, so it's a little scary when you think about trying not to fall in while going). But surprisingly, pretty hygienic. 3. Not too crowded and laid back scene. A few people played their music, but not obnoxiously. Interestingly enough, the guy sitting next to us who was playing his reggae music and singing out loud is an actual musician from the Caribbean trying to promote his music!! Luckily, the couple in our group is very sociable and struck up a conversation with him. His name is Amrah. Be sure to check him out on YouTube! Ha. 4. There is a bike path between the parking lot and the beach and picnic tables in the grassy area to enjoy different activities and picnic options. I live in the Ocean State of RI, but I now realize how understated the beautiful beaches are in Connecticut. I would definitely check out the other beaches there in the near future! read more

Very family forward spot. Camping here is great. They have lots of activities for the family including, but not limited to: movies, bingo, canoe trips. The nature center at Meigs Point is small but offers a wide slate of activities both hourly and daily. Kids love it. read more

The beaches are nice, but there are so many shells and rocks in the sand. Bathrooms are fine, and there's concession stands. Love that CT residents get in free. read more

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Can't get enough of this place! It's an incredible state park/ beach! The walking paths are fantastic, the beach is wonderful! Perfect for trails, running, large group gatherings. It's kept incredibly clean! Watch out for ticks - because of the high grass they are all over, even on the beach. Otherwise it's a wonderful way to spend the day! read more

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While this isn't the tropics or the famous Florida or Caribbean beaches for a local New England state park this is a nice place to spend a day. It will be challenging during summer months finding a private spot, table or parking but it's staffed and every experience differs. The park has plenty of trails and walking areas. Beach is Shelly and sanded so not bad but not perfect. It's a state park beach so come and enjoy yourself! Out of state plates may face a parking charge depending on time of your visit. read more

I got a chance to stay at the campground over a 3 day weekend and visit the beach one of those days as well. Unlike many campgrounds I've been to in the past, the most noticeable difference with Hammonasset is that the sites are really out in the open! There isn't much separating each site and one of my friends described it as a "huge parking lot", which I can definitely agree with. The campground was still pretty spacious though and there were still trees all around, but not many in between sites. The bathrooms were also typical of what I found at other campgrounds --- a bit smelly, limited spacing and hell for you germaphobes. I did manage to find a handicapped/private bathroom in the back of the bathroom area (angels singing!), which was much MUCH cleaner than the public one used by the masses. The "private" bathroom had its own toilet and shower and tons of space to walk around in. It also offered privacy because it had its own door. It was an absolute luxury compared to the bathroom used by everyone else! As for the beach, it was relatively clean (by tri-state area standards). It was semi-crowded and the water was as expected a bit murky, but swimmable. There is a volleyball court at the entrance and a few open fields leading to it as well. The open fields are a great place to get a game of football or soccer going. One last note is in regards to quiet time --- 10pm marks quiet time so just be wary if you're coming with a noisy group (like I did). Despite our best efforts to turn off our music and lower our voices, a park ranger still came by at around 10:30pm and gave us a warning or we'd face a ticket fine. He was very nice about it and that warning was enough to shut us up! read more

Hammonasset Beach State Park - Campground - Parks Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

Love this beach- on a rainy April Friday it Was gorgeous and peaceful. You can walk along the beach or a coastal walk. Great options! No parking fee before Memorial Day. Recommend ! read more

Beautiful beach for walking (especially with your dog when allowed) or just relaxing and having a nice swim, and especially wonderful place to watch the sunset. Tons of parking and a large camping area. read more

Love Hammonasset state beach!!! Favorite beach within easy driving distance. Lots of parking and nearby eateries. Great place to bike and enjoy nature also! Lots of family fun too! read more

Hammonasset Beach State Park - Parks Near Me - Madison, Connecticut

As far as state beaches and parks go Hammonasset is one of my favorite. Sadly I don't get here as much as I would like. There are 3 or 4 different beach areas with lots of parking. There are bath houses, a snack shack, lifeguards in season, paths for walking and biking. The nature center is a great place and very educational. You can camp for a fairly good price. You can just come for a beach day and lay in the sun or you can come and go fishing. It's fairly clean and well maintained. A lot of updates have been made over the last few years. I really enjoy it here especially now that for state of CT residents parking is free! read more

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A fantastic way to spend a spring day while practicing social distancing. The area of Meigs Point offers trails along the Connecticut coastline with areas of beach, trails and rocky sections along the way. There is plenty of room to maintain distance and a plethora of parking spaces. The is a hut and labyrinth path to explore right on the beach to explore to help ease the mind. read more

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There is something for everyone here. Miles of beaches, camping, clean and large bathroom facilities, walking trails, areas for fishing, marshes, and the nature center which is awesome. Everything is clean and although busy a great place to be. read more

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