It's $75 on the weekends (if you're not a town resident) and $50 during the week. I think the cost…read moreis that ridiculously high to keep people away. The sand isn't combed and there's many broken shells in the water. Okay I get it, it's nature. One of the 5 year olds got a shard of shell in his heel playing/running on the sand to give you perspective. We were there for a party at the small pavilion so thankfully we didn't have to pay. Beautiful scenery and gentle waves. Splash pad was out of service. They have 3 playscapes that are pretty nice.

Always beautiful, quiet, and serene- great place for children with a wonderful playground.read more

I stopped by Silver Sands State Park with my husband and some friends when we were driving down the…read moreConnecticut coast over the Fourth of July weekend. The park is almost 300 acres of beach, dunes, salt marsh, and woods. You can beach, swim, fish, walk along the beach or boardwalks, birdwatch... (FYI: alcohol is prohibited, so this is a beach for families, relaxing, and no-alcohol fun.) It's free for in-state registered vehicles. If your car or rental car is not registered in Connecticut, it costs $22 on weekends or holidays and $15 on weekdays (or $112 for a season pass). We couldn't stay long (the downside of a roadtrip with a planned out itinerary), which was too bad, because the beach was very nice! Crowded, perhaps, but what beach isn't on a hot July day?! I could've stayed a while with an umbrella for shade, a book, and a picnic! A lovely public beach.

Silver Sands State Park is a beautiful, well kept and safe environment to enjoy nature. The beach…read moreis better than many others in the East coast as it is calmer and you can actually go swimming. There are lifeguards whici provide an important safety feature. The park also has two great boardwalks that can be enjoyed while walking or jogging. There is a cafe with good snack options at reasonable prices and the restrooms are immaculate. It is perfect for family outings. Parking is available. I loved the time ai spen there and look forward to retirnung.

Beautiful Campground with Spacious Sites!…read more We had a really nice camping experience at Rocky Neck State Park Campground. Arrival and check-in were very smooth. We actually decided to arrive a day earlier than our original reservation, and they were able to accommodate us as a walk-in and combine the extra night with our existing reservation, which made everything very easy. Firewood is available right outside the check-in area for about $7, and you get a pretty good-sized bundle. Our campsite was in the S section, and we really liked our spot. The sites are spacious with plenty of room for your setup, and each has a picnic table and fire ring. There are lots of beautiful trees throughout the campground, but keep in mind that you are not allowed to hang anything from them. One thing to know is that the campsites are fairly close together, so there isn't much privacy between neighboring sites. That was probably my least favorite part of the campground. However, the sites themselves are large enough that we never felt cramped. Our site was conveniently located near one of the bathroom and shower buildings (Seagull or Osprey, I can't remember which one), and the facilities were clean. There was also water nearby, which was very convenient for tent camping. The bathroom situation in the tent area could definitely use some improvement. The nearby pit toilets were closed during our stay, leaving portable toilets as the closest option. There is also a building near the tent camping area that looks like it could potentially be renovated into additional bathrooms or showers. Having working restroom and shower facilities closer to the tent sites would make a big difference, especially since the existing facilities can be a bit of a walk. Parking is another thing tent campers should be prepared for. Depending on your site, it can be a hike from the parking area to your campsite. If you're bringing a lot of camping gear and don't want to make multiple trips back and forth, I strongly recommend bringing a wagon! The campground itself is beautiful and very clean, and staff come through the area regularly. There is plenty of parking, and another big plus is that there is no additional campground charge for visitors. The other downside for us was the noise. Even after the 10 PM quiet time, there was still quite a bit of activity and noise from some campers. In the tent area, you can also hear cars traveling on the road behind the campground as well as the train when it passes. This may be more noticeable because Rocky Neck is a busy beach campground, but it's something to keep in mind if you're looking for a very peaceful and quiet camping experience. Overall, we had a wonderful stay. Rocky Neck State Park Campground is beautiful, clean, convenient, and offers spacious campsites. A little more privacy between sites, better enforcement of quiet hours, and improvements to the restroom and shower facilities near the tent camping area would make the experience even better.

Came here on a rainy dreery Tuesday and pretty much had the place to ourselves. We walked some of…read morethe trails by the big building that overlooked the water. They weren't too challenging, but you should def have sneakers on the rock overlook area. We walked the boardwalk where we found that the sound was flowing right under the boardwalk we were on under a tunnel. It was so cool and the water looked so clean. Certainly a far walk from the parking lot if you're going for a beach day, so I'd recommend bringing a wagon. Bathrooms were clean.

We are not regular visitors of this beach because its a bit of a drive for us but we like to enjoy…read moreit every now and then We visited the East side of the beach this time. Pretty far from the crowded side and no food shack because it was permanently closed. Bummer. Good thing I brought some food . My daughter had a school beach day programmed and I came along. Why not? Breezy day but everyone enjoyed their time.

It has been a washout Memorial Day weekend. It rained all day Sunday. Today, Monday, we wanted to…read moretake a walk on the beach in Hammonasett State park. This is a gorgeous naturally beautiful piece of land. To our shock they were already charging $22 for out of state fees. Normally the season starts July 4th. We were unaware of the change in policy. Then, as we walked along the beach, we talked to life guards- all teenagers. They said they were asked to come out & stay on the beach even on Saturday although it was raining all day. Who are the ppl in charge of the park? Who makes these unilateral decisions? We the ppl are charged to walk on the edge of the ocean that belongs to the human race, so they can pay life guards on a rainy day with no ppl on the beach. Clearly, the CT govmt is in trouble.

We came here for what looks like our last beach day of the year.. plenty of parking available. We…read morewent out of season, so it was free. I'm not sure how much it costs in season. I love how there are so many establishments within walking distance. The beach itself is small but cute. The boardwalk is nice and refreshing. There are restrooms available. Just a nice spot overall.

Hole in the Wall Beach is a tiny private beach in Niantic. I was here on Thursday when we had…read morerecord high heat of 90+ degrees for mid April. The beach was filled with young kids and families. The beach is located behind Gumdrops & Lollipops Ice Cream Shop! Parking is free until Memorial Day, after that it's $40 per car. There is a beautiful boardwalk filled with benches. It is very clean and well kept. Overlooking the boardwalk, I could see a family of ducks, enjoying splashing in the water. Above the beach is a train track with an active train passing through. However being on the beach, I couldn't hear the train. I could only hear it from the boardwalk. I love how this beach is hidden, when you walk past Gumdrops & Lollipops you will see a "window" of the beach, you'll have to walk through a tunnel. Keep walking right for a lovely beach experience at this tiny beach!

I love being able to walk around with family and friends along this coast without having to worry…read moreabout safety. This is my neighborhood and I love it here! You can park here anytime until 8pm and walk on the beach or just sit in your car and watch the sun set on the water .

Came here specifically because of all the seashells pictured in all the photos…read more Was here at about 10:00am yesterday and the lifeguards were just arriving.. Found two pieces of sea glass but not many seashells to be found at all. I think maybe because of the short protrusions? Maybe it was just the day? I'll be back and will update the review. Lovely beach with sufficient parking. About 5$/hour to park there. Pay by phone/Apple Pay okay! Beach monitor arrived at about 10:30

I've been going to this beach with family since childhood. It's a special place for us, filled with…read morewonderful memories. The hurricanes over the past few years have changed it up a bit, but it's still a wonderful beach to visit. Lots of sand bars and the ability to walk out rather far to explore during low tide. Good sized parking lot. Views of Menunketesuck Island, Duck Island and Salt Island. Has food concession and sanitary facilities (in season).

Beautiful and peaceful park. Lots of grills (bring charcoal) picnic areas and rolling grass. While…read moreno launch is available- appears that kayaks are easily launch-able from the shore due to proximity. Overall beautiful and peaceful.

Lovely park at the banks of the mouth of the West River, with scenic views of Long Island Sound…read more Large boulders, natural saltwater marsh and plenty of green grass await. Excellent spot for photography, a picnic or just to soak up nature. And it's dog friendly, afaik.