$30? Are you insane? 9am on a holiday weekend and the parking lot was empty. We just wanted to see the lighthouse but there is no dang way that I'm paying that much. Or even half that much. For ten minutes or ten hours, that's a crazy fee. The only positive is that the dude in the payment booth was nice about it. On to the next! read more

Lighthouse Point Park - Lighthouse Park - Parks Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Beautiful beach views. Children playing, people walking and a wedding. We watched as the sunset and breathed in those first signs of fall. Watching the boats and seeing the cityscapes--both a site. Very clean and people were generally friendly. The restrooms were a contention because apparently we could not use the women's restroom as it was reserved for wedding.... Used the one suggested and it was dirty with an odor of urine. Overall the visit was priceless and why, because I was spending time with my son and husband. #yaleparentweekend2025 read more

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Just quick FYI- there is a parking fee. $25 for in state and $30 for out of state. This park is a public park that has some amazing views and a light house. Upon entering you are greeted by colorful blocks looking like they are showing you the way lol. There are good sized gazebos that people were having gatherings/parties inside of. Greenery everywhere and plenty of benches for you to take a sit and enjoy. Stumbled upon a cute lil playground as well! As well a carousel! Then the star of the show...The Lighthouse standing tall in all its glory! Standing near the lighthouse you get to see the many sailboats and enjoy the water goes and the calming waves sound. read more

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Beeyutiful! Gorgeous Breathtaking Views! Wow this park is healing to my soul. Being from Philly, I had the pleasure to witness such glory in Nature! This is a treat. The birds are flocking, the ducks are quacking as one. The water is crystal clear, huge rocks, seashells, the sand is sanding....Oh my. To all my nature lovers. This is a treat! I came to lighthouse point park for some good ole journaling and self reflection and boy did I get that in more. This park has plenty of benches to sit and listen to the waves of the ocean. Scenic views on 1000!. It also has a beeyutiful lighthouse and a mini playground with swings and slides for the kids. Its a public beach however it cost 30.00 for out of town and I think it's free for Conneticuit residents. Lighthouse Point Park, you got me in a chokehold, I didn't want to leave. I could've stayed for hours but when I thought about the ride back to Philly...well I had to leave!! read more

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$30 parking fee for out of state cars, $25 for in-state. Have never seen such high price for a public park parking. We arrived an hour before park's closing time of 8pm, were instructed to leave by 7:45pm. The park itself has some beautiful sight. The lighthouse stands tall in the corner. There's some beach area next to it. The park has a shed and some BBQ grills. We saw lots of people doing family picnic there. Walking along the ocean water is soothing, but the parking fee still hurts :P read more

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Today was finally beach weather. After weeks of cloudy, rainy weather people were smiling ear to ear. The sun was shining brightly , the gentle breeze was refreshing, the spectacular sky and the ocean were exquisite beautiful shades of blue. For almost 73 years light beams from the lighthouse at Lighthouse Point welcomed ships. read more

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Lighthouse Point Park is a public park and beach that opened in New Haven, Connecticut in 1925. It is located in the Morris Cove section of New Haven. The most notable feature is Five Mile Point Light: a historic lighthouse that was built in 1847. It was deactivated in 1877 when the offshore Southwest Ledge Light replaced it for navigation. In 1904, the Lighthouse Point Improvement Company acquired the old lighthouse and the surrounding 75 acres. They developed the area into an elaborate amusement park with a midway, a boardwalk, bath houses, and picnic groves. A beautiful carousel built by the Murphy Brothers Carousel Company in 1905 was purchased and erected at the park in 1916. It features 69 horses, a camel and two chariots. The City of New Haven purchased the park in 1924 and it opened to the public the following year. The New England Hurricane of 1938 caused a lot of damage to the park and all of the amusement buildings were demolished by the 1950s. The lighthouse and carousel both still remain and both have been restored. In recent years, the city has added a new playground and splash pad. I have visited Lighthouse Point Park more times than I can count. My parents took me numerous times when I was growing up. I loved riding on the carousel; in fact, it was the first carousel that I ever rode on. My wife and I heard that the city added a new playground and splash pad in recent years, so we decided to take our two boys. They loved exploring the grounds. First they cooled off in the splash pad. Afterwards they dried off and went and played on the new pirate-themed playscape. My older son especially enjoyed pretending that he was a buccaneer firing a cannon at an enemy ship. We tried to take a ride or two on the beautiful carousel, but alas it was closed because we visited on a weekday. It's open from Memorial Day through Labor Day but only on Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays. Best of all, rides only cost 50¢! We all had a fun time at Lighthouse Point Park and will definitely make a point to return when the carousel is operating. read more

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Lighthouse point Park is one of New Haven secret treasures. It's a awesome place to park yourself next to the water or swim or just hang out. Originally developed as an amusement park by the local trolley line, lighthouse point Park is now owned by the city. But they still have a magnificent carousel which is a great place to have a party or wedding reception. read more

Such a staple thing to do when visiting the New Haven area. The beach is small but it's a nice walk around the park and we happened to get a look at this horseshoe crab. The lighthouse outlet part is cool to walk out on and take a nice scenic pitcher read more

Lighthouse Point Park - Parks Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Very tranquil park. The smell of ocean water and calming sound of the waves is so peaceful. This was my first time visiting and I was fortunate to catch a few photos after sunset. I plan to visit in the day to truly take in the scenery and amenities. Using the coin operated binoculars to see the city sky scape was dreamlike. This is a must visit if you are in the New Haven area. read more

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This is a beautiful, quiet park in CT. Lots of sailboats and a beautiful view of a lighthouse. Play area for kids and a bit of a paved trail for walking near the water. read more

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My friends and I went to Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven to celebrate Memorial Day. We were the first car in line at 6AM to get there right when the park opened. Residents of New Haven get discounted parking. There is plenty of picnic space as well as outdoor grills available for use. It honestly wasn't as crowded as we anticipated for a holiday. We walked along the beach, had a cookout (we had hotdogs, macaroni salad, chicken burgers, fruit, and other snacks), and even took a ride on the carousel. It is fifty cents a ride. It was a great way to enjoy the warm weather, there's even a waterpark area and a playground perfect for families with children. I had a fantastic Memorial Day with great company here. read more

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The place is run down the changing room is closed the concession stand looks like it hasn't been open in 30 years this place is in need of some serious renovation! read more

This was my first time ever visiting New Haven and I was curious about what the beaches of New England looked like in comparison to the ones in Florida. I thought the park was nice and lends itself to getting some really beautiful nature photographs. There was a large group of people doing some bird watching and it seems the park is well known for that. There are lots of picnic tables scattered throughout the area as well as BBQ pits. Restrooms were closed during our visit but they do have a couple of port-o-potties around. For me personally this is one of those parks where you go to once and there's no real reason to come back again as we were pretty much done seeing everything that the park offered in less than 2 hours but keep in mind we came in October and it was chilly. We did not have to pay for parking. read more

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Absolutely loved my visit here. I never knew about this park until recently when I was browsing on social media. The park is maintained well and it was not heavily crowded when we were there. The walk down the water front was so peaceful and definitely one of the most serene places I've been too. This is my new favorite get away location. read more

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This place was awesome. We came on a Thursday morning when the weather wasn't too hot and we're able to get in for free. We walked the whole park and took advantage of the open bathrooms while taking lots of pictures. Definitely would come again! read more

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This is a beautiful location to watch the sun set. It costs $30 for out of state cars to get in, unless you are a veteran -- it is free for veterans! I don't think I would have paid $30 to just watch the sun set, but if I was spending more time there I might, but probably not. There was a wedding reception taking place while we were there. read more

This place was great. I came here on a weekend, when there were lots of bbqs, a wedding and lots of visitors. I liked this park because there were trails on the water and the lighthouse. The $20 parking fee was a little outrageous, and definitely wasn't worth it, however. I would come back, and park nearby again. read more

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As a tourist you can skip this one. If you're a local looking for a picnic spot maybe do some grilling - great. The lighthouse itself needs a paint job and park around it looks a little neglected. When we were there the ocean smelled like a fishing village was nearby only I didn't see any fishing boats. read more

Lighthouse Point Park - Lighthouse Park New Haven - Parks Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

We had a great time today at lighthouse point park. My company picnic was at the far end by the lighthouse. We had a food truck and an ice cream truck as well. What a great time we had today. read more

Lighthouse Point Park - Us - Parks Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Not that great but good for evening walk along the shore... First, you have to pay for your car.The water is great and refreshing, Beach is clean. The water is filled to the brim with seaweed of all species, so not sure it is good for the swim or not. Park also has a cool splash park where kids can run under a flower or a cobra that squirts cold water. Small but a decent beach. read more

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Parking costs $30 for out of state people. What a nice way to rip off people!!! Surrounding places have no free parking as they require parking permit. And in business terms, this is a great opportunity to rip off people since there is high demand of parking and low supply. Anyways, I was able to find free parking somewhere far and I had to walk to this park for some time This park seems ok. It has a nice walk; a nice place for BBQ; a playground for children; a light house; and others read more

Lighthouse Point Park - Parks Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Beautiful park with ample parking and lots of benches and tables for your friends and family to gather around and enjoy a sunny day either at the grass or on the beach. There was a parking fee when I came here during the summer. There are accessible bathrooms here as well. read more

Just beautiful. Easy enough to drive to, parking is ample, and no amount of pictures will do the view justice.

I'm from out of state, so I paid $30 for my vehicle. I believe it's free in-state. It's run by the city of New Haven, but not well. Bathroom looked & smelled clean, but not updated for decades. Picnic sites had random trash, even early morning, but beach had been cleaned. Beach are was small, don't expect to go on any long walks or hikes. In short, if you're from out of state, save your money & stay away. There's LOTS of better, less expensive options around New Haven read more

This was a lovely area that we just happened to stumble upon accidentally. The boardwalk and beach area were nice, clean, and smattered with people enjoying the last of the warm days before winter. The lighthouse itself was lovely; old, weathered, and as noble as they come. Off to the side of the beach there are some really lovely walking trails through the tall brush and reeds and it was amazing. Plenty of good exercise, lovely flowers, quiet and calm, and we will definitely be back! read more

Beautiful park. Kinda sucks that we just wanted to go for sunset and had to pay $25. The pics were beautiful though. read more

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A nice park located on the southeast side of New Haven. It has a decent beach with life guards but the water isn't exactly the cleanest to swim in. Being so close to New Haven harbor definitely has a detrimental effect on water quality. The park has a lot of beautiful old trees scattered around to sit under if you get tired of the beach, a playground for kids and a place to buy junk food. It gets pretty crowded in the summer but always seems pretty quiet compared to many other beaches. The park has a beautiful carousel built in the 1920's that is in fantastic condition and still operates. Of course Lighthouse Park has a lighthouse. It was built in 1847 and is almost 100 feet tall. It originally had a fourth order Fresnel lens but I'm not sure where the lens is now. There also is another lighthouse that can be seen off shore. Southwest light was built in 1877 but is never open to the public and can only be approached by boat. The last time I went the parking for non residents was 10 dollars a car but people can walk or bike in for free. Occasionally parking can be found on near by side streets if you don't mind walking a bit. read more

I came here for a wedding sometime ago, and thought it was a pretty scenic location for the event. Fortunately, I didn't have to pay for parking. The park was really quiet that day. The ceremony was at the base of the lighthouse, which made for a nice background. There was some grass area at the base, and the beach was just to the right of the ceremony. Over to the left was the carousel and hall. The carousel was a nice touch and the pretty hall inside lends itself for a solid wedding reception. The only thing is that if you're trying to look for your car at dusk, bring your flashlight. It's really dark in some of the parking areas. read more

I love the outdoors, and I love outdoor spaces near the water, so it's no surprise that Lighthouse Point Park is one of my new favorite places. On a recent weekend I wanted to find some new places to enjoy the coastline without venturing too far from New Haven. I had heard someone mention Lighthouse Point Park in a conversation, so I set out to discover the place for myself. Driving from Downtown New Haven, you may wind along the water as you approach the park. It gives you a new appreciation for the wide harbor that attracted the first settlers to the New Haven area. You'll finally reach Lighthouse Point Park, and even though you can look across and see the downtown New Haven skyline, it feels like you're a world away. A carousel, picnic shelter, and wide expanse of beach give a summertime feeling, even when the weather is freezing. It was probably in the teens on the day that I visited, but with the sun shining bright, I could imagine myself returning once the weather was nicer and really enjoying a day there. Despite the cold weather, I wasn't the only person out on that day. An amateur photographer was capturing the moment, and several people were walking their dogs in the snow. No matter the season, Lighthouse Point Park is a great destination for when you need to get away from it all without even leaving town. read more

My little girls and I had such a great time here!! A beach, with not one but two lighthouses (one in the far distance to the left of the water), a carousel for .25 a ride (open only on the weekends), picnic areas, a snack shop, a splash pad and a playground close to the city. Very neat. There were lifeguards on duty and we felt very safe. Water was fairly shallow for awhile right off shore. The sand is a little rocky, but good shell hunting by the water and lighthouse! No drinks were allowed in the splash pad area. They were very strict with this rule. Different types of water hoses which was great for my little one who doesn't like the water stream very hard. Some kids were playing rough the day we were there, keep and eye on your kids and you're fine. I thought it was so neat to see the girls sliding down the slide with a lighthouse in the background. How cool?! Bring a blanket and picnic! They sell some food in the snack shop but it closes before the park does. Gripes would be that the snack shop closed and lifeguard left before the park closed. They did make everyone get out of the water before they left and were very firm on this however, I don't understand why they couldn't schedule someone for another hour or so until the park closed for the night. It wasn't a huge deal for us personally juts a note. We dried off and watched a fantastic sunset which was definitely worth staying for!! The other gripe would be a lot of the lower shower heads for cleaning off your feet weren't working. I'm not going to complain about the price to get in like others did ($30 for out of state) because the guy at the booth must have liked me and only charged me $10. Plus, it's to help pay for the employees etc and $30 to entertain your kids for an entire day is a bargain these days. If you're looking for crystal clear water and white sparkling beaches, no this isn't the place. If your looking for a super fun day with your kids, take a visit! We had an absolute ball. I would come back again! read more

I came here in late March, so the weather was still chilly, dreary, and windy. I think this park is probably a much more cheerful and fun place in the summer. There is a large green area that would be perfect for fun summer activities, a building with a carousel in it that looks like it would make for a great event/reception location, along with a small beach (that had collected a lot of trash and shells). The water looks decently clean, but this is likely not a swimmable beach since it appears fairly rocky an the water is likely cold for most of the year. You get some nice views of New Haven, along with some tranquil bay/water views as well. I feel like I visited at an inopportune time, and am looking forward to coming back in the summer! read more

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Lighthouse Point Park is a great place to unwind. The lighthouse is a great attraction, and, so it the carousal. Nice beach areas to relax, many enjoy fishing, or, just hang around. Overall, a nice place to visit. read more

Lighthouse Point Park - Light House Point, get place to relax and take in the view. - Parks Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Don't bother if you're from out of state. And the security referred us to nearby fort hale park which was atrocious! Awful experience... I'm sure it's nice if you can get in... poor understanding of COVID. read more

Pros: carousel, splash pad, good sand Cons: bathrooms, snack stand Beware if you have kids no flotation devices allowed. Includes kids swimmys read more

Perfect place for family's or even a jog on the sand. Beautiful sight anyway you turn. read more

Lighthouse Point Park - So relaxing and amazing view like no other. Good for cook out, tanning or workout on the beach. - Parks Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

we were here during a holiday weekend so of course it was packed with people. we were concerned about parking but because we came in the later part of the day, we found a spot. it was a little bit of a walk to the water but the terrain is not difficult even for the grand parents we had with us. it was really nice and peaceful by the water. we did notice that there seemed to not be enough tables for the number of families that can come here on holidays so be ready to bring your own. not a lot of shaded areas too, especially by the water. read more

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Meh. $30 for out of state cars!?!?! $10 for others?? They say its free for residents but what if you're a resident with an out of state car? No thank you. Park on a street nearby. $30 makes you think that this is a huge magical park with pristine beautiful beaches. While it's a GREAT place for kids (There were lots of fun things to do for children, even swing sets on the beach itself!), I do not think this park is worth the amount of parking they charge people. The beach area itself is small and the area that you are allowed to swim in is even smaller. The water is filled to the brim with seaweed of all species. I feel like it would be hard to swim underwater. I feel like you would just end up either eating seaweed and be blinded constantly by giant pieces of seaweed sticking to your face. It was cool and all seeing all the aquatic plant life but it doesn't make for the best swim. Perhaps I visited on a particularly seaweedy day. My boyfriend said he went to the restroom and found a big pile of feces lying on the middle of the floor. Gross. The lockers though are only 25 cents which is nice. There is a lot of grassy space though for picnicing and lounging around. Many people take advantage of this and have barbecues. There is a cool lighthouse too. It's nice having a beach this close to home but this place isn't the greatest for swimming. It is a nice place however for kids. read more

I just love this park. When I visit I love to take the grand kids here. There is so much to do and they love the splash pad. One complaint that I have is people not following the rules and ruining the day for other families. The splash pad has a sign in full view...no chairs or food allowed. But there are people who think they are special and don't have to follow the rules. I was there last week when some moron got into an arguement with a park employee who had asked this person several times to take the food and chairs out side the gate. But no, the police had to come and they shut the water off for a while. Later on the moron was back...he should be banned from the place if that is possible. read more

This is a cool park. You can bring dogs year round, just not to the beach during the summer/warmer months. Many people picnic and there are really amazing views. You will notice that there are all types at the park and the beach has mostly kids swimming, although there are tons of adults in beachwear lounging. They also have a cool splash park where kids can run under a flower or a cobra that squirts cold water. The old-fashioned storage area where they house the carousel is really beautiful, especially when decorated by a nice wedding or event planner-- they generally have private events on a regular basis. The biggest downside to this park for hikers or dog owner- TICKS. I wish that New Haven would spray for them. If you are on the beach, you are probably fine, but don't lay in the grass or promenade in the woods around the area--unless you intend to thoroughly check you or your loved ones (two and four legged) over before you go home. read more