Hammonasset Beach Parking & Directions
Parking at Hammonasset Beach State Park is free for cars with Connecticut plates. Out-of-state cars pay $22 on weekends and holidays and $15 on weekdays from April 1 through October 31, or $7 after 4 p.m. in summer. The address for your GPS is 1288 Boston Post Rd., Madison, CT 06443, on Route 1 just off I-95.
Parking at a Glance
Why Connecticut Cars Park Free
Connecticut runs a program called Passport to the Parks. Cars registered in Connecticut no longer pay a parking fee at any state park or forest, Hammonasset included. It's the car's registration that counts, not where the driver lives, so a rental or borrowed car with Connecticut plates parks free too.
Out-of-State Parking Fees
Cars registered anywhere else pay a daily fee from April 1 through October 31. These are DEEP's rates for Hammonasset:
- $22 a day on weekends and holidays.
- $15 a day on weekdays.
- $7 after 4 p.m., when the ticket booth is open, from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island plates all pay these rates. Outside the fee season, from November through March, DEEP lists no out-of-state charge.
How to Pay
- At the ticket booth on the entrance road, when it's open.
- Online at ReserveAmerica, on the day of your visit. Choose the Hammonasset pass for your day of the week and enter your plate and state. DEEP adds a $2 fee to online payments, and a pass bought ahead of time doesn't guarantee a space and isn't refundable.
- By phone at 1-877-668-CAMP (2267). From May 1 to September 1 the line is open Monday to Wednesday 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Thursday and Friday 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and weekends 9 a.m. to noon. The rest of the year it is open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to noon.
If the booth is closed when you arrive, you still owe the fee. DEEP says it's due by 10 p.m. on the day of your visit, and an unpaid car's registered owner can get a $75 ticket.
Out-of-State Season Pass
If you'll park on more than five weekend days in a year, the non-resident season pass pays for itself. It costs $112, covers one out-of-state car for the calendar year, and works at every Connecticut state park that charges for parking. It's a windshield sticker, it can't move to another car, a lost one isn't replaced, and it doesn't cover camping.
You can buy it online at the DEEP Online Store, by mail, at the DEEP Licensing Division in Hartford, or at a state park entrance station while parking fees are being collected.
Where to Park Inside the Park
The entrance road leaves Route 1 and passes the ticket booth, then reaches a traffic circle in the middle of the park. DEEP's park map shows the lots from there:
- West and Middle Beach. Several large lots line the beach west of the circle, close to the boardwalk, the picnic pavilions, concessions and bathrooms. This is where most beach days start.
- Meigs Point. Follow the main road southeast from the circle to the end of the park. A big lot serves the Meigs Point beach, the nature center, the jetty and the fishing area.
- Campground visitors. A visitor lot sits by the campground entrance near the park entrance; see the campsite map.
DEEP's advice for its busy beach parks is to arrive early in the day or come on a weekday, to avoid closures.
Driving Directions
Put 1288 Boston Post Rd., Madison, CT 06443 into your map. The park entrance is on Route 1 (Boston Post Road) in Madison, where the park road meets the road north to I-95.
Day-use areas open at 8 a.m. DEEP's fishing rules say no car is admitted to the day-use areas between 6:30 and 8 a.m., so don't plan an earlier beach arrival. Full hours are on Hours & Fees.
Free Summer Trolley From Clinton
The fare-free Clinton Trolley runs between the park and stops in neighboring Clinton on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Memorial Day to Labor Day. It picks up and drops off at the Middle Beach parking lot circle. Check River Valley Transit's schedule before you go.
Buses and Groups
Mid-size and full-size buses that seat 30 or more need a DEEP bus permit. That includes school and camp groups heading to the nature center.
Accessible Parking and Beach Access
DEEP lists accessible parking, restrooms and the boardwalk among the park's accessible features. Beach wheelchairs are free to borrow on a first-come, first-served basis. They're built for the sand, not for going in the water.
Check Before You Go
Fees and booth hours change. DEEP's park page and fee page are the sources of record.
Hammonasset Parking FAQ
Is Hammonasset Beach free?
Yes, for cars with Connecticut plates, all year. Out-of-state cars pay $22 on weekends and holidays and $15 on weekdays from April 1 through October 31.
How much is parking at Hammonasset for out-of-state cars?
$22 on weekends and holidays, $15 on weekdays, and $7 after 4 p.m. when the booth is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. A $112 season pass covers the whole calendar year.
What is the address of Hammonasset Beach State Park?
1288 Boston Post Rd., Madison, CT 06443. The entrance is on Route 1, near I-95.
Can I pay the Hammonasset parking fee online?
Yes, through ReserveAmerica on the day of your visit, with a $2 online fee. You can also pay at an open ticket booth or by phone at 1-877-668-2267. Payment is due by 10 p.m. that day.
Is there public transit to Hammonasset?
In summer, the free Clinton Trolley runs Friday to Sunday between the park and Clinton, stopping at the Middle Beach parking lot circle.