Plan Your Visit to Hammonasset

Hammonasset Beach State Park is open 8:00 a.m. to sunset, every day, all year, and it's free for cars with Connecticut plates. The two things that catch first-time visitors out are the out-of-state parking fee ($22 on weekends, $15 on weekdays, April 1 through October 31) and the dog rule (no dogs on the beach in summer). This page pulls together what you need and links to the page that covers each topic in full.

Getting There and Parking

The address is 1288 Boston Post Rd., Madison, CT 06443. The entrance is on Route 1, near I-95. Connecticut cars park free. Out-of-state cars pay at the booth, online or by phone, and the fee drops to $7 after 4 p.m. in summer when the booth is open. In summer, a free trolley runs Friday to Sunday from neighboring Clinton. Everything is on Parking & Directions.

When to Go

• Peak beach season is Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, when lifeguards are on duty. July and August are the warmest months (see weather).
• DEEP's own advice for its popular beaches: come early in the day or on a weekday to avoid closures.
• Spring and fall are good for walking, birding and the nature center. Dogs can go on the beach only from September 30 to April 1.
• Check the tide. Low tide means the widest beach and tide pools at Meigs Point.

Hours

The park is open 8:00 a.m. to sunset, every day. From Memorial Day to Columbus Day it stays open 24 hours for campers and people fishing. Lifeguard, nature center and office hours are on Hours & Fees.

Where to Go in the Park

Hammonasset is a long park, and the two ends feel different. The west end has the big beach lots, the boardwalk, picnic pavilions and concessions, with the campground behind them. The east end, Meigs Point, has the nature center, the rocky point, the jetty and the trails into the salt marsh. A traffic circle in the middle splits the two. Our park map page walks through it.

Things to Do

• Swim at the lifeguarded beach in summer, after checking water quality.
• Camp at the state's biggest campground (2027 season: Friday, May 28 to Monday, October 11, 2027 (noon)).
• Walk or bike the boardwalk and paved shore path (3.4 miles out and back).
• Visit the free Meigs Point Nature Center, closed Mondays.
• Fish from the jetties, or the whole beach at night in peak season.
• Paddle from the car-top boat launch east of the Meigs Point jetty.
• Watch birds in the salt marsh, which the National Audubon Society named a Globally Significant Bird Area.

Picnics and Food

DEEP's page mentions picnic tables throughout, grills and a snack bar. Four open-air picnic shelters can be rented in summer for groups of up to 65, through ReserveAmerica; outside the reservation season they're first come, first served.

What to Bring

• Sun protection and water. The beach and the paved path are in full sun.
• Shoes for the path. DEEP warns the paved trails get hot enough to hurt bare feet in summer.
• Your own shade. There's little on the sand.
• No floats, snorkels, glass or alcohol on the swimming beach.
• Bikes, if you want to see both ends of the park in one day.
• For out-of-state cars, a way to pay the parking fee: the booth may be closed, and the fee is still due by 10 p.m.

Rules to Know Before You Go

Dogs are allowed on a leash in the picnic areas all year, on the beach September 30 to April 1 only, and not in the campground during the camping season. On the swimming beach, DEEP bans alcohol, glass, pets, flotation devices, snorkels and fishing. Clear the beach at the first sign of lightning or thunder. The full list is on Rules & Regulations.

Accessibility

DEEP lists accessible parking, restrooms, the boardwalk and camping by reservation (six accessible campsites). Free beach wheelchairs are lent on a first-come, first-served basis; they're made for the sand, not the water. The main shoreline path is paved and DEEP describes it as accessible to all.

Questions

The park office is at (203) 245-2785. DEEP's park page carries closures and notices, and our FAQ answers the most common questions.