Hammonasset Beach State Park
Madison, CT
Hammonasset Beach State Park runs two miles along the Connecticut shoreline near Madison, the state's biggest and most visited beach by a wide margin, with a boardwalk, a nature center, and enough parking to actually absorb the crowd. It's the beach most Connecticut families default to on a hot Saturday.
The sheer size and the nature center set it apart from every other Connecticut beach, though summer crowds mean arriving early is close to mandatory.
How we score beachesConnecticut residents skip the entrance fee entirely with the Passport to the Parks program tied to vehicle registration. Out of state visitors should budget $15 to $22 depending on the day.
Entrance fees run $15 weekdays and $22 weekends and holidays for non-residents. Connecticut-registered vehicles enter free through the Passport to the Parks program.
A boardwalk and paved paths connect the lots to the beach, flat and stroller friendly for most of its length.
Leashed dogs (7 feet max) are welcome on the beach only from September 30 through April 1. The rest of the year they're restricted to the picnic areas.
Water warms into the upper 60s to low 70s by August, mild compared to beaches further south, typical of Long Island Sound. Fall's off-leash dog season is a genuine perk once the summer crowd clears out.
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