Best Beaches in Connecticut

If you live in Connecticut and are looking for a beach to spend your summer day, you’ve got options. There’s the Sandy Point State Park Beach on the coast of New London, which is a great spot for fishing, picnicking and camping. For those who prefer their beaches with white sands and clear blue water, there’s Hammonasset Beach State Park near Madison or Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks. With so many beautiful places to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start looking.

Beaches in Connecticut

• Allingtown
• Bridgeport
• Bristol
• Buckland
• Burrville
• Center Groton
• City of Milford (balance)
• Danbury
• East Glastonbury
• East Hartford
• East Norwalk
• Elmwood
• Enfield
• Fairfield
• Forestville
• Germantown
• Glastonbury
• Hamden
• Hartford
• High Ridge
• Huntington
• Meriden
• Middletown
• Milford
• Mill Plain
• Mount Carmel
• Naugatuck
• New Britain
• New Haven
• Newington
• North Stamford
• North Thompsonville
• Norwalk
• Norwich
• Scitico
• Shelton
• South Meriden
• Southington
• Stamford
• Stratfield
• Stratford
• Torrington
• Tracy
• Trumbull
• Union City
• Wallingford
• Waterbury
• West Hartford
• West Haven
• West Torrington
• Westfield
• Whitneyville
• Winnipauk

Connecticut’s Top Rated Beaches

Jacobs Beach

The 25 acre beach on Long Island Sound is a perfect place to spend the day with family and friends. The site offers picnic areas, grills for barbecuing food, or just relaxing while enjoying your favorite drink their full service refreshment stand! There’s also boat racks so you can take advantage of this beautiful location as well! Parts of Jacobs Beach have overlook views that are ADA wheelchair accessible, making this beach a great option for everyone.

Penfield Beach

Penfield Beach is a 3.5 acre beachfront property that offers visitors to Fairfield, CT their own private strip of sandy shores along Long Island Sound where they can swim and enjoy the sun without having too many people around them. There are plenty of picnic tables and charcoal grills set up on the beach for visitor use as well as a concession stand. There isn’t a better beach in all of Connecticut to bring your kids, as Penfield Beach has twenty six playgrounds with many swing sets, jungle gyms, and playground equipment that dot the shoreline.

Oak Street Beach

Oak Street Beach is a sandy beach with a pier and is located a few miles south of downtown New Haven. This beach is commonly used for fishing, strolling, bicycling, roller blading, and running as it has 3.5 miles of night lights installed along the walkway. Be sure to  check out the music schedule at Oak Street Beach during the summer months, or stop at the Savin Rock Museum and Learning Center when it is open.

Hammonaset Beach State Park

Hammonasset Beach State Park is a public recreation area that occupies two miles of waterfront beach in Madison, Connecticut. This stunning stretch of land offers visitors opportunities to enjoy kayaking or stand-up paddle boarding alongside serene views and pristine scenery thanks to its location on Long Island Sound. The Park is located about 10 miles East of New Haven and allows people to get away from the city and experience the natural beauty of Connecticut.

Calf Pasture Beach

Arguably the best beach outside of Norwalk, enjoy a day at Calf Pasture beach any time of year with all it has to offer. Whether you’re looking for classic car shows or free concerts, there is always something going on! You can have some fun in one of our playgrounds and splash pads while kids play sports such as basketball and volleyball before grabbing an ice cream from Ripka’s. Parking fees are enforced from May 15 – October 15, but you can get a Norwalk Resident Parks Parking Pass to save some money throughout the year.

Waterford Beach Park

One of the most popular beaches in Connecticut is Waterford Beach Park. This is because it offers a wide array of activities to enjoy. One can fish with family or friends in Alewife Cove or simply enjoy the fresh ocean air. There are several rocks located just off the beach including Shore Rock and Middle Rock.

Rocky Neck State Park Beach

The beach is located in East Lyme, and features a few different beaches on the ocean and on the Fourmile River. Rocky Neck State Park Beach offers a variety of activities such as hiking, mountain biking, picnicking, and fishing.

Bradley Point Beach

Bradley Point Beach is a beautiful beach that is located along the Savin Rock Trail system in West Haven. It has great scenery, clear water, and plenty of space for families.

Altschuler Beach

Altschuler Beach is located in Westport, Connecticut. The main attractions include swimming, fishing, surfing and sunbathing. It has a variety of facilities that will make your trip to the beach worthwhile. You can enjoy picnic tables for sitting on or even hold a barbecue with friends on the beach.