The Best Beaches in Connecticut

Madison

Connecticut’s largest shoreline park — over two miles of sand, a boardwalk, and a nature center. The lot is huge but still closes when the park hits capacity on hot days.

New London

An old-school boardwalk park with a beach, pool, arcade, and mini-golf; one paid gate covers parking and admission, so it’s a full-day, all-in destination.

Niantic

A crescent of calm, shallow sand with a grand stone pavilion and a campground behind it — a favorite family park whose lot caps out on summer weekends.

Milford

A boardwalk and a sandbar you can walk to Charles Island at low tide — and one of the rare state beaches with free parking, so the lot fills early.

Westport

Connecticut’s first state park — a mile and a half of Fairfield County sand with skyline views, and the area’s main non-resident option since town beaches need stickers.

Westport

Westport’s well-kept town beach with cannons, a skate park, and calm water — resident stickers rule the lot, with a steep summer day pass for everyone else.

Norwalk

Norwalk’s big bayfront park with a playground, walking paths, and views to the islands — a town beach that charges nonresidents a daily fee in season.