Wandering the Connecticut Coast: 12 Locations to Check Out
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The Connecticut coast is home to a number of parks that offer great coastal views and opportunities for outdoor activities. Whether you’re looking to hike, birdwatch, or just enjoy the view, these parks provide access to the natural beauty of the coastline. In this post, I’ll highlight some of the best parks along the shoreline where you can get outside and explore.
Niantic Bay Boardwalk
This boardwalk in Niantic is a 1.1 mile walking path that runs between Cini Park and Hole in the Wall Beach along Niantic Bay. This is a beautiful spot to walk for a sunrise and it’s also one of my favorite spots to watch the sunset in the winter months. Be sure to also enjoy the beaches that can be found on either side of the boardwalk.
Lighthouse Point Park
Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven is home to Five Mile Point Lighthouse. In addition to lighthouse access, this 82-acre park offers many outdoor recreational activities, such as fishing, hiking, swimming in the beach area, and picnicking with family and friends
Ocean Beach park
Ocean Beach Park is worth checking out if you’re in the mood for fun in the sun along its beach and boardwalk. This family-friendly destination offers a wide range of activities and amenities to keep visitors entertained all day long. There are even some trails to explore that are great for bird watching!
Stonington Point
Stonington Point in Stonington is one of the best sunset spots in southeastern Connecticut. One of my favorite parts about this spot is there are panoramic water views that you can enjoy right from your car. There’s also a beach and a historic lighthouse museum you can visit. This makes it a great spot to visit year-round.
Sherwood Island State Park
Sherwood Island State Park in Westport is a beautiful coastal park located on Long Island Sound. It features a beach, picnic areas, and a nature center. I personally love walking the various trails around the park and birdwatching here.
Rocky Neck State Park
Rocky Neck State Park in Niantic has a lot to offer. Not only is there a large beach, but there are also various hiking trails to explore throughout the park. Additionally, there’s a large salt marsh that is extremely popular for birdwatching, featuring various water fowl and Ospreys in the warmer months.
Avery point
Avery Point is one of my favorite coastal spots to go in Groton. This college campus has beautiful coastal views and one of my favorite lighthouses in Connecticut. Other features of the campus are art sculptures and the Brandford House, which is a beautiful historic mansion. It’s also a great spot to watch the sunset.
Harkess Memorial State Park
Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford is a must-visit. The park features beautifully landscaped gardens, walking trails, and the historic Eolia mansion, which offers picturesque views of the coastline. Visitors can enjoy peaceful picnics, birdwatching, strolling through the various gardens, and the history. It’s also a great spot for a sunset.
Walnut Beach
Walnut Beach in Milford is a small, public beach along Long Island Sound. It offers a relaxed atmosphere with walking paths, picnic areas, and views of the surrounding shoreline. You can walk to the neighboring Silver Sands State Park from here to enjoy some more coastal views and some wildlife.
Bluff Point State Park
Bluff Point State Park, situated in Groton is known for its coastal trails and scenic views of Long Island Sound. The park is popular for hiking, fishing, and birdwatching, with areas of both forest and open meadows. Visitors can access the park by foot, bike, or boat, making it a flexible destination for outdoor activities.
Hammonassett State Beach
Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison is one of the state’s largest and most visited parks. It features a long stretch of beach along Long Island Sound, as well as camping areas, picnic spots, and walking trails. The park is a popular location for swimming, fishing, and birdwatching, especially during migration seasons.
Jacobs Beach
Jacob’s beach is a beautiful beach to visit in Guilford. This park not only has a great water views, but it also has amenities as well as a playground. It’s the perfect spot to spend a summer day, but it’s also super peaceful in the off-season.
This Fairfield County-er approves of this list! LOVE all these spots!!! Great post! And tons of activities in the towns where these beaches and parks are located.
I really need to do more in Fairfield County!! I started to explore the area when I worked in Westport a couple years ago, but I’ve barely scratched the surface. It’s just such a hike from where I live in southeastern Connecticut, I’m honestly closer to Rhode Island LOL.
Very helpful post – we are looking at exploring the NE more as a family and still need to visit Connecticut!
Connecticut is definitely worth a visit!! We have so much to see and do here 🙂
I have actually never been to Connecticut! It looks really beautiful!
It’s worth a visit if you get the chance! We have tons to see and do in our tiny state 🙂
Helpful article! Considering I just live one state over, I don’t know CT as well as I should. Saving this article for future reference! :^)
Connecticut is definitely worth exploring if you get the chance!!
There are so many beautiful spots on the CT coast. I live in Boston and should definitely plan to check out some of these spots this coming summer.
It’s definitely worth taking a trip to explore Connecticut’s shoreline. I really need to explore more of Boston, there’s so much I want to see and do! I really want to try and do Boston Light this year.