With a half-mile of soft sand shoreline, Ocean Beach Park in New London is a great family beach location for people of all ages and is one of the best beaches in Connecticut. The Olympic-sized swimming pool has a changing area and token-operated lockers that anyone can use if they don't want to get salty. Up to five people per vehicle must pay the parking fee to enter the park, and there is also a per-person walk-in rate. This provides access to all of the amenities, including the beach, pool, nature walks, picnic area, children's playground, and spray park for children under the age of eight.

A triple waterslide for all ages and an 18-hole mini-golf is available at an extra cost. The park also offers a wide variety of token-operated attractions, such as family-friendly rides like the Scrambler and kiddie rides like the Bumble-Bee Flyer. Additionally, there is a sizable arcade with age-old games like pinball and skeeball. Along with a gift shop that sells anything from sunscreen to memento towels, there is also an ice cream shop, a full-service restaurant, and a place for quick eats. Additionally, Ocean Beach Park often features live performances on the Boardwalk Stage and holds weekly activities including an antique car night, magic performances, and even sock hops. The park season, which runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day, has special events.

Address: 98 Neptune Ave, New London, Connecticut

TripAdvisor rating: 3.5/5.0

With a two-mile run along the shore of Long Island Sound, the beach at Hammonasset State Park is the longest in the entire state. A significant portion of the beach is surrounded by a boardwalk, and there is a fine concession stand with tables and shade on hot days. While not permitted on the beach, dogs are permitted in the picnic area. There is a designated car-top boat launch spot for kayakers. Visitors should make a point of checking out the events at the Meigs Point Nature Center, which provides numerous daily and monthly activities and programs for people of all ages. Nature walks on a variety of subjects, such as beach and dune ecology, ocean birds, and native plant identification, are part of the daily programming. Children can play in the center's touch tank, and there is also a presentation on the local turtles.

The Hammonasset Safari, canoe outings, NSI (Nature Scene Investigators), and Nature Ninjas, a program that examines environmental awareness and conservation methods, are among the weekly programs available. The indoor exhibits of the nature center are open all year round, although they have fewer hours during the winter. The seasonal parking fee includes access to the park, nature center, and beach.

The state park offers more than 500 campsites, or you may unwind at Hilton's Madison Beach Hotel, a regal structure with balconies on every floor. The hotel features beach access and has a range of services, including a full-service spa, a fitness center, and bicycle rentals.

Address: 1288 Boston Post Road, Madison, Connecticut

Google rating: 4.5/5.0

With its extensive amenities and three-quarters of a mile of shoreline, Calf Pasture is a great place to spend the day at the beach. The parking price is considerably lower if you arrive after 5 o'clock than it is at many other comparable beach parks. Beach volleyball nets, a baseball/softball field, a bocce court, and hiking paths are some of the recreational amenities available. On the grounds, there is a skate park, a playground, and a kiddie splash pad.

There is a sailing school that offers boating safety classes and leases sailboats and kayaks, in addition to a beach access dock for tourists who are on the sea. Concessions, a full-service, informal restaurant with views of the beach, and Calfe Mu, with ice cream and cold drinks, are among the park's features.

Throughout the summer, Calf Pasture Beach hosts special events like live music performances by renowned regional swing band The Fairfield Counts and classic vehicle displays. The Hotel Zero Degrees Norwalk in downtown Norwalk includes family rooms and a pleasant rooftop patio with games like enormous chess and ping-pong if you want to spend the night.

Address: Calf Pasture Beach Road, Norwalk, Connecticut

TripAdvisor rating: 4.0/5.0

Compo Beach is a portion of a 29-acre park that borders the Saugatuck River and faces Long Island Sound and is one of the best beaches in Connecticut. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, lifeguards are on duty from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. There is a parking fee that doubles as an entrance cost during this period. On-site amenities include a well-stocked refreshment stand, restrooms, and lockers.

The beach features a boardwalk, a pavilion, two beach volleyball courts, two illuminated basketball courts, and a softball field, among other recreational amenities. The playground will be appreciated by families with younger children, and older children can enjoy the skate park and open skating areas.

Compo Beach doesn't have any beachfront hotels, although the Delamar Southport is nearby and conveniently situated near the Southport Train Station. This beautiful, pet-friendly hotel has a variety of rooms and suites in addition to opulent extras and services like on-site child care.

Address: 60 Compo Beach Road, Westport, Connecticut

Google rating: 4.2/5.0

In the old town of Old Saybrook, Harvey's Beach is located on a shoreline of 100 yards. It is well-known for its gentle sand slope and abundance of shallow, safe water for beginning swimmers. This beach is a fantastic option for families on a budget because it also boasts surprisingly affordable parking rates. During the summer, there are lifeguards on duty, along with numerous comforts like a bathroom and bathhouse with an outdoor foot-rinsing station. A beach playground, a concession stand, and picnic tables are also present. The neighborhood recreation department offers a number of summertime activities, such as beach yoga, sandbar walks, summer movie evenings, and an annual event for the appraisal and sale of antiques.

The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, a restored theater named for the well-known actress who was born here, is one of numerous structures in the town of Old Saybrook that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The General William Hart House & Museum and the Fort Saybrook Monument Park are two additional points of interest in the area. Off the coast, visitors can also take boat trips and charters. The Saybrook Point Inn & Spa is a fantastic choice for a top-notch lodging option, offering a shore view, an on-site spa, and amenities including a pool and hot tub, as well as a shuttle bus to nearby tourist destinations. Pets are allowed for those who never leave their four-legged buddies behind.

Location: Route 154, Old Saybrook Connecticut

Google rating: 4.3/5.0

Jennings Beach is conveniently located just off Interstate 95 and is accessible to anyone unfamiliar with the area. The cost of parking is substantially lower on weekdays, and if you arrive in plenty of time on popular days, there are generally plenty of spaces available. The staff provide swimming instruction in addition to having lifeguards on duty during the summer. The South Benson Boat Marina is close to the shore as well.

The path leading to the jetty is wheelchair accessible and contains benches for relaxing and taking in the scenery. Throughout the summer, there is a pavilion where you can enjoy unique events, such as family dance evenings and movie nights. Kids will enjoy playing in the "Sand Castle Playground" that is close to the beach, and there is a public skate park nearby as well. The Circle Hotel Fairfield has an outdoor pool, free breakfast, a terrace with a large chess set, and is near to the beach and local food options.

Address: 880 S Benson Road, Fairfield, Connecticut

Google rating: 4.5/5.0

Sherwood Island State Park is a wonderful beach that is a part of the Connecticut state park system. It is renowned for its amazing three-color sand. Along with the typical creamy tan, there is also garnet, the state mineral, which gives the sand its red hue, as well as magnetite, which gives the sand its black color. The minerals split as the tide comes in and goes out, leaving behind stunning colored stripes in the sand.

The 235-acre park's 235 acres are made up of sandy shores, marsh regions, and forests. A salt marsh with an observation deck and shady oak trees with walking trails and picnic tables may be found on the park's western edge. The Tidal Marsh Nature Trail and a sizable open area that's popular for model airplane flying are also to the east. Kite flying, bird watching, and volleyball courts are among the other activities available. Saltwater fishing is permitted in non-swimming sections along the shore.

The park is also home to a nature center that features a number of displays about the distinctive flora and fauna of Long Island Sound and is open during specific times of the year. In addition to summertime nature walks and outdoor activities, the nature center hosts informative talks and demonstrations, including live animal exhibitions and special family events. A few miles from Sherwood Island, the four-star Delamar Southport has free breakfast, kids' activities, babysitting, and an on-site spa.

Address: Sherwood Island Connector, Westport, Connecticut

Google rating: 4.5/5.0

Due to its sandbar access to Charles Island, Silver Sands is a distinctive location that attracts treasure hunters and nature enthusiasts. The "thrice cursed island" got its name because, according to folklore, Captain Kidd hid his final loot here before cursing the place and leaving for Boston, where he was apprehended and put to death. A 19th-century resort's ruins and a chapel from a 1930s religious retreat can both be found on the island.

Many seabirds use the island as a nesting ground today. You can approach it to see the shore throughout the months of May through August, but it is a protected nature preserve and is not open to visitors during those months. The sandbar is a half-mile long, so plan appropriately and give yourself plenty of time to get back before the tide starts to come in. Visitors who want to walk out to the island should be wary of the tides, which rise swiftly and can soon become very dangerous.

There is no parking fee, and the beach itself has a three-quarter-mile wooden boardwalk. Every day from Wednesday to Sunday, lifeguards are on duty. The Residence Inn Milford features suites with full kitchens, complimentary breakfast, self-serve laundry rooms, and a pool, in addition to its other amenities.

Address: 1 Silver Sands Parkway, Milford, Connecticut

Google rating: 4.5/5.0

Smooth, soft sand covers the beach at Rocky Neck State Park, and the back of the beach is bordered by a boardwalk. It is one of the best beaches in Connecticut. There are amenities on West Beach, including a sizable concession area, a bathhouse with showers and facilities, and even a bike rack for riders. This 710-acre park has a salt marsh, miles of hiking paths, campgrounds, and fishing spots. The marsh is equipped with specific viewing areas where you can catch a glimpse of cranes, herons, and osprey.

The park also features a sizable fireplace-equipped cobblestone pavilion and a 300-person capacity second floor space. There are several conventional picnic tables available for public use without a reservation, and picnic shelters can be leased for smaller groups. In Old Lyme, close to Niantic, there is a charming B&B called The Bee and Thistle Inn and Lounge. Yoga and fitness programs, bicycle rentals, and on-site spa services are available as property amenities.

Address: 244 W. Main Street, Niantic, Connecticut

Google rating: 4.5/5.0

A sandy beach with views of Long Island Sound facing Clinton Harbor's entrance. At high tide, enjoy the beach; at low tide, stroll out to the sandbar. Sea kayaks may be accessed from a cartop area, and a walkway off an old stone bridge that spans the Hammock River can be used for fishing. Restrooms and food stands are open during certain seasons.

Beach passes are necessary between Memorial Day and Labor Day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Beach passes are required to visit the town beach during the designated season (starting the third weekend in June through Labor Day). Everyday, weather permitting, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., a gatekeeper is on duty. You can purchase passes from the gatekeeper.

Family-friendly amenities at Clinton Town Beach include a fenced playground with playthings for children of all ages, as well as splash pads, basketball, volleyball, and bocce courts. The beach is best visited at high tide for swimming or low tide for exploring the wide sand bars. It is open from the third weekend in June through Labor Day. There are amenities like a sizable, covered picnic area and dog-friendly hiking routes. The town of Clinton is home to well-known outlet malls and inviting lodgings like the Tidewater Inn, a budget hotel that provides free breakfast and drinks before supper.

Address: 96 Waterside Lane, Clinton, Connecticut

Google rating: 4.5/5.0

The beach at McCook's Point Park in East Lyme is called "Hole in the Wall" because it has a tunnel entrance that is located beneath the railroad tracks. It is one of the best beaches in Connecticut. If you plan to spend the day visiting the area, you can park here since it is where the Niantic Bay Boardwalk entrance begins. This beach is ideal for families with young children as it is smaller in size. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, lifeguards are on duty, and there are convenient foot showers by the restroom for quick cleanup.

It takes only a few minutes to walk to both the Gumdrops and Lollipops confectionery shop for those with a sweet tooth and the Ice Cream Diner for a noon refreshment. Another nearby attraction that provides a wonderful shady option on very hot days is the Niantic Children's Museum, which is only a block from the beach. The museum offers interactive exhibits and play sessions with educational components for children aged nine months to nine years.

Address: 4 Baptist Lane, Niantic, Connecticut

Google rating: 4.7/5.0

One of the best examples of an intact dune system in the state is seen at Waterford Beach Park's quarter-mile long sandy beach. The beach provides fantastic views of Long Island Sound's tidal marshes as well. During the summer, there are lifeguards on duty, as well as a picnic area, restrooms, and footpaths. In non-swimming areas, shore fishing is also permitted, and neighboring tennis courts are owned by the town. Non-residents can obtain day-use passes at the gate, but if they plan to park at the beach on the weekends, they should get there early.

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, which houses innovative drama productions and a theater school, is located right next to the beach. Harkness Memorial State Park, another popular destination nearby, has a sandy beach where visitors can unwind and fly kites, but swimming is not permitted. Eolia Mansion, a 42-room residence constructed in the Roman Renaissance Revival style, is also located inside the park; it is open for visitors on the weekends during the summer. The Rodeway Inn Waterford, a nearby lodging option, has comforts including complimentary breakfast, a pool, self-serve laundry, and a refrigerator and microwave in each room.

Address: 317 Great Neck Road, Waterford, Connecticut

Google rating: 4.5/5.0