Hammonasset Beach State ParkMadison, CT

Visibility is an estimate — wind, rain, tide & water alerts.

Getting in

Shore access, walk in off the sand

Snorkeling

Not a shore snorkel; reached by boat

Best conditions

The park's own page describes the waves here as generally calm.

Getting through the gate

Connecticut-registered vehicles park free year-round under the state's Passport to the Parks program. Out-of-state vehicles pay $22 on weekends and holidays, $15 on weekdays, and $7 after 4 p.m., or $112 for a season pass. The park is open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset, and stays open 24 hours for camping or fishing from Memorial Day through Columbus Day. Lifeguards are on duty in the peak summer season, with coverage depending on the day, time and staffing. The park's own swimming rules ban snorkels in the designated swimming area.

Protection

A Connecticut state park administered by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).

On site

restrooms, lifeguard on duty, parking lot

Watch for

DEEP tests the swimming area's water weekly, posting results from Memorial Day through Labor Day on its water quality report page, and the park's swimming guidance warns that murky water can signal a blue-green algae bloom

Checked 2026-08-28. Sources: CT DEEP: Hammonasset Beach State Park, CT State Parks: Swimming, CT DEEP: Shore Fishing in Coastal State Parks, CT State Parks: park passes, CT State Parks: swimming area water quality report.