Rocky Neck State Park
Rocky Neck State Park
4
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
216 reviews
Excellent
89
Very good
75
Average
29
Poor
8
Terrible
15
frank
Fort Walton Beach, FL2 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
One of the worst campgounds we have been to. First the site was a mess, the last renters dinner (lobster shells) was left rotting in our firepit and there was debris all over the site. The bathrooms were a mess. Showers likely never cleaned. The firewood they sells is not dry and mostly just smokes. Add to that there is no privacy on interior sites and kids are left screaming and riding their bikes through everyones sites on the interior of the circles. Never once saw a ranger drive by.
Written August 23, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
brynulf
Jessheim, Norway2,038 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
Nice beach and grounds. Water is shallow. Pavilion is impressive with great views of the Long Island Sound. Lots of parking, changing facilities etc. price is steep for non Ct registered cars at 15-25$.
All in all a nice place.
All in all a nice place.
Written August 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Theresa C
Allendale, NJ813 contributions
Oct 2021
Rocky Neck State Park sits on the Long Island Sound in East Lyme, Connecticut is 710-acres between a salt marsh and a Tidal river. We stopped here on a road trip and spent a couple of hours hiking Rocky Neck's diverse trails with our dog. We saw many cranes and herons as we walked alongside the salt marsh. Then we headed towards the 4-mile river through meadows and woodlands. That trail climbed up to an overlook at Tony's Nose. We explored the pavilion and white sand beaches before heading back to the car.
Written October 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carol Ann J
Germantown, NY3,068 contributions
May 2022
Rocky Neck State Park is a beautiful park to spend an hour or an entire day. The sand in the beach area is clean and so soft. There is a grass area, and the most interesting rock formations at one end. This is a great spot for picnics too. This park is a great place to hang out with the whole family.
Written May 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pinkfig
Istanbul, Türkiye11 contributions
Sep 2020
It is a beautiful beach where green meets the blue! Best part for us was that there are picnic areas just above the beach with great scenery and fire-pans. And there is a large camping ground just behind the beach. Beach is very close and easy to reach from the parking area. There is an oceanfront boardwalk. Also, there are fee beach wheelchairs available.
It was very relaxing having a picnic watching over the kids playing and listening to the mixed sounds of waves, breeze, children and boats.
It was very relaxing having a picnic watching over the kids playing and listening to the mixed sounds of waves, breeze, children and boats.
Written September 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul K
Sheffield, MA1 contribution
Jul 2024 • Family
I have been coming here for years. We live in mass now. You can’t beat $30 a night. If you have OCD or have germ phobia and can’t stand to be around people not like you go to a resort or a hotel. That said I love it here. We have a pop up and a generator for our glammping. niantic has laundromats restaraunts and a great walkway. The beach is quiet midweek and packed on the weekends. It’s rich with diversity and we love it here.
Written July 17, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lesa
Jonesboro, AR4 contributions
Jun 2021 • Friends
We camped for the weekend and we were pleasantly surprised how beautiful the park was. The staff was friendly and helpful. It was crowded but it wasn’t annoying or anything. Lots of families enjoying time together and getting back to basics. It was refreshing to see so many kids riding their bikes and truly enjoying nature. The showers were clean and the water was hot and had great water pressure.I hope to visit again in the near future and stay longer.
Written June 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sunNfunLBs
Springfield, MA1 contribution
Jul 2011
We're a family from Western MA and have been going to this beach for a few years now. Most times, we tend to go during the week when it's less busy. The sand is soft and white, the waves are on the smaller side, and there's plenty of crabbing to be had, which keeps my boys busy all day. HOWEVER, on the weekends the atmosphere changes it's a total disastrous mess. The changing rooms and bathrooms are filthy, people are extremely inconsiderate with smoking on the beach and not disposing of their butts properly, the beautiful sand is often filled with butts and garbage on the weekends. We went this past weekend and I witnessed a huge fight between 3+ men, a crowd had gathered and circled the fight, cheering it on. My children and husband were fishing, so luckily they were not witness to it. On the way out, I swore never again would I go to this beach on the weekends. Such a terrible shame for such a beautiful place. CT DEP: clean up the riff raff and prohibit smoking on the beach! Rocky Neck needs police officers at the beach on the weekends!
Written July 27, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
16Gosnold02
Chicopee, MA17 contributions
Jun 2014 • Family
Accustomed to "Cape and Islands" vacations during my youth, when my wife suggested Rocky Neck State Park Beach in Connecticut - I was definitely a skeptic and completely clueless about the Connecticut shoreline. As it turned out, this beach became our beach - 5-6 day trips each summer for the past 15 years. Yes, we still go to the Cape -but at one hour and ten minutes from our home - Rocky Neck has always been a great beach day for us. Views of the eastern end Long Island - Orient Point, Plum Island, Gardiner's Bay along with frequent commuter and freight trains whizzing by have always contributed to the ambiance of this beach which always has been a family-friendly beach. My daughters have always loved the white, soft sand. Shallow water and lack of waves make this beach terrific for young children and infants. Among the many things I love about this beach is the fact that I get to listen to WLNG - an Oldies station from across the Sound in Sag Harbor - that has always added to my beach experience. On the downside, the water is not always the cleanest - it is Long Island Sound not Nantucket Sound. On the weekends - I have learned my lesson - too crowded I only go during weekdays - much cleaner and less crowded. Also, we always park on the left side at "East Beach" or "Lost Beach." It is quieter and restrooms are cleaner. We walk further along the boardwalk towards the middle of the beach where it is the less crowded - that almost always works even on the busiest of days. Parking on weekdays is inexpensive compared to other New England Beaches (15.00 versus 20.00) My girls are in high school now and family trips to the beach sadly are less and less frequent these days (just once this summer). I'm hoping that a young family will discover this "hidden gem" as I did back in 2000. And yes, that is a picture of me at Rocky Neck a few years back.
Written August 26, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tammyhumphrey59
Osterville, MA1 contribution
Jul 2011 • Couples
I found it very say to see all the cig butts on the beach and even in the water. My husband and I sat there on a beautiful day with the people next to us chain smoking and putting their butts in the sand. On our way down to the water, we noticed many butts all over the sand and even in the ocean....gross!!!! This should be a non-smoking beach!!! Get with it Connecticut!!!
Written July 10, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Would someone give me an idea of distance from tent only camping area to the beach? Is there a fee to get onto the beach if you're camping there? Thanks in advance!
Written June 29, 2020
Somebody told me that the ocean on this beach is warmer then on other surrounding beaches. Is that true?
Written July 20, 2019
check for yourself at, websites that list sea temperatures, current Niantic water temp is 67, Mystic is 65.6, Groton is 65.2, so a bit , warmer. they would have flags out if the water was unsafe to swim in, the DEEP takes water samples every week or even 2X a week at local beaches.
Written July 21, 2019
I saw many people bring small propane canisters and propane tank for connection to their gas burner/stove for cooking purpose.
Written July 4, 2019
Connecticut state parks have free admission for vehicles with CT license plates because the vehicle license plate fees automatically include state park maintenance fees. Out of state vehicles pay $7-$22/pay depending upon the day and time you enter the park. It costs less on weekdays than it does on weekends. It also costs less after 4pm than it does for early morning entry. Check out the Rocky Neck State Park website for specific days and times that you are interested in. It is a nice park with decent facilities and is worth a visit. They also have camping if you desire.
Written June 26, 2019
Are there bathrooms in the cabins?
Written August 29, 2017
I am not familiar with the cabins. Sorry.
Written August 29, 2017
not that I know of. they sells snacks and drinks abd have showers. But never seen umbrella rentals
Written August 18, 2017
Don't think so if there are no lifeguards.
Written August 6, 2017
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