This is one of the best state parks in Connecticut. It has a very nice beach with a nature center. The sites are large enough that you aren't cramped in. Bathrooms were fine but we did not use them much. Mystic is about 45 minutes away and Guilford, the next town over, has a very pretty Town Green with an Old New England feel to it. There are some nice shops and boutiques in Guilford as well as the Town of Madison where the park is located. Outlet shopping is only 5-10 minutes away down I-95 also. We camped here in a Motorhome.
If you want a good place to stay withdecent prices then Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison CT is a great place to stay. They have Bathrooms, Boardwalk, Car Top Boat Launch, Concessions, Nature Center, Picnic Shelters, Picnic Tables, Showers, everything you need. We have 6 in our family and have always had a great time. For a State Park we recommend it! We camped here in a Tent.
This is a very nice park. The sites are really large and easy to access. The other campers were very friendly. The staff were helpful and friendly. It was a short walk to the beach from our site Nipmuck X, but it would be a hike from some others. The campground is clean and the showers were clean but didn't have shelving for your soap, etc in the shower. It did get hot without electricity for a/c but nonetheless we will definitely go back. It states that it doesn't allow over 35 feet campers but there were some very large rigs there, one huge motor home, easily over 40+ feet, and no one seemed to complain and they seemed to fit fine. Overall it's a great place! We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
Took the family to this park and had a wonderful, wonderful time. Even though we got the last site available, we had a fantastic site with shade!! We have already booked for July 4th 2008!!! Plan on going back again this year. Kids had a ball at the beach and the nature center which is free. We camped here in a Tent.
Loved this place. Roads are great for the kids to ride their bikes, scooters, rollerblade or whatever. This was our second time here and it won't be our last. Very windy...make sure you bring clips for table cloths. Showers were decent...not immaculate but not disgusting. We camped here in a Motorhome.
Review Rating
[ 7 / 10 ]
June 2007
$15
Great Park. Even though I am used to more trees when camping, it was very nice. We camped in a tent and it rained a lot, but we still had a pretty good time. Great beach for kids, not many waves. We camped here in a Tent Trailer.
We had a great time here! The camp ground was immaculate and the beach access was great. We only stayed two nights, we all wished we could have stayed longer. Most sites are Huge and you can find sites with shade over in the W & U loops. They even showed a movie on Saturday at the amphitheater. Reserve you site well in advance, they fill up quick. We will be staying here again. We camped here in a Motorhome.
This is a state park that is just beautiful. "Beach Road" is the best. The sites are very large and can fit any rig. Short walk to the ocean. Good paved roads and grass sites. You do need your own fire ring or can rent one. Camp fires are great. Located 2 exits from up- scale shopping. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
The two miles of beach is what sells this one! We went to sleep with the sound of the waves pounding at the beach which was just a short walk away. We had to get back on the road, but it looks like there is a lot to do here with a nature center that offers programs. The bathrooms would have been cleaner if someone had shut the doors at night. Everything was filled with bugs in the morning after they were attracted to the lights. There were also items left in the shower area ranging from clothes to beer bottles. The sites were big - you did not have any reason to be on top of your neighbors. In fact, there was room to set our pop-up sideways with the door opening to the beach area walkway, and was able to turn our van & camper by just making a U-turn. The kids had the opportunity to fish for small crabs on the beach and to see some bigger ones along the walkway just outside our tent. We only spent one night here, but all left wishing we could have spent two. We camped here in a Tent Trailer.
I have to echo previous review. Excellent place to dry camp. Our kids have a great time here every year. Although dry camping, water faucets are positioned between almost every other site, so it is real easy to fill water tank. You may need 100' of hose. Camp store has lots of snacks and very basic camping supplies, few RV supplies. There are RV dealers/repair garages in nearby towns. No ground fires allowed, you need to either bring a "portable fireplace" or rent one from the camp store. Excellent place to bike ride. Also, great access for kayaking on Long Island Sound. Reservations are recommended, holiday weekends are almost impossible to get a site without reservations. Security is 24/7, and visible. Campsites are huge. There are a very limited number of electric sites (like maybe 4 or 6), reserved for handicapped unless still open at the last minute. We camp here every year. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
If you're looking for a place with direct access to the ocean, this is it. Can't say enough about how nice this place is. No, there are no hookups, but it has spacious sites, a play area for the kids (and kids at heart) and, did I say, direct access to several miles of beach on Long Island Sound for fishing, swimming and just plain walking. There is also a nature center nearby, an interpretive trail through the sand dunes, a beautiful boardwalk. All in all, a great place for dry campers. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.