Hammonasset State Park
Description
Hammonasset Beach State Park offers a unique combination of coastal views, boardwalk strolls, marsh paths, and woodland trails, all set alongside Connecticut’s longest public beach. Hikers can explore the 3.8-mile shoreline walk, the nature-rich Willard’s Island Trail, and other scenic paths near Meigs Point. The landscape shifts from open views of Long Island Sound to quiet marshes, tidal creeks, and shaded forest edges. Birds, crabs, and shore-loving plants are everywhere, especially near the estuaries. Whether you're walking on sand or through salt marsh, the experience blends nature, breeze, and water in one of the state’s most visited parks.
Trail Map
Map Credit: DEEP
Difficulty
Lots of the park is made up of wide paved pathways which are flat and easy. For the hiking section the trail are pretty flat, but they can be a little narrow and have some tree roots. The beach is flat and has lots of easy access points.
Easy
History
The name “Hammonasset” comes from the Hammonasset people, an Algonquian-speaking Indigenous tribe that lived in this coastal area long before colonists arrived. They used the land for fishing, hunting, and gathering, especially during warmer months when seafood and shellfish were abundant. Shell middens—ancient piles of oyster and clam shells—have been found along the shoreline, showing how long this land has been used. The tribe’s connection to the water and land lives on in the name and spirit of the park.
Image Credit: New Haven Register
1950s Post Card (Post WWII)
Image Credit: The Jumping Frog
During World War II, the park was temporarily closed to the public and repurposed by the U.S. military. It became the site of a large Army campground known as Camp Hammonasset, where soldiers trained before deployment. Some concrete foundations and remnants from this time still exist hidden within the park’s overgrown areas. After the war, the land was returned to the state, and the park reopened for public use in the late 1940s. This chapter adds a layer of military history to a place now known for peace and recreation.
Hammonasset Beach State Park officially opened in 1920 and quickly became one of Connecticut’s most popular summer destinations. Thousands of visitors came by car and train to enjoy the beach, and early photos show bathhouses, pavilions, and boardwalks packed with families. Over time, the park grew to include a campground, walking trails, and the Meigs Point Nature Center. Today, it attracts over three million visitors a year, making it both a historic site and a living part of Connecticut’s outdoor culture.
1950s Post Card
Image Credit: eBay
Pictures
