Hammonassett State Park, Madison CT
Salt air, dewy mornings, and seafood within pedaling distance.
Hammonassett Beach State Park is a 918‑acre coastal escape in Madison, Connecticut. Its two‑mile sandy beach is just the beginning. What makes this place special for me: you can park your car at the campground and spend days exploring by bike, with great restaurants literally just outside the park gate.
🏖️ The Beach & The Vibe
The ocean is always within earshot. That means mornings are dewy — everything left out overnight gets soaked. But sunrise over the water? Worth it. The beach itself is classic Long Island Sound: calm waves, good for swimming, sunbathing, and beachcombing.
🏕️ Camping – What to Know
The campground is mostly open, with little shade. Fine for RVs with A/C, but tents can get very hot. Bring a fan — or try to snag one of the few shaded sites. There’s no easy way to know which sites have shade until you arrive, so plan accordingly.
Sunrise at the campground is awesome — and dewy. The ocean moisture means everything gets wet. Don’t leave anything out overnight.
🚴 Bike Rides & RideWithGPS Maps
This area is fantastic for biking. You can ride from the campground to the beach, to restaurants, and along scenic shoreline roads. Here’s a featured route:
More rides: On the RideWithGPS search page, change the town name to “Madison, CT” and add “SummerOf100Beaches” as the user. You’ll find my other routes.
🍽️ Food Within Pedaling Distance
What makes Hammonassett a true bike-and-beach destination: you can get by for days without using your car. These are all an easy bike ride (or walk) from the park entrance.
Cohen’s Bagels
¼ mile from park entrance. The perfect start to a beach day. Great bagels, breakfast sandwiches, and coffee.
Lenny & Joe’s Fish Tales
Classic Connecticut seafood. Their Rhode Island‑style chowder (clear broth) is excellent. One of the best swordfish steaks I’ve had on this whole journey.
Pho Madison
Vietnamese right across from the park. A welcome change after two days of beach food. No streets to cross.
Ashley’s Ice Cream
In the center of Madison (better to drive). Worth the trip for high‑quality ice cream.
📸 Photo Gallery – Hammonassett Moments
Scenes from the park: tidal waterways, sunsets, camp life, and the simple red chairs around a fire pit.
🎥 Video – Hammonassett by Bike & Beach
Watch more on The Summer of 100 Beaches YouTube channel.
First published May 2023. Updated for better browsing.