Rocky Neck State Park - The Summer Of 100 Beaches

Rocky Neck State Park, Niantic, Connecticut

Real earth camping, a hidden gem seaside village, and a beach that fills up fast.

Three trips to Rocky Neck in 2021. One rainout, two absolutely worth it. This page combines the best of all three visits — from pitching my tent on actual soil (not gravel) to discovering Niantic as a charming coastal village. And yes, the beach gets painfully crowded. But get there early, bring a bike, and you’ll understand why I kept coming back.

🏖️ The Beach – Rocky Neck State Park

Rocky Neck’s crescent‑shaped sandy beach is the centerpiece. It’s groomed every morning. It’s also narrow and gets very crowded — to the point where they close the park. Weekends are brutal. The 4th of July weekend is peak madness.

My strategy: Arrive early, go for a bike ride through the salt marsh, then come back for a refreshing swim. The water is clean, the views are classic Long Island Sound, and the beach itself is a short bike ride from the campground (less than a mile).

Early morning at Rocky Neck – you’ll have the beach to yourself.

Footprints in the sand – mine. The beach is well maintained.

🏕️ Camping – Real Earth, Not Gravel

This is some of the best tent camping I’ve experienced. Why? Because you pitch your tent into actual soil, not a gravel‑based, landscaped tent pad like you find at private campgrounds. That’s great for campers but terrible for a tent.

The campground is mostly open, green meadow‑like fields. Sites are well organized, facilities are good. And the best part: you’re basically on the beach. I was in the water by 8:00am each morning.

Great camping conditions at Rocky Neck – real earth, no gravel pads.

The bike ride from campground to beach goes right through a salt marsh wildlife habitat. Beautiful and flat — the best part of the day.

Egrets hunting for food in the salt marsh along the bike route.

🚴 Biking – Hills, Narrow Roads, and a Salt Marsh Ride

Connecticut has hills — more than I expected. Even half a mile inland, you’re either going up or down. The shoreline roads are often tight, with no shoulder. But local cyclists are out there anyway.

I use RideWithGPS to plan routes. Below is one of my saved rides. You can also find more on my RideWithGPS account (search for “SummerOf100Beaches”). A particularly good one goes from Niantic to New London.

🎥 Video – Rocky Neck Bike Tour

Rocky Neck State Park bike tour – salt marsh, beach, and campground.

🏘️ Niantic – A Hidden Gem Seaside Village

I found Niantic, CT to be a genuine hidden gem. It’s a charming coastal village within East Lyme, with a quaint downtown of shops, restaurants, and cafes. The Niantic Bay Boardwalk offers a scenic waterfront walk.

Niantic village waterfront – peaceful and picturesque.

Nearby Beaches

Niantic is known for McCook’s Beach and Hole‑in‑the‑Wall Beach. I also stopped by White Sands Beach (semi‑private — no parking for non‑residents during beach season) and Hawks Nest Beach Resort (crowded, small, not for me). Since I’m on a bike, I go where I want.

🍽️ Food – Niantic’s Best Bites

You’ll have to drive or bike a bit to get to restaurants. I go straight into Niantic. Quite a few options.

Giuliano’s Bakery

Great for breakfast. Coffee and a bagel with cream cheese. Then drive down the street to Skipper’s for the view.

Skipper’s

Good “beach food” – fried clams, chowder, casual. I chase seagulls away from the morning bread delivery. A train always goes by at least once.

🌧️ Rainy Day Option – Mystic Seaport

If the weather turns, Mystic Seaport is an outstanding half‑day activity. It’s located in Mystic, CT, a picturesque New England seacoast village about 15 minutes east of Niantic. Lots to see and do indoors and out.

Mystic Seaport – perfect for a rainy beach day.

📸 Photo Gallery – Rocky Neck & Niantic Moments

Scenes from my three trips: the beach at sunrise, the campground meadow, salt marsh wildlife, and Niantic’s waterfront.

First published June 2021. Updated for better browsing.