Meet Hammonassett
Hammonassett Beach State Park is a picturesque coastal retreat located in Madison, Connecticut. Stretching across 918 acres, this state park offers a stunning blend of natural beauty, diverse ecosystems, and recreational opportunities. The park’s centerpiece is its two-mile-long sandy beach, which provides a perfect setting for swimming, sunbathing, and beachcombing.
The Campground
The campground itself is mostly wide open without shade. Not a problem for RVs with A/C but a tent will get very hot. A fan of some sort is needed but better to choose one of the few sites that does have shade. If you haven’t been there before there’s no real way of figuring out which sites have shade.
Sunrise at the campground is awesome and it reveals that a lot of dew has accumulated. The ocean is within earshot and with that comes a lot of moisture. Everything gets wet and you can’t leave anything out over night.
Bike Rides
Here’s a nice little bike ride. Has everything in beach riding. Views, beaches, food breaks, and good exercise. This can be downloaded to the RideWithGPS app on your mobile device. More maps will be posted at the end of this page.
I have a few other rides published to RideWithGPS site for this area. Here’s how to find them. Go to the Ride with GPS search page and fill in the search fields accordingly.
Photo Highlights
One of the great things about Hammonassett is that there’s a few good restaurants just outside the main gate. Easy bike riding. My favorite for a breakfast is Cohen’s Bagels. For lunch or dinner it’s Lenny & Joe’s for seafood and “beach food”. Pho Madison is a great Vietnamese restaurant. There’s a few more as well.
Videos
View more videos on The Summer of 100 Beaches YouTube channel. Click here: https://www.youtube.com/@SummerOf100Beaches
Food
What makes this destination a good one is that it’s possible you could get by for a few days without using your car. There are good places to eat very nearby. Walking distance for some.
Clockwise from top left:
- Cohen’s Bagels. Within 1/4 mile of the park entrance. Great place to start the day.
- Lenny & Joe’s Fish Tales. Almost across the street from the park entrance. A legitimate and classic seafood restaurant. They serve the “Rhode Island” style of chowder which has little or no cream. One of the best swordfish steak dinners in The Summer of 100 Beaches.
- Pho Madison. You can walk there, no streets to cross. Very good Vietnamese food which is better appreciated after a couple of days of beach food.
- Ashley’s Ice Cream. In the center of Madison. Probably best to drive but worth the quality in ice cream.