Established Camping
Rocky Neck State Park Campground
About
State Park
Situated along the scenic Connecticut coastline making great camping near New Haven, Rocky Neck State Park is a is a small recreation area that features white sand beaches, salt marshes, and the rocky remnants of Ice Age glaciers. The park is located about 1 hour southeast of Hartford, near the town of East Lyme, with a view across the sound of Fishers Island, Gardiners Island, and Long Island. The park showcases several examples of ancient glacial terrain, including rock scouring and polishing, potholes and erratic boulders. In some places, the overlying sediment has been completely eroded away to reveal interesting outcrops of banded granitic gneiss.
The campground at Rocky Neck offers 160 drive-in campsites for tent and RV campers. Visitors can choose from open, grassy sites and wooded, shady sites. Each site is equipped with picnic tables and fire rings, but RV hookups are not available. Sites can accommodate vehicles/trailers up to 35 feet; some sites are tent-only. Water faucets, restrooms, and trash/recycling receptacles are located throughout the campground; a dump station is located near the campground entrance. Dogs are not permitted in this park. Camping is available from May through September; sites are $20–$30/night; reservations accepted.
The main attraction at Rocky Neck is its wide, sandy beach, where visitors can lounge in the sun, or go for a dip in Long Island Sound. The park has several picnic areas for family and group gatherings, several miles of hiking trails for exploring the park’s salt marshes, waterways and natural features, and anglers can fish for saltwater bass, blackfish and flounder. Along the park’s western shore, the historic Ellie Mitchell Pavilion has concessions, and dining and lounging areas. The park also offers a variety of seasonal interpretive programs, guided hikes, wildlife viewing, and evening entertainment.
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Stay Connected
- WiFiUnknown
- VerizonGood
- AT&TGood
- T-MobileUnknown
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
- Cabins
- Tent Cabin
Features
For Campers
- Market
- ADA Access
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Showers
- Drinking Water
- Electric Hookups
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Sewer Hookups
- Water Hookups
- Big Rig Friendly
Tent camping
Had a wonderful time love the fact you can walk or drive to the beach at no additional cost the site itself is not very private but very spacious only draw back is you have to walk everything in you can’t even pull up and drop off have to park in parking lot and haul it in I was in site 1 shortest walk
Walking distance to beach!
We had a wonderful time camping 4 nights in August at the Osprey Loop. The campground is about 20 min. walk and 5 min. drive to the beach. There is no additional entrance fee to the beach. The Osprey loop has the most woodsy campsites. However, many are very rocky (punctured the floor of our tent even with an additional tarp) and oddly shaped so if you have multiple tents/screen houses, the the campsites at other loops are grassy with bigger size lots. Bathrooms are average in cleanliness. Firewood is available at check-in but there is no on-site camp store for last minute necessities. Grocery stores and many restaurants are about 15 min. away so it is very convenient. I highly recommend this park for an affordable beach vacation.
Pretty park, okay stay
Stayed one night at the end of the season. Park staff were very friendly and helpful. Stayed on an inner loop site at Heron and found it very difficult to back in my small trailer due to the alignment of the sites and other vehicles. Once we were parked and situated though, the site was fine. Partly shaded, level, picnic table and fire pit all in good condition. The loop is wide open, so no privacy between sites and they are quite close together. Bathroom was nearby and clean enough. The beach was a short ride away by bicycle which we enjoyed thoroughly. Overnight noise was an issue. Lots of cars coming and going. Overall enjoyable, just not as peaceful as I’d hoped.
Location
Rocky Neck State Park Campground is located in Connecticut
Address
244 West Main Street
Niantic, CT 06357
Coordinates
41.31552748 N
72.24186167 W