Connecticut
Rocky Neck State Park
156 sites·$20–$70/night
76% booked on peak weekends
We scan this campground regularly and alert you when a site opens up.
76% booked on peak weekends
We scan this campground regularly and alert you when a site opens up.
Loading...
700-acre Rocky Neck State Park features 1/2 mile of crescent-shaped sandy beach. Rocky Neck's varied terrain offers something for everyone. Clear waters and the stone-free beach with expanses of white sand make it ideal for swimming. Diverse trails within the park provide easy and interesting walks to the scenic salt marsh and to such points of interest as Baker's Cave, Tony's Nose and Shipyard. Picnickers enjoy the large stone pavilion. Bounded on the west by a tidal river and to the east by a broad salt marsh, Rocky Neck was known to both Indians and colonists as a place of abundant fish and wildlife, and today, the large marine estuary that bisects the park provides saltwater fishing opportunities, and high spring tides allow schools of alewives (herring) to swim into Bride Brook, toward inland spawning grounds. Osprey, cranes, and herons wade among cattails and rose mallow, and fishermen may catch mackerel, striped bass, blackfish, or flounder.
Location: Located on Long Island Sound in the town of East Lyme, 710-acre Rocky Neck is a popular recreation spot. The public now enjoys use of the park because of a few farsighted conservationists who secured the land in 1931, using their personal funds until the State Legislature authorized its purchase. In the 1930's, relief agencies constructed the curved masonry building of native materials and crafted supporting pillars with wood cut from each of the state parks and forests.
Recreation: There are 5 miles of hiking trails on the western side of the park, as well as ocean-side picnic areas. Other activities include a wildlife viewing platform, interpretive programs, scuba diving, saltwater swimming and fishing, cross-country skiing, mountain biking, rollerblading, and camping.
Nearby: Nearby attractions include Bluff Point State Park and Coastal Reserve, Devil's Hopyard State Park, Haley Farm State Park, Hammonasset Beach State Park, and Harkness Memorial State Park.
You can now make a reservation for the day before your arrival and up until 11 months in advance. If you make your reservation within 3 days of your arrival you can book a 1 night stay. The maximum length of stay is twenty-one consecutive days at this campground. Between stays of any length, all campers, including all occupants of the site, as well as all camping equipment, must leave the campground for 5 days. Leaving camping equipment (i.e. campers, RVs, etc,) at state campgrounds for back-to-back reservations is not permitted, even if used by different occupants. During this mandatory five-day interim period, all camping equipment must be removed from the campground, and may not be transferred to other sites to be used by other occupants. All occupants must also leave the park for five days and may not stay on other sites within the campground during this time. Any reservation with a departure date that is more than 11 months from today cannot be changed or cancelled for 18 days after the reservation was made for an inland campground and 25 days for sites at Hammonasset and Rocky Neck. In an effort to protect Connecticut's forests from the introduction and spread of destructive insect pests - in particular the emerald ash borer and Asian long-horned beetle - the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is taking the following action: Prohibiting the bringing of firewood into state of Connecticut campgrounds and state parks from other states. As an alternative, firewood can be either purchased at the camp stores within the state campgrounds or at local retail sellers of firewood. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection greatly appreciates the public's assistance in helping to protect the state's natural resources and apologizes for any inconvenience this initiative may cause. PETS ARE NOT PERMITTED AT THIS CAMPGROUND. Additional information can be found at the following address: www.friendsctstateparks.org/FCSP/Welcome.htm Explore the natural and cultural histories of Connecticut State Parks and Forests through interpretation! Interpretive events are listed on the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection's website. Take a hike, meet a snake, learn about forest heroes, and more! Follow this link to the DEEP's Calendar of Events: www.depdata.ct.gov/calendar/listevs.asp?selecttype=all. Once there, search for this park/forest and then join a program. Additional programs may be offered, so be sure to check with the campground staff. For additional information please call the DEEP Division of State Parks at 860-424-3200. Find interpretive programs: www.depdata.ct.gov/calendar/