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Nearby Parks: Chatfield Hollow State Park Higganum Reservoir State Park George Dudley Seymour State Park Haddam Meadows State Park Haddam Island State Park Selden Neck State Park Gillette Castle State Park Millers Pond State Park Brainard Homestead State Park Rocky Neck State Park Trimountain State Park Durman Meadows State Wildlife Area Orient Beach State Park Devils Hopyard State Park Wharton Brook State Park Nehantic State Forest Quinnipiac River State Park Sleeping Giant State Park
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| State Park Overview: |
 | A visit to Hammonasset Beach State Park, is more than just another day at the beach. Connecticut's largest shoreline park offers over 2 miles of beach to enjoy swimming, strolling along the boardwalk, or just relaxing in the sun and surf. |
| Reviews By Park Visitors: |
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Great for the kids to ride their bikes!
All campsites are on circular roads, which is nice for the kids to ride their bikes securely. Bathrooms are very clean for showers, camp store right next to beach!
Luv it!!!!!!!!!!!
Trailers have more than enough room for optional kitchen tents to set up.
Written by Cheffrito
28-May-2008
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(name not given)
15-Jun-2008
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| History of the Area: |
| "Hammonasset" means, "where we dig holes in the ground" and refers to the place where a settlement of eastern woodland Indians farmed along the Hammonasset River. They subsisted on corn, beans, and squash, and by fishing and hunting. The first colonists arrived in 1639. Property changed hands frequently between Native Americans and the first colonists.
In 1898 the Winchester Repeating Arms Company bought Hammonasset and used it as a testing site for their new rifle. Their Lee Straight Pull rifle was mounted on a horse drawn stone boat, from which it was fired into targets on the beach.On July 18, 1920, Hammonasset Beach State Park was opened to the public. The first season attracted over 75,000 visitors. The park's reputation drew tourists from across the continent as well as the state.
During World War II the park was closed to the public and loaned to the federal government as an army reservation. Meigs Point functioned as an aircraft range. Planes flew over Clinton Harbor, fired at the range and then flew out over Long Island Sound.
The stone breakwater at the Meigs Point end of the park was built in 1955. The stones were brought in by truck from quarries in northern New England.
Today, over one million people come annually enjoy to Hammonasset Beach State Park. |
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| Area Accommodations |
|  | Copper Beech Inn - Ivoryton, CT 'BEST COUNTRY INN' - Connecticut Magazine, September, 2003
A Beautiful Restored Turn-of-the-Century Inn with 13-Rooms and A
Top-Rated AAA Four-Diamond Restaurant. One mile From Main Street Essex Price Range: $184 - $375 Web Site: http://www.copperbeechinn.com |
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|  | Advertise your park related business on stateparks.com
...vacation cabin, weekend getaway, log cabin rental, romantic cottage, vacation home, resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, country inn, campground, RV park, horseback riding stable, canoe livery, river rafting, outfitting, sporting goods store, guide service, RV rental, etc read more.... |
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| Related Links: |
 | Home Page - Free Web space and hosting - freehomepage.com HAMMONASSET STATE PARK Home Page About Page Photo Page Contact Page Favorite Links ... Favorite Links Welcome to Hammonasset State Park Beach My name ... |  | Kite Event Dates & Locations - ConnectiKITERS Kite Club - Kite Event Dates & Locations - ConnectiKITERS Kite Club - We fly kites in Connecticut ~Just for the ... Rokkaku Fly - 1:00 PM Hammonasset State Park, Madison, CT - Directions July 12 ... |  | Bird Checklists of the United States - Bird Checklists of the United States Birds of Hammonasset State Park Madison, Connecticut S - Spring - March, April, May s ... Nature Center at Hammonasset State Park. (Version 02MAR00) For ... |  | Bird Checklists of the United States - ... Connecticut State Bird Checklist (Maintained by Jim Bair) East Rock Park -- New Haven, CT Hammonasset State Park -- Madison, CT Return to Bird Checklists of the United States Northern Prairie ... |  | Connecticut River Valley Shoreline Visitors Council - Representing Connecticut lodging, attractions, recreation and shopping in twenty charming towns in ... swimming or just beach bumming at Hammonasset State Park. Like music? There's The Great Connecticut ... |  | Biodiversity Project - ... as Part of Biodiversity Project at Willard's Island, Hammonasset State Park Denise and Hank Trufan, David Houston, and Dick Regan ... at Willard's Island at Hammonasset State Park. This is one of ... |  | Menunkatuck Audubon - ... are actively involved in MAS's major project to enhance the wildlife habitat at Hammonasset State Park. MAS supports local Land Trusts as well as such endeavors as the Faulkner Island Tern ... |  | Welcome to Madison, Connecticut - ... 2003 Activities and Events Health Department Web Release Madison Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Hammonasset State Park Saturday, October 4th, 2003 2003 - 2004 Shoreline Schedule for Flu and Pneumonia ... |  | CT State Parks and Forests - Hiking and Camping Maps - Links to hiking and camping maps for Connecticut's State Parks and Forests ... Meadows State Park Haley Farm State Park (452 K) Hammonasset State Park and Campground (427 K) (450 K) Harkness Memorial ... |
| Area Attractions: |
| Meigs Point Nature CenterThe Meigs Point Nature Center offers programs and activities for park visitors during the summer season. The Center is normally open from late June to Labor Day Weekend, Tuesday ? Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For information on programs, please contact staff at (203) 245-8743. To visit the Nature Center, bear to the left at the access road rotary, go halfway around the rotary and follow the signs toward Meigs Point. The Center is on the left across from the Meigs Point bathhouse. Parking is available near the building.
Please note that the Nature Center telephone number is seasonal. After Labor Day Weekend, calls should be directed to the main park number, (203) 245-2785. |
| Area Campgrounds | | River Dale Farm Camp Site 111 River Rd Clinton, CT (860) 669-5388

| Camp Niantic by the Atlantic 271 W Main St Niantic, CT (860) 739-9308

| Aces High RV Park 301 Chesterfield Rd East Lyme, CT (860) 739-8858

| Wolf's Den Cooperative Campground 256 Town St East Haddam, CT (860) 873-9681

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| Directions: |
| From the north/Hartford area: take I-91 south to Route 9 south. Off Route 9, take Exit 9. Turn right (south) onto Route 81; continue down Route 81 until you run into I-95. Turn right onto I-95 entrance ramp and go approximately 1 mile to Exit 62, then turn left off the exit. Head south 1 mile down Hammonasset connector, go straight through the light crossing Route 1 (Boston Post Road) into the park.
From the south area: take I-95 north, Exit 62. Take a right off the exit ramp onto Hammonasset I-95 connector. Park entrance will be 1 mile ahead.
From the east/Rhode Island area: take I-395 south onto I-95 south, Exit 62. Take a left off the exit and go approximately 1 mile. Go straight through the traffic light crossing Route 1 (Boston Post Road).
From the west/New York area: take I-95 north, Exit 62. Take a right off the exit and go approximately 1 mile. Go straight through the traffic light crossing Route 1 (Boston Post Road) into the park. |
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