Rocky Neck State Park, Niantic

We camped in a trailer with two older kids. This is a great campground with large campsites, most are grassy (some are wooded). There are no hookups on any of the sites. The only negative I can say is our site was in an open grassy area near the bathrooms, people kept walking through our site to go to the bathroom. The bathrooms were pretty clean and the showers were free (and hot). There is a dump station so we were able to use the bathroom in our trailer too. You definitely need a bike, the walk to the beach is a bit long although it is a nice scenic trail along the marshy area. You can drive around to go to the beach if you want. We also visited the Book Barn down the street and I highly recommend going there.

The cost for a campsite was reasonable. The campsites were not cramped at all...there's a lot of open space for kids to run around and play frisbee, volleyball, badminton, etc. It's safe for bikes and scooters. The bathrooms were clean, and stocked with supplies - they were actually cleaner than some private campgrounds we've stayed at. The beach was nice, and although the water was a little cold, it was shallow enough to provide a safe area for children. Concession stand was a little pricey (i.e., $3.00 for a corn dog), but it was convenient if you needed a drink or something to eat and did not bring anything with you. There are plenty of picnic tables near the pavilion for table top grills, as well as adjacent to the beach and within the parking area. The only disappointment was the posted notices on the bathroom doors advertising activities at the Nature Center...we went to one activity and no staff showed up so we left and didn't check out anything else that was advertised. But there's plenty to do without organized events, anyway. All in all, a great experience!

loved the beach, the boardwalk, the house and the rock climing. everything is awesome, the food is just a little expensive there. i also love the camp site there.

I grew up with vacations on Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard and was skeptical of the Connecticut shoreline. With arrival of two daughters, I needed a beach close to home for day trips. Someone suggested Rocky Neck and eight years later, I am still going 4-5 times a summer. Rocky Neck is definately a beach for young kids. The beach has soft white sand, the water is generally warm and shallow with no undertoe. The view of eastern Long Island is intriguing and there is a fabulous oldies station (92.1 FM)that is like no other. The constant whirl of commuter and freight trains adds to the excitement for the kids. Bathroom/Shower facilities are adequate. I still go to the Cape but Rocky Neck has become a special place for our family.

Less packed than most Cape beaches Rocky Neck is a childhood favorite. I only get out east about once every 5 years or so now but a stop at Rocky Neck is a must.