Ocean Beach Park
4.4(6.1K)google
3.1(97)yelp
BeachWater ActivitySwimmingFamilyKidsSummer RetreatOutdoor
Overview
Located in New London, Ocean Beach Park is a premier, 50-acre family resort destination situated along a beautiful stretch of sugar-white sand overlooking the panoramic Long Island Sound. The park features a classic half-mile wooden boardwalk perfect for walking, an Olympic-sized freshwater swimming pool, a fun-filled triple-slide water park, and challenging miniature golf. With vintage amusement rides, a modern video arcade, and regular live entertainment at the pavilion, it offers a high-energy, nostalgic summer beach experience for visitors.
Practical Info
Mon8:00 AM – 10:00PM
Tue8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Wed8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Thu8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Fri8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sat8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sun8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Suggested Duration4-8 hours
Best TimeThe scorching summer months of June through August are prime time for this premier New England boardwalk destination. The ideal daily time slot is 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM when the park's signature Olympic-sized freshwater pool, towering waterslides, and old-school midway rides are fully operational under high summer sun. For photographers aiming to capture the uninterrupted sweep of the historic half-mile wooden boardwalk, a 7:00 AM arrival is magical.
Getting TherePositioned at the absolute southern tip of New London's peninsula. Drive via I-95 to Exit 83 (Coleman St), head south along Coleman Street, and continue straight onto Ocean Avenue for approximately 4 miles directly into the beachfront park’s expansive paid parking grounds. For public transport, take a train to New London Station and instantly transfer at the bus plaza to the SEAT Route 81 bus, which terminates directly inside the park gates.
Travel Tips
- From Memorial Day through Labor Day, out-of-town motorists face steep entry gate levies: $30 on weekdays and $40 on weekends per vehicle. Crucially, your pass yields zero re-entry privileges; exiting the parking gate and returning later forces a 100% redundant full cash payment.
- Security teams execute manual bag checkpoints on all beach-bound personal coolers during summer. Glass containers of any description and open liquor are completely illegal on the sand; unapproved glass items must be walked back to your vehicle parking stall or discarded instantly.
- The park's famous half-mile wooden boardwalk strictly outlaws human-powered wheeled apparatuses including bicycles, longboards, hoverboards, and inline roller-skates during core operational hours. Violators face instant citation fines from motorized municipal beach patrol teams.
Reviews
Positive
- Features a spectacular half-mile sugar-sand beach and a classic boardwalk; the wide-open Atlantic ocean views are truly beautiful.
- A complete public amenity matrix bundling an Olympic-sized pool, kids' splash pads, mini-golf, changing lockers, and tidy restrooms.
- Line and pool order is neat, backed by dense professional lifeguards patrolling the shore constantly to guarantee strict family safety.
- A single vehicle pass bundles beach access, the boardwalk, and multiple public recreation facilities for an all-day high-value family outing.
Heads up
- Peak summer vehicle entrance fees are notoriously steep, ranking among the costliest in CT; late arrivals are relegated to far-flung lawns.
- Weekend afternoons get heavily overcrowded with swarming crowds; loud music blares, creating an aggressive commercial buzz that breaks any quiet peace.
- Sections of the aging wooden boardwalk show loose or warped planks, posing a risk of splinters if walking barefoot without beach shoes.
- The on-site fast-food counters are heavily overpriced, restricted to oily, generic theme-park baskets lacking healthy, fresh options.