Rocky Neck State Park

244 West Main Street, Niantic, CT 06357

A half-mile crescent of sand on Long Island Sound with a striking 1930s WPA-era stone pavilion overlooking it. The 160-site campground in the woods behind the beach makes it one of CT's best multi-day coastal trips.

Ideal for a beach walk.

76°F air

Full NWS forecast for Today

Sunny. High near 76, with temperatures falling to around 74 in the afternoon. South wind 1 to 6 mph.

Tonight

A slight chance of rain showers between 2am and 5am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. South wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Weather

  • 76°F air — ideal beach weather
  • Sunny skies — clear conditions
85 /100
ideal
85 Sunbathe
88 Walk
73 Fish
80 Photo

Best for walking today

Air Temp
76°F
Clear
Wind
1 to 6 mph
S
Rain
1%
Today
UV Peak
8 Very High
High 11 AM–03 PM · burn in ~25m
Burn-free before 08 AM & after 05 PM
Tomorrow
75°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Water Temp
Next High Tide
7:17 PM
3.1 ft · in 4.5h
Water Quality
Above threshold
512 #/100mL · Enterococcus
USGS · sampled 9mo ago

Rip Current Risk · Regional Reference

No zone-specific NWS forecast for this beach (ANZ332)

The OKX office's Surf Zone Forecast doesn't cover this beach's forecast zone directly. Nearby coastal zones it does cover are listed below — regional reference only, not a substitute for the conditions at this specific beach.

  • NYZ075 Kings (Brooklyn) — Coney Island Beach and Manhattan Beach Moderate
  • NYZ178 Southern Queens — Jacob Riis Park and Rockaway Beach Moderate
  • NYZ179 Southern Nassau — Atlantic Beach, Long Beach, Lido Beach, Moderate
  • NYZ080 Southwestern Suffolk — Gilgo State Park and Robert Moses State Park Moderate
  • NYZ081 Southeastern Suffolk — Smith Point, Cupsogue Beach, Moderate

NWS SRF · OKX · Issued Jun 25, 2:17 PM

Sunrise
5:16 AM
Sunset
8:26 PM
Moon · 80%
Waxing Gibbous
Neap tides — smaller range
7-day chart →
Time Type Height
1:22 AM Low 0.5 ft
7:01 AM High 2.1 ft
1:08 PM Low 0.8 ft
7:17 PM High 3.1 ft
Today Jun 25
76°

Sunny

1%
85
Fri Jun 26
75°

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

53%
38
Sat Jun 27
73°

Chance Rain Showers

50%
59
Sun Jun 28
78°

Sunny

7%
85
Mon Jun 29
77°

Mostly Sunny

2%
85
Tue Jun 30
79°

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

15%
59
Wed Jul 1
81°

Slight Chance Rain Showers

21%
74
  • critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 8 — very high

Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).

Solunar theory: fish activity peaks at moon transits (major) and moonrise/moonset (minor). All times local.

Major
7:50 PM - 9:50 PM
Minor
1:30 AM - 2:30 AM
Major
8:20 AM - 10:20 AM
Minor
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM

Parking

Free for CT-registered vehicles. Out-of-state day pass required (rate varies by season).

Dogs

Leashed dogs allowed on trails and picnic areas north of the train tracks; not allowed on the beach or in buildings.

Entry Fee

Free

Address

244 West Main Street, Niantic, CT 06357

lifeguardsrestroomsshowerssnack barcampgroundpicnic areafishing
Is Rocky Neck State Park dog-friendly?

Leashed dogs allowed on trails and picnic areas north of the train tracks; not allowed on the beach or in buildings.

Is there an entry fee at Rocky Neck State Park?

Entry to Rocky Neck State Park is free.

Are there lifeguards at Rocky Neck State Park?

Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Rocky Neck State Park during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.

What amenities are at Rocky Neck State Park?

Amenities at Rocky Neck State Park include lifeguards, restrooms, showers, snack bar, campground, picnic area, fishing.

When is the water warmest at Rocky Neck State Park?

Atlantic water temperatures peak in August. Northern beaches (ME, NH, MA) run cool — typically 60-68°F at the summer peak. Mid-Atlantic (NJ, DE, MD, VA) hits 74-76°F. The Carolinas and Florida Atlantic warm into the 80s and stay swimmable from May through October.

Where is Rocky Neck State Park located?

Rocky Neck State Park is in New London County, CT, at 244 West Main Street, Niantic, CT 06357.

Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS

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