Sherwood Island State Park

CT's first state park — 1.5 miles of Sound shoreline

📍 Westport, CT

4.5 (3,163 Google)

📍 Sherwood Island Connector, Westport, CT

📞 (203) 226-6983

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Sherwood Island State Park in Westport is a beautiful, expansive beach perfect for a relaxed day out with your grandkids! The gentle slope into Long Island Sound makes it ideal for little ones to splash and play safely, and there's plenty of open grassy space for picnics and games – truly a spot where everyone can unwind. Kids will adore building sandcastles, exploring the tide pools, and maybe even spotting some shorebirds. Grandparent Tip: Parking fills up *fast* on sunny weekends, so arrive before 10 am or consider a weekday visit for a more peaceful experience.

Grandparent-Friendly Details

Walk-in

Walk-ins welcome

Accessibility

Wheelchair & stroller accessible

Parking

Easy parking

Noise level

Moderate noise

Outdoor seating

Covered / shaded

Typical visit

~3 hours

Best age range

Ages 1–14

Fun Things to Do Here

Ideas to make the most of your visit to Sherwood Island State Park

Beach Olympics

3-legged race, longest seaglass find, best sandcastle, who finds the prettiest shell — make up the events as you go.

Wave Counting

Pick a spot and count waves for 2 minutes. First to 30 wins. More competitive than it sounds.

Message in the Sand

Each person writes or draws something in wet sand before the tide takes it. Take a photo before it goes.

Shell Sorting

Collect 10 shells. Sort by color, then size, then texture. Decide together which one gets to come home.

Tide Pool Bingo

Spot a crab, something with spots, something that moves, a tiny fish, and one thing you can't identify.

Free printable: Beach Day Scavenger Hunt

Download

Budget & Insider Tips

Grandparent Money Tips

• Most public beaches are free — the parking fee is the real cost. Arrive before 9am to beat both the crowds and the lot attendant at many state beaches.
• Pack everything: sunscreen, snacks, water, towels. Beach vendor prices are 2–3x normal. A soda on the sand shouldn't cost $6.
• Connecticut and New York both have state beaches open to all visitors — often cheaper than town beaches that require a resident sticker.

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