Farm River State Park
- Status
- Status not postedDaily 8 a.m. – sunset
- Entrance fee
- See fee details
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Not stated — check with park
- Camping
- None listed
- Official site
- ctparks.com(203) 287-5658
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Farm River State Park is a park in South Central Connecticut Planning Region County, about 5 miles southeast of New Haven.
Popular activities here are boating, fishing, hiking, and picnicking.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | 8 a.m. – sunset | — |
Official wording
Open Daily (8:00 a.m. – Sunset)
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/New York).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Free | Free |
Official wording
Free Fee applies for seasonal Community Boating Program pass for marina access
Connecticut park passes
- Passport to the Parks — free parking for CT-registered vehicles (funded by an $8/yr vehicle registration fee from July 1, 2025). Day-use parking at all CT State Parks and Forests Details
- Out-of-state vehicle season pass — $112. Season parking for out-of-state vehicles (as listed on park fee boxes) Details
From the Connecticut state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ReserveAmerica (connecticutstateparks.reserveamerica.com)
- Phone
- 1-877-668-CAMP (2267)
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Things to do
BoatingFishingHikingPicnicking
Trails
Maps
- Trail Map
- Trail Map Mobile
Farm River Self-Guided Nature Trail
- 1-mile self-guided nature trail
- Degree of difficulty: Easy, but some of the overviews end in a steep cliff, so be careful!
- Walk the short, ¼-mile park access trail to reach the trailhead, where the trail joins the Brown Access Road. At this point, turn to the right and follow the Brown Access Road to begin your walk through the park’s unique environment.
- Self-Guided Nature Trail Guide
Please note: We recommend hiking this trail during low tide conditions.
Boating and paddling
Kayaking/Canoeing
- Padding Safety
- Paddling in Connecticut
- Purchase pass and review launch guidelines
- Access to the marina is only available to those with a seasonal community boating program pass (fee applies). Register for Community Boating Program
- All kayaks and canoes should be launched at the beach area.
- Pass allows parking at the launch for one vehicle only.
- Launching and returning at low tide is very difficult due to the mud at low tide. Please plan accordingly.
Boat Launch and Dock Rental:
DEEP has a contract with a marina concessionaire to manage dock rentals and boat launch access. For dock and boat launch questions, please connect with them directly at (860) 333-9003 or farmrivermarina@gmail.com.
Fishing
Before heading out, be sure to check the latest conditions and fishing regulations.
- Connecticut fishing licenses and permits, current regulations, and more.
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
N/A
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Rules and permits
- The park's main entrance is located off Short Beach Road. A limited number of parking spots are available in this lot.
- The marina entrance is located off Mansfield Grove Road. This entrance is gated, and only vehicles displaying a community boating program pass, dock rentals, or a boat launch permit, arranged through the marina management concessionaire, are provided access to pass the gate.
- Bathrooms (seasonal)
- Trail Map | Mobile
- South Central Regional Council of Governments Recreation Area Map
- Farm River North Recreational Trails Brochure
Getting there
- Address
- 150 Short Beach Road
East Haven, CT 06512 - Nearest town
- New Haven — about 5 mi southeast (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 41.2605, -72.8584
- Phone
- (203) 287-5658
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Connecticut State Parks and Forests — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- DEEP 'Find a Park or Forest by Name' list (portal.ct.gov) merged with the ctparks.com ParkFinder search service
- Wikidata
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology