Silver Sands State Park
- Status
- Status not postedDaily 8 a.m. – sunset
- Entrance fee
- $22 ($15 nonresident)Annual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Not stated — check with park
- Camping
- None listed
- Official site
- ctparks.com(203) 735-4311
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Silver Sands State Park is a park in South Central Connecticut Planning Region County, in Milford.
Popular activities here are snorkeling and diving, horseback riding, historic sites, boating, and swimming.
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 – In-State Registered Vehicles (resident) | Free |
| $22 – Out-of-State Vehicles (Weekends/Holidays) (nonresident) | $22 |
| $15 – Out-of-State Vehicles (Weekdays) (nonresident) | $15 |
| $112 – Out-of-State Vehicles (Season Pass) (nonresident) | $112 · year |
Official wording
FREE – In-State Registered Vehicles $22 – Out-of-State Vehicles (Weekends/Holidays) $15 – Out-of-State Vehicles (Weekdays) $112 – Out-of-State Vehicles (Season Pass)
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
BikingBoatingFishingHikingHistoric sites and toursHorseback ridingPicnickingSnorkeling and scubaSwimming
Trails
Two miles of trails, boardwalks, and bridges await to bring you through the park’s range of terrain, from wetlands and beach, to coastal forest and the tombolo linking the park to Charles Island.
Charles Island Trail
Timing is everything with this hike. Be sure to check the tides before heading out, they rise fast – as much as ten feet in less than two hours. And the way the waves crash and roll over the spit of sand creates a dangerous undertow, perilous for even the strongest swimmer.
- 1.5-mile out-and-back across the tombolo
- Level of difficulty: Easy
- This lollipop trail follows the land bridge to Charles Island, loops around its perimeter, then doubles back to the mainland. The interior of the island is an avian sanctuary and off limits to human visitors, but you might be able to catch a glimpse of the ruins from the former resort and religious retreat once located there.
Read more from the park
Boardwalk Trail
- Two-mile walk on the boardwalk
- Follow the park’s main trail along the boardwalk, pedestrian bridge, gravel, and natural dirt pathways for beautiful views of Long Island Sound and Charles Island and for an up-close look at the park’s restored tidal marsh and impressive dunes.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
- The walk to Charles Island is closed during nesting season, typically May through September.
- Trail Map
Swimming
Despite its name, Silver Sands State Park’s beaches are both sandy and rocky with lots of seashells. Wade along the long stretches of sand, where tidal pools form during low tide — ideal for kids to splash around and explore aquatic sea life. And hike through the rockier areas or search for seashells.
Accessible Swimming/Beach Surf Chairs: Available free of charge on a ‘first come/first served’ basis.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
- Current Water Quality Report (updated weekly, Memorial Day – Labor Day)
- Beach Regulations and Swimming Safety Information
Boating and paddling
Power boats are prohibited.
Fishing
Fishing is open throughout the park, including the tombolo which extends about a mile from the mainland to Charles Island. If you decide to cast a line from the sandbar, please use extreme caution and check the tides before you head out! Swift tidal currents during a flood tide can make passage dangerous and leave you stranded on Charles Island until low tide. And the tides come in fast and furious!
Types of fish: Bluefish, striped bass, summer flounder, hickory shad, weakfish
For after-hours fishing parking: At the end of Surf Avenue, turn right onto East Broadway and look for the after-hours fishing parking lot on the end of the street.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Before heading out, be sure to check the latest conditions and fishing regulations.
- Saltwater Fishing in Connecticut’s State Parks
- Saltwater Fishing Resource Map
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
Recreation
- Horse trails
✓ 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
Boardwalk
Parking
Restrooms (Portable Toilets)
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Rules and permits
- An alcohol ban is in place at Silver Sands State Park
- Bus Permits are required for mid-size and full-size busses seating 30 or more passengers
- Bicycles are not allowed on the boardwalk
- Park Map
Getting there
- Address
- 1 Silver Sands Parkway
Milford, CT 06460 - Nearest town
- Milford
- Coordinates
- 41.2004, -73.0677
- Phone
- (203) 735-4311
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
- Photo: Milford Point Audubon Wildlife Preservation in winter.jpg — CC0 1.0 (public domain dedication), FrostyLemon
“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