Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at an 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Park ConneCT

The Connecticut Departments of Transportation and Energy and Environmental Protection are pleased to announce the ParkConneCT program, a collaboration of CTDOT and CT DEEP. This program aims to provide safe and reliable transportation within a 10 minute walk to Hammonasset Beach, Silver Sands, Osbornedale, Indian Well, Sleeping Giant and Sherwood Island State Parks.

The ParkConneCT Pilot Program will run from Memorial Day weekend (5/27/23) through Labor Day weekend (9/4/2023).  Holidays during the program are observed on 5/29/2023 (Memorial Day), 6/19/23 (Juneteenth), 7/3 through 7/4/2023 (Independence Day weekend), and 9/4/2023 (Labor Day). Connections to the parks listed above are available from nearby train stations, providing access to the parks on a regional basis. 

Please visit each transit operator's website below for assistance on planning transit to the park and the individual park websites to see what amenities are available at that location. Restrooms, shelters, and concessions vary from park to park and may not be available at all locations.

Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison

Hammonasset Beach State Park Route Map
Estuary Transit District (9-Town Transit)
Hammonasset Beach State Park Webpage

Bus Connections

  • River Valley Transit 645: Madison/Middletown (fare-free on Saturdays)
  • Bus stop for this route is in the park at the Middle Beach traffic circle adjacent to the Middle Beach Bathhouse.
  • Clinton Trolley (fare-free Thursday through Sunday and Holidays)
    Bus stop for these routes is in the park at the Middle Beach traffic circle adjacent to the Middle Beach Bathhouse.
  • Madison Shuttle (fare-free on Weekends and Holidays)
    Bus stop for these routes is in the park at the Middle Beach traffic circle adjacent to the Middle Beach Bathhouse.
  • CTtransit Route 201 from New Haven operates weekdays and Saturdays, connecting to the Madison Shuttle route serving Hammonasset.

CTrail Shore Line East Rail Connections

  • Direct Bus service available from the Clinton train station.

For more information on the scheduled times and route maps for the above service please visit the rail operator’s website, the bus operator’s trip planner page Online Trip Planner | Estuarytransit, or use Google Transit – just enter your trip starting point.

 

Silver Sands State Park, Milford

Silver Sands State Park Route Map
Milford Transit District
Silver Sands State Park Webpage


Bus Connections:

  • Milford Route 3 
    Bus stop is at the “Fisherman’s Lot” at the end of East Broadway
  • Silver Sands Shuttle (fare-free Weekends and Holidays) 
    Bus stop is at the boardwalk inside the park
  • CTtransit Routes 261 and 271 from New Haven operate daily, meeting the Silver Sands Shuttle route at the CT Post Mall.

For more information on the scheduled times and route maps for the above service please visit the bus operator’s website. Connection from the Coastal Link is available at Milford Train Station, and connection to the CTtransit New Haven Division is at the CT Post Mall.

New Haven Line (Metro-North) Rail Connections:

  • Milford Train Station

Note: Milford bus routes are not in Google Transit or Apple maps. For more information on the scheduled times and route maps for the above service please visit the rail operator’s website.

 

Sleeping Giant State Park, Hamden

Sleeping Giant State Park Route Map

CTtransit New Haven Division
Sleeping Giant State Park Webpage


Bus Connections:

  • CTtransit Route 228: Whitney Avenue
    Bus stop is at Whitney Avenue & Mt. Carmel Avenue. Follow the sidewalk along Mount Carmel Avenue east for 0.3 miles, to the main entrance to the Park.
  • CTtransit Route 229: New Haven – Waterbury

Trail Connections:

 CTrail Connections (Hartford Line/Shore Line East/New Haven Line)

  • Visitors can indirectly connect to routes 228 and 229 at the New Haven Green by taking the Union Station/Green Shuttle (available weekdays only) from New Haven Union Station or walking from State Street Station to the Green.

Osbornedale State Park, Derby

Indian Well State Park, Shelton

Osbornedale and Indian Well State Parks Route Map
Valley Transit District
Osbornedale State Park Webpage
Indian Well State Park Webpage

On-Demand Ridesharing:

The Valley Transit District (VTD) provides on-demand public transportation services. On weekends and holidays from Memorial Day to Labor Day, VTD will provide fare free transportation, within its service area boundaries, from Ansonia, Derby, Seymour, and Shelton, to Indian Well and Osbornedale State Parks.  Non-Valley residents can utilize VTD park transit service with same day pick-up and drop-off at the Derby/Shelton train station. The hours of operation are from 8am to 6pm. VTD buses are wheelchair accessible and air conditioned. Riders are to contact VTD’s reservation/dispatch department at 203-735-6408 for same day service to Osbornedale and Indian Well parks.


Bus Connections:

  • GBT Route 15: Connects downtown Bridgeport to Derby/Shelton train station (fare-free on weekends)
  • CTtransit Route 255: New Haven/Ansonia/Seymour connects downtown New Haven to Derby/Shelton train station (fare-free on Saturdays)

CTrail Connections (Waterbury Line)

  • Non-valley residents can utilize VTD park transit service when being picked up from the Derby/Shelton train station on the Waterbury Line (operated by Metro-North Railroad).

Sherwood Island, Westport

Sherwood Island State Park Route Map
Norwalk Transit District, Wheels 2U
Sherwood Island State Park Webpage

Wheels 2U Westport and Norwalk Transit District are operating free ride-sharing shuttles. Download the app, request a ride, and the shuttle will pick you up from anywhere in the Westport service area and take you to Sherwood Island State Park and back.  To use the Weekend Wheels 2U service, for free, the pick up or drop off location must be Sherwood Island State Park.  


Bus Connections:

Coastal Link - Take the bus to the stop at CT Route 1 and Sherwood Island Connector then use the Wheels 2U Westport app to get a ride.

CTrail Connections (New Haven Line)

  • Saugatuck Station, Westport - Take the train to Saugatuck Station then use the Wheels 2U Westport app to get a ride.
  • Greens Farms Station, Westport - Take the train to Greens Farms Station then use the Wheels 2U Westport app to get a ride.

 

Also make sure to check out DEEP's Passport to the Parks program. Anyone in a Connecticut-registered vehicle can park free of charge at all CT State Parks and Forests year-round.