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

State Parks and Forests Fees

Connecticut has launched the Passport to Parks Program. Visitors with Connecticut registered vehicles are no longer required to pay a parking fee at CT State Parks and Forest recreation areas.

Parking fees are still required for visitors with out-of-state registered vehicles from April 1 through October 31 at the parks listed below. Parking fees are payable online at Reserve America, or on site at parks and forest areas with open ticket booths. Visitors are still obligated to pay parking fees when ticket booths are closed. 

Parking fees are due by 10pm on the day of the visit. If payment is not made by that time, an infraction violation ($75.00 fine) may be issued to the registered owner of the vehicle pursuant to RCSA 23-4-1(y). 

To pay the parking fee online, please visit Reserve America and select the appropriate pass for the location and day of the week for your visit. You will need to include the visit date, vehicle license plate and registration state.  You may check out with your Reserve America account, create an account or there is also an option for guest checkout.  Please note that parking passes should be purchased on the day of the visit only, as passes purchased in advance do not guarantee parking availability and are not refundable.  A $2 reservation fee applies to all parking fee transactions through Reserve America.  

Out-of-state vehicle parking fees may also be paid over the phone by calling Reserve America toll free 1-877-668-CAMP (2267) during their call center hours:
  
May 1 – September 1
Monday - Wednesday: 8 am - 2:30 pm
Thursday - Friday: 8 am - 6:30 pm
Saturday and Sunday: 9 am - 12 pm
 
Off Peak Season
Monday - Friday: 9 am - 12 pm

Some parks and forest areas do not charge a parking fee and others charge only for weekends and holidays.  The locations listed below have fees that apply for out-of-state vehicle parking or camping.

State Park Fees

State Forest Fees

Dinosaur, Fort Trumbull and Gillette Castle State Parks offer free parking for all visitors.  There is a per person admission fee to visit the Dinosaur Exhibit Center, the Fort Trumbull Visitor Center or for touring the Castle.

Special Passes

  • The Charter Oak Pass provides access to the exhibit spaces of Dinosaur, Fort Trumbull and Gillette Castle State Parks and is available free to Connecticut residents, 65 years of age or older.  There is no parking fee at these parks.
  • The Heritage Passport provides convenient access to the exhibit space of three unique parks: Dinosaur, Fort Trumbull and Gillette Castle. There is no parking fee at these parks. 
  • The Veterans Pass provides access to the exhibit spaces of Dinosaur, Fort Trumbull and Gillette Castle State Parks and is available free to Connecticut residents with a service connected disability.  There is no parking fee at these parks.
  • Season passes allow unlimited out of state vehicle access to any state park or recreation area that has a parking fee.

KEY:

  • R= CT Registered Vehicle Fee
  • NC= No Charge
  • NR= Out-of-State Registered Vehicle Fee
  • N/A= Not Applicable

State Park Fees

A - D
Park Name

Weekends/
Holidays

 Weekdays Camping
Bigelow Hollow State Park

NC - R

$15.00 NR

NC - R

$10.00 NR

 N/A
Black Rock State Park and Campground

NC - R

$15.00 NR

NC - R

$10.00 NR

$17/night CT residents

$27/night/non-CT residents

$50/night rustic cabins for residents

$60/night rustic cabins for non-CT residents
 
Plus Reservation Processing Fee
Bluff Point State Park

NC - R

$15.00 NR

NC - R

$10.00 NR

  N/A
Burr Pond State Park

NC - R

$15.00 NR

NC - R

$10.00 NR

 N/A
Chatfield Hollow State Park

NC - R

$15.00 NR

NC - R

$10.00 NR

 N/A
Devil's Hopyard State Park and Campground NC NC

$14/night CT residents

$24/night non-CT residents
 
Plus Reservation Processing Fee
Dinosaur State Park

Exhibit Center
Age 13 and Over: $6
Ages 6-12: $2
Ages 5 and under: Free

No charge to visit the grounds and trails.  

Heritage Passport Information

 N/A
E - H
Park Name Weekends/
Holidays		 Weekdays Camping
Fort Trumbull State Park

Visitor Center and Fort Tours Only:
Age 13 and Over: $6
Ages 6-12: $2
Ages 5 and under: Free

Heritage Passport Information

 N/A
Gardner Lake State Park  NC - R

$15.00 NR

NC - R

$10.00 NR

 N/A 
Gay City State Park

NC - R

$15.00 NR

NC - R

$10.00 NR

 N/A
Gillette Castle State Park

Castle Tours:
Age 13 and Over: $6
Ages 6-12: $2
Ages 5 and under: Free 

Heritage Passport Information

 N/A
Hammonasset State Park and Campground

NC - R

$22.00 NR

$7 NR after 4 pm when ticket booth is open (Memorial Day to Labor Day)

NC - R

$15.00 NR

$7 NR after 4 pm when ticket booth is open (Memorial Day to Labor Day)

 $20/$35/night CT residents
 
$30/$45/night non-CT residents
 
$70/night rustic cabin CT residents
 
$80/night rustic cabin non-CT residents

Plus Reservation Processing Fee
Harkness Memorial State Park

NC - R

$15.00 NR


NC - R

$10.00 NR

 

 N/A
Hopeville Pond State Park and Campground

NC - R

$15.00 NR

NC - R

$10.00 NR

$17/night CT residents

$27/night for non-CT residents

$50/night rustic cabins for residents

$60/night rustic cabins for non-CT residents

Plus Reservation Processing Fee
Housatonic Meadows State Park and Campground NC NC

$17/night CT residents

$27/night non-CT residents

$50/night rustic cabins for residents

$60/night rustic cabins for non-CT residents
Plus Reservation Processing Fee

I - P

Park Name Weekends/
Holidays		 Weekdays Camping
Indian Well State Park

NC - R

$15.00 NR
$6 NR after 4 pm

 

NC - R

$10.00 NR
$6 NR after 4 pm

 

 N/A
Kent Falls State Park

 

NC - R

$15.00 NR

 

 

NC - R

$10.00 NR

 

 N/A
Kettletown State Park and Campground

NC - R

$15.00 NR

NC - R

$10.00 NR

$17/night CT residents

$27/night non-CT residents

$50/night rustic cabins for residents

$60/night rustic cabins for non-CT residents
 
Plus Reservation Processing Fee
Lake Waramaug State Park and Campground

NC - R

$15.00 NR

NC - R

$10.00 NR

$17/night CT residents

$27/night non-CT residents

$50/night rustic cabins for residents

$60/night rustic cabins for non-CT residents
 
Plus Reservation Processing Fee
Macedonia Brook State Park and Campground NC NC

$14/night CT residents

$24/night non-CT residents
 
Plus Reservation Processing Fee
Mashamoquet Brook State Park and Campground NC NC

$14/night CT residents

$24/night non-CT residents
 
Plus Reservation Processing Fee
Mount Tom State Park

 

NC - R

$15.00 NR

 

 

NC - R

$10.00 NR

 

 N/A

Q - Z

Park Name Weekends/
Holidays		 Weekdays Camping
Quaddick State Park

 

NC - R

$15.00 NR

 

 

NC - R

$10.00 NR

 

 N/A
Rocky Neck State Park and Campground

 

NC - R

$22.00 NR

$7 NR after 4 pm when ticket booth is open (Memorial Day to Labor Day)

 

 

NC - R

$15.00 NR

$7 NR after 4 pm when ticket booth is open (Memorial Day to Labor Day)

 

$20/night CT residents

$30/night non-CT residents
 
Plus Reservation Processing Fee
Salt Rock State Park Campground

NC

NC

$33/$37/$40/night CT residents

$45/$48/$52/night non-CT residents
 
Plus Reservation Processing Fee
Selden Neck State Park NC NC $5 per person per night
(Primitive riverside camping)
Sherwood Island State Park

 

NC - R


$22.00 NR

$7 NR after 4 pm when ticket booth is open (Memorial Day to Labor Day)

 

 

NC - R


$15.00 NR

$7 NR after 4 pm when ticket booth is open (Memorial Day to Labor Day)

 

 N/A
Silver Sands State Park

 

NC - R

$22.00 NR

 

 

NC - R

$15.00 NR

 

  N/A
Sleeping Giant State Park

 

NC - R

$15.00 NR
$6 NR after 4 pm

 

NC - R

$10.00 NR

 N/A
Squantz Pond State Park

 

NC - R

$22.00 NR

Parking at Squantz Pond is limited to 250 vehicles.  Once capacity is reached, the park is closed, and will remain closed for the rest of the day.  Walk-ins are prohibited when the park is closed.  Please note there is no alternative parking, and cars parking or unloading on local roads and parking lots will be ticketed and/or towed.  Visitors may reserve a parking pass for weekends and holidays during the peak season (Memorial Day through Labor Day) up to 14 days in advance.  Parking passes may be reserved at this link

 

 

NC - R

$15.00 NR

 

 N/A
Stratton Brook State Park

 

NC - R

$15.00 NR

 

 

NC - R

$10.00 NR

 

 N/A
 Talcott Mountain State Park

 

NC - R

$15.00 NR

 

 

NC - R

$10.00 NR

 

 N/A
Wadsworth Falls State Park

 

NC - R

$15.00 NR

 

 

NC - R

$10.00 NR

 

 N/A
Wharton Brook State Park NC NC N/A

State Forest Fees

Park Name Weekends/
Holidays		 Weekdays Camping
American Legion State Forest and Campground NC NC

$17/night CT residents

$27/night non-CT residents
 
Plus Reservation Processing Fee
Cockaponset State Forest-Pattaconk Recreation Area

NC - R

$15.00 NR

NC - R

$10.00 NR

 N/A
Pachaug State Forest- Mt. Misery Campground NC NC

$17/night CT residents

$27/night non-CT residents
Pachaug State Forest- Green Falls Campground

NC

 NC

$17/night CT residents

$27/night non-CT residents
People's State Forest and Campground

NC - R

$15.00 NR

NC - R

$10.00 NR

$17/night CT residents

$27/night non-CT residents
 
Plus Reservation Processing Fee

If you have questions or need additional information on Connecticut State Parks and Forests, please contact the State Parks Division by e-mail at deep.stateparks@ct.gov or by phone at 860-424-3200.

Content last updated October 2024