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 www.reserveamerica.com, or on site at parks and forest areas with open ticket booths. Parking fees still apply 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 www.reserveamerica.com and search the park name, and select the option that says the name of the park you are visiting and 'day use'. If you are a first time user, you will need to create an account, which can be used to pay parking fees for any future visits to our parks.
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/ |
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 |
NC - R |
$17/night CT residents $27/night/non-CT residents $50/night rustic cabins for residents $60/night rustic cabins for non-CT residents |
| Bluff Point State Park |
NC - R $15.00 NR |
NC - R $10.00 NR |
N/A |
| Burr Pond State Park |
NC - R |
NC - R $10.00 NR |
N/A |
| Chatfield Hollow State Park |
NC - R |
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 |
| Dinosaur State Park |
Exhibit Center (Currently Closed through 8/1/22) |
N/A | |
E - H
| Park Name | Weekends/ Holidays |
Weekdays | Camping |
| Fort Trumbull State Park |
Visitor Center and Fort Tours Only: |
N/A | |
| Gardner Lake State Park | NC - R $15.00 NR |
NC - R $10.00 NR |
N/A |
| Gay City State Park |
NC - R |
NC - R $10.00 NR |
N/A |
| Gillette Castle State Park |
Castle Tours: |
N/A | |
| Hammonasset State Park and Campground |
NC - R |
NC - R |
$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 |
| 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 |
| Park Name | Weekends/ Holidays |
Weekdays | Camping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Well State Park |
NC - R
|
NC - R
|
N/A |
| Kent Falls State Park |
NC - R
|
NC - R
|
N/A |
| Kettletown State Park and Campground |
NC - R |
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 |
| Lake Waramaug State Park and Campground |
NC - R |
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 |
| Macedonia Brook State Park and Campground | NC | NC |
$14/night CT residents $24/night non-CT residents |
| Mashamoquet Brook State Park and Campground | NC | NC |
$14/night CT residents $24/night non-CT residents |
| Mount Tom State Park |
NC - R
|
NC - R $10.00 NR
|
N/A |
| Park Name | Weekends/ Holidays |
Weekdays | Camping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quaddick State Park |
NC - R
|
NC - R $10.00 NR
|
N/A |
| Rocky Neck State Park and Campground |
NC - R
|
NC - R
|
$20/night CT residents $30/night non-CT residents |
| Salt Rock State Park Campground |
NC |
NC |
$33/$37/$40/night CT residents $45/$48/$52/night non-CT residents |
| Selden Neck State Park | NC | NC | $5 per person per night (Primitive riverside camping) |
| Sherwood Island State Park |
NC - R
|
NC - R
|
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
|
NC - R $10.00 NR |
N/A |
| Squantz Pond State Park |
NC - R
|
NC - R
|
N/A |
| Stratton Brook State Park |
NC - R
|
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
|
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 |
| Cockaponset State Forest-Pattaconk Recreation Area |
NC - R |
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 |
NC - R $10.00 NR |
$17/night CT residents $27/night non-CT residents |
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 March 2023