Updated August 2026
Best beaches in Connecticut by water quality
Connecticut has 78 public beaches in the EPA monitoring dataset, 71 of them with enough bacteria samples to grade. 3 earn an A for consistently clean water, while 24 grade an F for frequently exceeding the safe-swimming limit. Full ranking below. National lists: cleanest beaches in the US and beaches that exceed bacteria limits most often.
Connecticut beaches on the map
Ways to pick a Connecticut beach
Cleanest water (Grade A)
- Surf Club Beach — New Haven
- Westbrook Town Beach/West Beach — Middlesex
- West Wharf Beach — New Haven
| Grade | Beach | County | % over limit | Samples | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Surf Club Beach | New Haven | 0% | 32 | Excellent |
| A | Westbrook Town Beach/West Beach | Middlesex | 0% | 27 | Excellent |
| A | West Wharf Beach | New Haven | 0% | 24 | Excellent |
| B | Anchor Beach (Merwin Point) #2 | New Haven | 3.3% | 30 | Good |
| B | Bell Island Beach | Fairfield | 3.4% | 58 | Good |
| B | Town Beach (Old Saybrook) | Middlesex | 3.4% | 29 | Good |
| B | Pear Tree Point Beach | Fairfield | 4.5% | 110 | Good |
| B | East Wharf Beach | New Haven | 5% | 20 | Good |
| B | Hammonasset Beach State Park Beach | New Haven | 5.1% | 79 | Good |
| B | Harvey's Beach | Middlesex | 5.4% | 37 | Good |
| C | Ocean Beach Park | New London | 7.6% | 79 | Fair |
| C | Soundview Beach | New London | 7.7% | 26 | Fair |
| C | East Haven Town Beach | New Haven | 8% | 50 | Fair |
| C | Long Beach (Proper) | Fairfield | 8.8% | 68 | Fair |
| C | Altschuler Beach | New Haven | 9.1% | 33 | Fair |
| C | Seaview Beach | New Haven | 9.5% | 42 | Fair |
| C | South Pine Creek Beach | Fairfield | 9.7% | 31 | Fair |
| C | Quigley Beach | Fairfield | 10.3% | 29 | Fair |
| C | Oak Street A Beach | New Haven | 10.5% | 38 | Fair |
| C | Pent Road Beach | New Haven | 11.3% | 213 | Fair |
| C | Sherwood Island State Park Beach | Fairfield | 11.6% | 112 | Fair |
| C | Morse Beach | New Haven | 11.8% | 34 | Fair |
| D | Weed Beach | Fairfield | 12% | 50 | Poor |
| D | McCook Point Beach | New London | 12% | 25 | Poor |
| D | Lighthouse Point Beach | New Haven | 12.3% | 203 | Poor |
| D | Great Captain's Island Beach | Fairfield | 12.3% | 57 | Poor |
| D | Long Beach (Marnick's) | Fairfield | 12.5% | 40 | Poor |
| D | Shady Beach | Fairfield | 12.7% | 134 | Poor |
| D | Calf Pasture Beach | Fairfield | 12.8% | 125 | Poor |
| D | Jennings Beach | Fairfield | 12.9% | 62 | Poor |
| D | Cummings Beach | Fairfield | 13.8% | 138 | Poor |
| D | Stony Creek Beach | New Haven | 14% | 43 | Poor |
| D | Penfield Beach | Fairfield | 14.3% | 56 | Poor |
| D | Rock Street Beach | New Haven | 14.3% | 42 | Poor |
| D | South Street Beach | New Haven | 14.3% | 28 | Poor |
| D | Branford Point Beach | New Haven | 15% | 40 | Poor |
| D | Waterford Town Beach | New London | 15.4% | 26 | Poor |
| D | Short Beach | Fairfield | 16.4% | 122 | Poor |
| D | Oak Street B Beach | New Haven | 17% | 47 | Poor |
| D | Anchor Beach (Merwin Point) #1 | New Haven | 17.4% | 46 | Poor |
| D | Dawson Beach | New Haven | 17.6% | 34 | Poor |
| D | Clark Avenue Beach | New Haven | 18.9% | 37 | Poor |
| D | Greenwich Point Beach | Fairfield | 19.3% | 140 | Poor |
| D | Town Beach (Clinton) | Middlesex | 19.6% | 46 | Poor |
| D | Silver Sands State Park Beach | New Haven | 20.9% | 460 | Poor |
| D | Jacobs Beach (Town Beach) | New Haven | 21.4% | 70 | Poor |
| D | Woodmont Beach | New Haven | 21.9% | 32 | Poor |
| F | Green Harbor Beach | New London | 26.2% | 65 | Failing |
| F | Island Beach | Fairfield | 27% | 74 | Failing |
| F | Sasco Beach | Fairfield | 27.5% | 69 | Failing |
| F | Dubois Beach | New London | 28.4% | 134 | Failing |
| F | Noank Dock | New London | 28.6% | 217 | Failing |
| F | Seabluff Beach | New Haven | 29.3% | 41 | Failing |
| F | Byram Beach | Fairfield | 33.4% | 299 | Failing |
| F | West Beach | Fairfield | 34.7% | 262 | Failing |
| F | Rowayton Beach | Fairfield | 34.7% | 49 | Failing |
| F | Gulf Beach | New Haven | 41.1% | 90 | Failing |
| F | White Sands Beach | New London | 41.6% | 154 | Failing |
| F | Rocky Neck State Park Beach | New London | 43.9% | 501 | Failing |
| F | Esker Point Beach | New London | 45% | 160 | Failing |
| F | Hickory Bluff Beach | Fairfield | 49.5% | 204 | Failing |
| F | Marvin Beach | Fairfield | 50.5% | 204 | Failing |
| F | East (Cove Island) Beach | Fairfield | 51.2% | 205 | Failing |
| F | Eastern Point Beach | New London | 63.1% | 179 | Failing |
| F | Burying Hill Beach | Fairfield | 64.6% | 161 | Failing |
| F | Southport Beach | Fairfield | 65.5% | 458 | Failing |
| F | Compo Beach | Fairfield | 74.2% | 233 | Failing |
| F | Walnut Beach | New Haven | 83.4% | 229 | Failing |
| F | Seaside Park Beach | Fairfield | 87.8% | 246 | Failing |
| F | Seabright Beach | Fairfield | 91.4% | 255 | Failing |
| F | Pleasure Beach-Bridgeport | Fairfield | 95.4% | 414 | Failing |
Download the full Connecticut beach safety ranking
All 71 graded Connecticut beaches with their Beach Safety Grade, exceedance rate, sample counts, and program status — from EPA monitoring data. Enter your email to download. A grade is a multi-year classification, not a same-day safety clearance.
Connecticut beach grade updates
Get new grades and water-quality updates for Connecticut beaches by email.
Where to stay near Connecticut beaches
Find beachfront hotels, condos, and vacation rentals across Connecticut — live availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Connecticut beaches
Prices for Oct 2–4, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Watch Connecticut beach grades
Get an email when a graded Connecticut beach posts a new sample or swim advisory.
Frequently Asked Questions
The table ranks Connecticut beaches by Beach Safety Grade from EPA bacteria samples. Grade A beaches have the fewest exceedances of the safe-swimming limit.
Hotels, condos, and vacation rentals for Connecticut beaches are on the map on this page. Compare water quality in the table, then book from the town you actually want to swim from.
Connecticut beaches vary. Of 71 graded beaches, 3 earn an A for the fewest bacteria exceedances and 24 earn an F for exceeding the safe-swimming limit most often. A grade is a multi-year record, not a same-day clearance — check the county advisory the day you swim.
The day you swim. A grade is a history of samples, not a same-day clearance — check the county advisory before you get in.