There’s still time to cross off the beach from your summer bucket list before fall rolls around, and Greenwich Point Park in Connecticut might just be the perfect place to do it.
Named one of the best beaches near NYC for 2025 by Conde Nast Traveler, this 147-acre park—also known locally as “Tod’s Point”—offers some of the most underrated natural beauty, history, and views in all of the region.
The best part? It’s only an hour and a half drive from the city, or you can even take a quick Metro-North ride from Grand Central, making it one of the best accessible ways to get your toes in the sand quickly.
Visitors are invited through the summer months to come enjoy the park’s manicured sandy shores, picnic areas, grills, restrooms, and more—all for a mere $10 per person.
One of the park’s most breathtaking features is its sweeping beachfront, where on clear days you can spot the iconic Manhattan skyline shimmering across the water. It’s a rare East Coast spot that pairs relaxing nature with legendary city vistas.
Greenwich Point’s charm goes beyond its beaches too.
It was once the lavish estate of Scottish financier J. Kennedy Tod, hosting Gilded Age parties, an imported Scottish golf course, and even a personal menagerie with a caged bear, peacocks, and lakes full of imported ducks.
Many historic buildings from that era—including the Innis Arden Cottage and the Chimes Tower—still stand, adding a secret-history vibe to the already beautiful sandy oasis.
Nature lovers will appreciate that the park is an Important Bird Area, serving as a vital stopover for colorful songbird migrations, osprey nestings, and wintering ducks.
And at low tide, you can explore Shell Beach for hermit crabs and seashells, and if you’re lucky, you might even spot harbor seals just offshore.
A paved 2.5-mile loop trail circles the peninsula, offering 360-degree water views, quiet forest paths, picnic spots, and perfect photo ops from sunrise to sunset.
Plus, there’s plenty of outdoor activities beyond sunbathing to take advantage off on a visit, like kayaking, windsurfing, biking, visiting the butterfly gardens, walking your dog off-season, and even launching your boat from the Old Greenwich Yacht Club.
How to book tickets & passes for the beach
Entry to Greenwich Point Park requires a valid park pass between May 1 and October 31 and non-residents pay $10 per person per day.
Residents of Greenwich have discounted or free access with a valid permit.
Passes can be purchased online in advance through the Greenwich Parks & Recreation website—highly recommended for weekends and holidays when the park fills up fast.
The park is located at 11 Tods Driftway, Old Greenwich, CT, and is open daily from 6 am until sunset!