Hours

Sherwood Island State Park is open every day of the year from 8 a.m. to sunset. There is no separate summer or winter schedule for the park itself; what changes with the season is the Nature Center, the picnic shelter, the out-of-state parking fee, the dog rule and where you can fish. The park office number is (203) 226-6983.

Park Hours

DEEP lists Sherwood Island as open daily, 8 a.m. to sunset. The gates open at 8 a.m. and visitors are expected out by sunset, which in Westport ranges from about 4:25 p.m. in early December to about 8:30 p.m. in late June. Plan to be back at your car before the sun goes down.

Seasonal Hours Inside the Park

• Nature Center: seasonal, Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Nature Center).
• East Beach picnic shelter: reservable May 1 to September 30, closed October 1 to April 30 (pavilion and shelter).
• Main pavilion and snack bar: closed for the 2026 season.
• Out-of-state parking fee: charged April 1 to October 31; outside those months parking is free for everyone (parking).
• Dogs: allowed on a leash October 1 to April 14 only (dogs).
• Fishing: from April 15 to September 30 at Sherwood Point and the East and West jetties; in the off-season the whole beach is open to fishing, 8 a.m. to sunset only (fishing).

Best Times to Visit

• Summer weekends: the busiest time. Arrive near 8 a.m. for the closest parking, or after 4 p.m., when the out-of-state fee drops to $7 and the crowds thin.
• Weekdays in June and September: warm water, open sand and a full Nature Center schedule.
• Spring and fall: migrating birds, empty beaches and free parking from November. Dogs are welcome again from October 1.
• Winter: the park stays open. Expect a quiet shore, cold wind off the Sound and no services beyond restrooms that may be closed; check weather first.

Holidays and Special Days

DEEP's hours apply on holidays too; weekend and holiday days carry the higher $22 out-of-state fee. On September 11, Connecticut's official 9/11 memorial at the park is the focus of remembrance.

If the Park Is Full

On peak summer days Connecticut state park beaches can close to new cars when the lots fill. If that happens, try again later in the afternoon, or head to a Westport town beach with a daily fee (Westport beaches).

Hours at Westport's Other Beaches

If you are comparing beaches, note that Westport's town beaches keep longer hours than the state park in season. Compo Beach is open 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. from May 1 to September 30, Burying Hill 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, and Old Mill 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. from May 1 to September 30. They charge an emblem or daily fee, though: Compo's daily pass is $45 on weekdays and $70 on weekends. See Westport beaches compared.

Calling Ahead

For closures, weather events or holiday changes, call the park office at (203) 226-6983 or check DEEP's Sherwood Island page, which posts notices such as the 2026 pavilion closure at the top.