Some of the greatest attractions of East Lyme, CT are the beaches. There are public and private beaches here that hug the Niantic River, while the massive Atlantic Ocean waits just a few miles away. There are several beaches that welcome families to this touristy side of town. The most popular public beaches are the Rocky Neck Beach, CT (State Park), which comprises both East Beach and West Beach) as well as the McCook Park Beach. Access to the latter beach is controlled via locked gate, though admission is free most of the year.

The Hole in the Wall Beach is another public park and beach area, and it is connected via shoreline to the Niantic River. This large beach is over one and a half miles long. The Railroad Beach is a public beach found at the end of the Niantic Bay Overlook. It is nearby the Niantic Railroad Drawbridge as well as the AMTRAK mainline. The Black Hawk Beach (which can be found under the Route 156 bridge) is a white sand beach open for public use and ideal for fishing.

There are plenty of other East Lyme beaches in town, but most of these are private areas, reserved for only selected members of the population. For example, Crescent Beach is a private area that is reserved for local homeowners. The Black Point Beach is reserved for Black Point Beach Club Association members. Old Black Point Beach is a private beach reserved for local homeowners, as is the Attawan Beach. Rounding out the list of private beaches is the Giants Neck Beach and the Giants Neck Heights Beach, both locations private and reserved for the local population.

What can you do at these locations? You can enjoy yourself with water activity like swimming and fishing, or you can simply soak in the sun and work on your perfect tan!