Camp Store

The camp store at Hammonasset Beach State Park is a seasonal convenience store for those camping at The state park's campground. It is located on the grounds within the camp site near one of the major beach entrances from the camp. There is a small parking lot next to it accessible to those who have entered the camp, which means day visitors to the park are likely to find the other concession stands to be more accessible to them. Those on bicycles will find ample bike racks to leave your bike while in the shop. It's clearly geared to those on foot or bike. People also leave their bikes here when they enter onto the beach. There is a small covered porch on the side as well, and a few benches overlooking the marsh a few strides away, a great place to enjoy your snack or wait for your party.

It's a small store carrying mostly camp food items and essentials. Snacks abound on the shelves. They also serve frozen items. For the kids, going to the shop with their friends or relatives on their bikes to get a prepackaged ice cream, candy or chips is a real treat. They also have first aid essentials and they even had a couple of sand chairs.

The shop is a great place to pick up a quick snack or replenish your BBQ condiments. One should keep in mind that this is not a full fledged grocery store, but more to fill in if you ran out, or for the novelty of shopping onsite especially for kids and teens. The prices are what one expects of small convenience stores: more than at your box store on Route 1 for sure but appropriate for being right in your camp.

If you are seeking Hammonasset specific memorabilia like tshirts, bumper stickers, sweatshirts, mugs and baseball caps, please visit the Meigs Point Nature Center which is also on the park grounds but outside the camp. They are for sale at the front desk in that building. The main Meigs Point parking area, a lot us a field of grass, is close but very busy in summer.

If you are looking for burgers, fries, ice cream and soda there are two locations in the park in the structures along the beach. The first is at East Beach in a newer structure with restrooms and a service window. It is open seasonally. There are picnic tables on a raised deck. It's back from the beach and has a parking lot close by, and is accessible. Again it's busy in the summer and most will walk up from the beach. The other is a freestanding snack shack near the Meigs Point pavilion and across from the nature center down on the beach. It is also seasonal and focuses on burgers and fries. This one is located on the beach.

If vending machines are what you want, you will find these at the East Beach location mentioned above, the Middle Beach pavion, and the Meigs Point pavilion. There are probably options within the camp too but I didn't notice any vending machines at the camp store.

If you are looking for a major grocery store, I suggest Big K on Route 1 westbound about 5 miles. It's your typical major American grocery store to meet all your grocery needs. Closer by is Clinton in the East direction which has many shops and is pretty commercial so you can find your fast food etc. along rte 1.

As for the myriad of day visitors to the park, generally you will not be allowed to enter the camp area with your vehicle aside from day visits to your friends etc who are registered guests. This means the camp store is not likely to meet your needs well; you would need to park elsewhere and walk or bike in, and that's about a half mile or so from the closest lot. Personally I love to walk the beach an do visit the camp store without staying in the camp, but this shop is mostly geared for convenience of the campers. Note it is also seasonal. It is great for its intended purpose.

It's a fine island shoppette