Hole-in-the-Wall Beach
Hole-in-the-Wall Beach is a Town of East Lyme beach on Baptist Lane in Niantic, named for the short tunnel under the railroad tracks that you walk through to reach the sand. From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day every car needs a town parking pass (a daily pass is $45 on weekdays and $55 on weekends for non-residents), and the beach is open from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. It sits at the west end of the Niantic Bay Boardwalk, 2.4 miles from Rocky Neck State Park.
Hole-in-the-Wall at a Glance
The Beach
The town describes a white-sand beach that slopes down beside a swimming area sheltered by a stone jetty. Facing the water, McCook Point is to your right and the Niantic Bay Boardwalk runs off to your left. The beach has restrooms, an outdoor shower tower, a bicycle repair stand and an outdoor stormwater classroom, and it connects on foot to McCook Point Park.
Passes and Prices
From the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, all vehicles need a town parking permit to enter East Lyme's beach parks (in 2026: May 23 to September 7). Sales at the beach are credit card only. Prices the town posts:
Daily parking pass (no re-entry), 2025 prices:
- Resident: $25 weekday, $40 weekend, holiday or event day
- Non-resident: $45 weekday, $55 weekend, holiday or event day
- Half price from 2 to 5 p.m. daily (non-resident $23.50 weekday, $30 weekend)
Walking in, 2025 prices:
- Residents: free with proof of residency
- Non-residents 16 and older: $25 a person; under 16 free
Season pass, 2026 prices (covers McCook Point, Hole-in-the-Wall and Cini):
- Resident $65 ($70 online); senior or handicap resident $40
- Non-resident $210 ($215 online)
Season passes are sold at the East Lyme Community Center, 41 Society Road, by mail or online; bring the car's registration.
Beach Rules
- Swim only in the lifeguarded area while lifeguards are on duty (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from mid-June); otherwise swim at your own risk.
- Only US Coast Guard-approved flotation devices in the swim area. Masks and fins are fine; snorkels are not.
- No tobacco products or alcohol.
- No ball games or frisbees in the swim area.
- Don't feed the gulls.
- No domestic animals from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
- Mobi-Chairs for beach access: ask a lifeguard.
Dogs
Dogs are allowed on the town beaches only from the Tuesday after Labor Day to the Friday before Memorial Day, under control, and owners clean up. They are never allowed on the boardwalk. Dogs.
Getting There
From I-95 exit 72, follow the Rocky Neck Connector to Route 156 (West Main Street), turn left, then right onto Baptist Lane, per UConn's CT Trail Finder. Parking is to the left and right.
Hole-in-the-Wall vs Rocky Neck
Rocky Neck's half-mile beach is free for any Connecticut-registered car and charges out-of-state cars $15 to $22; Hole-in-the-Wall charges everyone without a town season pass in summer, but puts you on the boardwalk and a short walk from Niantic's Main Street. Rocky Neck beach, all East Lyme beaches.
Contact
East Lyme Parks and Recreation: 860-739-5828, parkinfo@eltownhall.com.
Hole-in-the-Wall Beach FAQ
Why is it called Hole-in-the-Wall Beach?
Because you reach it through a short tunnel under the railroad tracks, according to the Town of East Lyme.
How much does it cost to park at Hole-in-the-Wall Beach?
From Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, a daily town pass is $25 weekday and $40 weekend for residents, $45 and $55 for non-residents (2025 prices), half price from 2 to 5 p.m. Off-season, no pass is required.
What are the hours at Hole-in-the-Wall Beach?
8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Lifeguards are on duty 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from mid-June.
Are dogs allowed at Hole-in-the-Wall Beach?
Only from the Tuesday after Labor Day to the Friday before Memorial Day. Dogs are never allowed on the Niantic Bay Boardwalk.
Can you walk in to Hole-in-the-Wall Beach for free?
Residents can with proof of residency. Non-residents 16 and older pay $25 a person in season; under 16 is free.