Dart Island State Park

Dart Island State Park is a nature preserve spanning about 19 acres on a sandbar within the Connecticut River. The island is forested with willow, poplar, and red maple trees and offers basic camping facilities for overnight stays.

Russell Dart donated roughly 1.5 acres of the island to the Connecticut State Park Commission in 1918, establishing the state's fifteenth state park. This gift marked an important moment for protecting natural resources along the river.

The park serves as a retreat for those seeking to experience the river's natural life, with opportunities for fishing and bird watching. Visitors can feel the isolation of island living away from urban surroundings here.

Reaching the island requires a boat, so visitors need their own transportation or must arrange water access beforehand. Primitive camping on site requires booking reservations at least two weeks in advance.

Records showed the park as just 2 acres for decades until a documentation review in 2012 revealed its actual size of roughly 19 acres. This long period of inaccurate records reflects how little-known this small island park remains.

Location: Middletown

Inception: 1918

Elevation above the sea: 4 m

Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Locate-Park-Forest/Other-State-Parks-and-Forests

GPS coordinates: 41.55278,-72.56111

Latest update: December 14, 2025 13:02