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West Haven, Connecticut: Connecticut's Youngest City

West Haven, Connecticut

Pictures from West Haven

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Savin Rock shoreline Bradley Point Park aerial Piping plover at Sandy Point

West Haven was settled in 1648 as "West Farms," part of the original New Haven Colony — one of Connecticut's oldest continuously settled areas. In 1719 West Farms became the separate parish of West Haven, and in 1822, after several failed incorporation attempts, it joined with neighboring North Milford to form the town of Orange. West Haven split from Orange to become a separate town in 1921 and was incorporated as a city in 1961, the last city incorporated in the state — "Connecticut's Youngest City." On July 5, 1779, British forces invaded New Haven Harbor by landing at West Haven; British Adjutant William Campbell intervened to protect the Reverend Noah Williston from his own troops, and was himself killed later that day on Allingtown Hill. Savin Rock, "Connecticut's Coney Island," was a shoreline amusement resort from the late 19th century until a 1938 hurricane destroyed its pier and the park closed during the 1960s.

  1. A veteran-run museum with a focus on Connecticut's 102nd Regiment.

  2. An Important Bird Area hosting piping plovers and least terns.

  3. The site of the 1779 British landing, source of the Savin Rock name.

  4. A new shoreline restoration park, opened June 2026.

  5. A 1.7-mile path linking West Haven's public beaches.

  6. A New Haven-style apizza institution since 1934.

  7. A long-running Italian-American restaurant on Campbell Avenue.

  8. New York and New Haven pizza styles at Baybrook Plaza.

A shoreline reborn

Lender's Beigel Bakery was founded in West Haven in 1927 by Polish immigrant Harry Lender and went on to pioneer the frozen bagel, one of the city's most far-reaching industrial legacies. Today West Haven's nearly four-mile tract of Long Island Sound beach comprises about 25% of Connecticut's public beaches; a 1.7-mile recreation path ties together the shoreline from Sandy Point to Bradley Point, following the footprint of the vanished Savin Rock amusement park. Sandy Point Beach & Bird Sanctuary, an Important Bird Area since 2003, hosts piping plovers, American oystercatchers and least terns; Bradley Point Park marks the site of the 1779 British landing, its shorefront outcropping the source of the Savin Rock name. West Haven Eco Park, a 1.5-acre shoreline restoration site planted with more than 16,000 native trees and shrubs, held its grand opening in June 2026.

Getting there

Most travelers reach West Haven by car via Interstate 95 — Exit 42 to Route 162 (Sawmill Road) or Exit 43 to Campbell Avenue, both signed toward Captain Thomas Boulevard and the shore. Rail riders use West Haven station at 20 Railroad Avenue, a full-service stop on Metro-North's New Haven Line with roughly 660 parking spaces, opened in 2013. Shore Line East and the CTrail Hartford Line do not serve West Haven; those services, along with Amtrak, are reached at New Haven Union Station.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get to West Haven?
By car via I-95 Exit 42 (Route 162/Sawmill Road) or Exit 43 (Campbell Avenue), both signed toward the shore. West Haven station at 20 Railroad Avenue offers full Metro-North New Haven Line service; Shore Line East and the Hartford Line do not stop here.
Can I still visit Savin Rock amusement park?
No — the amusement park closed during the 1960s after a 1938 hurricane destroyed its pier. The site is now a shoreline walking and biking path; the annual Savin Rock Festival celebrates the memory without reviving the rides.
Are West Haven's beaches open for swimming?
Sandy Point and Oak Street Beach are open. Sea Bluff Beach has at times been closed due to elevated bacteria levels — check the city's official alerts page before planning to swim there.
Is there a hotel in West Haven?
No hotel, inn or B&B physically in West Haven could be verified as currently operating; the former Debonair Beach Motel was demolished in late 2025. The nearest verified lodging is The Blake New Haven, a boutique hotel at 9 High Street.

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