The Beach Area Runs
Fairfield’s Beach Area is a flat, suburban neighborhood and its proximity to downtown Fairfield, the train station, and, of course, the beaches makes it popular for families of all ages. The Beach Area has been transformed in the past several years as small, one-story ranch-style houses have been replaced by much larger two and three-story homes designed to withstand flooding from future hurricanes. The area is defined as being South of Oldfield Rd and Old Post Rd from S. Pine Creek Rd on the West to the end of Riverside Drive and you can run almost anywhere. A half-marathon even runs through the area each year. The route options included here are some thought starters.
Starting & Finishing Point: Parking Lot behind Sullivan Independence Hall - Sullivan Independence Hall is down the driveway from Fairfield’s Old Town Hall.
Address: 725 Old Post Road, Fairfield, CT 06824
Distance: 2 to 10 miles based on route
Surface: Asphalt, sandy beaches, hard packed dirt
Elevation Gain: Negligible
Points of Interest:
Safety Tips and Information
Safety tips
Run facing traffic, wear bright clothing, carry an ID, cross streets at crosswalks or where cars would expect to see pedestrians, watch for cars exiting driveways and stay alert. In addition to the usual hazards, watch for teens on fast-moving motorized skateboards.
You can run on the beach at no charge from Jennings Beach to Penfield Beach near the Pavilion. In addition, there are public access walkways to the beaches along Fairfield Beach Rd. When you run on a beach in front of private property, run between the water’s edge and high tide line.
Zig Zag for 1.5 to 4.0 miles
beach rd | penfield RD | old orchard park | rowland rd | reef rd
The roads in the central part of the Beach Area roads were organized in a grid like a mid-west city. North-South roads between Old Post Rd / Oldfield Rd on the North end and Fairfield Beach Rd on the South end include 1) Beach Rd, 2) Penfield Rd, 3) Old Orchard Park (starts behind the YMCA) / Lalley Blvd, 4) Rowland Rd and 5) Reef Rd. All five are about .6 miles long. So, if you zig zag up one and down the next, you will run about 4 miles without covering ground twice. Start your run by heading out the driveway behind the Fairfield Museum to Beach Rd.
The Riverside Drive 2-mile warm-up
2 mile warm up
Before you start to zig zag, you can lengthen your run with the Riverside Drive warm up. Head North on Beach Rd, then right, heading East, on Old Post Rd which becomes the Post Rd. At the intersection of Old Post Rd and Post Rd, do not cross the Post Rd. Instead, run on the sidewalk on the right side of the Post Rd, past the Circle Diner and Circle Hotel Fairfield on your right. Pedestrian traffic is usually light on this sidewalk.
Take a right at the first light on Riverside Drive. Start running against the traffic again. Follow Riverside to the end, go left a short block on S. Benson then right on Judson which ends at Beach Rd. Now you can return to the Sullivan Independence Hall parking lot or start a zig zag route.
Ash Creek/Riverside Open Space
Ash Creek/Riverside
This detour is a good change of pace on the Riverside Dr run if it has been dry. On the Southside of Riverside Drive, about halfway between the Post Rd and S. Benson, you will see a path to enter the Ash Creek/Riverside Open Space. There are no trail marks. When you reach the wooded area, either fork will take you to the S. Benson Marina parking lot. Stay on the most travelled path (regardless of Robert Frost’s advice) to avoid hazards. Once you are in the parking lot near the boat ramp, continue around the marina to Jennings Beach or exit on your right, past the guard shack, on Turney Rd to return to Riverside Dr.
Fairfield Beach Rd Extension
Fairfield Beach Rd
Fairfield Beach Rd parallels the beaches between the South end of Beach Rd to the end of Pine Creek where it flows into Long Island Sound. At the intersection of Fairfield Beach Rd and Reef Rd, Fairfield Beach Rd zigs left then right and continues West for .8 of a mile to a turnaround. So, if you run on this part of Fairfield Beach Rd, you will add 1.6 miles to your run.
Enjoy your run, whichever route you take, and stay safe.