Head of the Meadow Beach Reviews

Going early in the morning, and early before tourist season, is a treat to have the beach to yourself! This morning was foggy but the sun shone Thru so it was picture perfect. Great waves cresting with spray in the breeze and then petering out on the sand. Tranquility personified.

If you are into boogie boarding and surfing; this is a good place to go. This beach has something for everyone. It has a big sand bar where the children can enjoy the ocean safely. If you are into people watching; great scenery. If you are lucky; sometimes you might see seals. One of my favorite things is when the Lewis Brothers ice cream truck arrives.

Love this beach! This beach has a very wide sandbar, carving a calm, knee to chest deep waterway between beach and oceanfront. It is separated by a wide stretch of sand so that it's protected from crashing waves- great for children and adults who are afraid of surf! Added bonus- we enjoyed watching seals playing in the water- they like this beach too!

Absolutely gorgeous wide beach. Wonderful spot close to PTown and Truro. Can't wait to go back and
walk there again... I can hear the gentle waves now..

Greatest cape beach. Easy parking, easy walk to beach, bathrooms, food truck at local adjacent beach, great waves - who could ask for anything more!

Rolling waves, great sand, and a 200-yard long lagoon of warm water (~5 ft deep) for those who don’t want to potentially be mistaken for a seal...

What a tranquil spot. I could have stayed forever. The beach has a steep drop off at high tide where little ones will be over their heads quickly but at low tide there is a sand bar. There are two parking spots one is a town parking lot and one is a national park parking lot. Either sticker will work and/or pay 15.00 for the day. You can walk for miles and sometimes walk down the beach to see the seals, you can ask the ranger on duty. Also there is Head of the Meadow Trail. It is a two mile trail though Cape Cod woods. The experience was wonderful and I would return.

We rode our bikes to Head of the Meadow twice during our week long stay in N Truro. It was one of our favorite spots. We saw numerous seals the first day. The waves were fun and the beach is beautiful.

We have been visiting here for over 15 years, love it so much we bought a home here! The sunsets are beautiful. There is a coast guard beach right next door, and miles of sand in both directions.

We came here last weekend, twice. It was a heat wave weekend, 4 day sof 90 degree's. All the national seashore beaches Marconi, Coastguard, Nauset Light, by 9am the lots were full We headed to Head of the meadow on recommendation from friends who are locals in the summer time. Because there was now lifeguards to the left parking lot, it was free! Big lot, bathrooms, and steep hill incline to get to the beach. Has to be one of my favorite places. Pristines sand, no rocks, plenty of room to social distance. Carry in and carry out. There were whales and seals from the shore, so cool to see a whale breach as your looking at the ocean. The waves were really good on Saturday, quieter on Sunday, a few tide pools when the tide is out. There is a resident lot which is big and i honestly don't think someone without a sticker can park there. Get there no later than 11am or it will be full. Best beach and a bit of a drive but so worth it!

You have to time your visit right based on low tide. The sand bar is perfect to walk out to and boogie board during low tide. One of the best boogie boarding experiences for my teens even though the water temp was 56 degrees. A big thank you to the couple from Wellfleet that I met in the Starbucks in the Stop & Shop in Orleans for recommending!

Great beach, great sand, just so beautiful. Plenty of parking. Crowded on weekends but totally worth it. A favorite of ours!!

We have enjoyed Head of the Meadow Beach in the past but this visit was so stinky. We walked further past the brackish water to try to escape the smell but often it came our way. The flying bugs were also a bit obnoxious this year. Perhaps they enjoyed the smell. This is a great beach for kids as they enjoy playing in the protected water. We love this beach for walking!!! We would go back as we know beaches change every year.

Beautiful Beach with many seal visits not crowded but did have those biting flies. Bring a beach chair you'll want to stay forever.

The National Park Service beach is beautiful. I could have stayed here for hours watching the waves roll in.

Such a beautiful beach to spend the day with my family and friends. One of our favorite beaches in Cape Cod. Lifeguards on duty. Dog friendly. Overall an amazing time.

This is our new favorite beach. The kids loved the tidal pool and being able to skimboard. The water was clear and not freezing. We saw a couple seals swimming by. Very nice clean beach but rocky towards the edge of the water

After the undertow and biting flies we encountered at Marconi Beach, this beach was a much better experience. If you go at low tide, sandbars are exposed that make for an easy entry into the water, with waves big enough to ride in on a boogie board, but not overwhelming, even for young kids.

This was a nice beach to visit on a trip to the cape. There was a $15 parking fee for the day (but you can visit any other beaches at the national seashore with that parking pass)

Dog friendly

We could see seals swimming in the water but they were not too close to the shore.

It is hard to describe what it is like to see so many seals - easily in the hundreds (see the photos) - relaxing on a sandbar, out of the reach of both sharks and humans. And to hear their bellows/barks- not apparently directed at humans but at each other - it is quite profound to be able hear and see nature like this. Imagine the roar of a distant crowd. It is about a 20 minute walk from the beach entrance - turn to the left (north) and get ready to be amazed. Go at low tide for the full effect, and take telephoto lenses so as to give the seals as much space as possible.

short walk from the parking lot. not many people seals swimming just off the sand it was pretty cool

I am quite surprised that this beach has received only 70 odd reviews till now. This is a must go beach and for me it scores better than race point beach. Here you can see seals as well . Ample parking and easy walk to the beach. Dont go by number of reviews.

After reading countless reviews online and getting thoroughly confused in our search for a great beach for kids and our dog, we finally just called the National Park Service at Cape Cod. Head of the Meadow Beach was one of their top recommendations.
The beach is right on the Atlantic Ocean, but there are no huge waves. The shore gradually gets deeper, and there are lots of sandbars, so kids can safely play in the surf.
One of the big attractions is the many seals that swim in these waters. During our visit a parade of seals, at least a mile long, swam past the beach.
While areas of this beach are off-limits to dogs, to protect birds, there are plenty of areas for your pooch to enjoy the water or just playing in the sand.

This is our favorite beach in Truro. Its clean, guarded and 100% pure nature with the beautiful ocean breakers and sand dunes. This year there is a big safety focus on the sharks with lots of warning signs and even Severe Bleeding first aid kits! There were no shark sightings during our visit and visitors were allowed to swim. You can see dozens of seals on a sand bar which is really cool. You need to walk 1.5 miles north at low tide to see them beached on a sand bar which is only visible for a few hours. I saw them and uploaded a few pictures here. The beach was heavily contorted this year and is a reminder of the power of storms to change the landscape. The unexpected change is part of the pleasure of discovery here.

This as a sandy National Seashore beach, the surf does not pound you with rocks like it does at Marconi. Also in early summer a huge group from the seal pod were hanging around. There is a bathroom, changing station and outdoor shower here, and you are right next door to a Truro town beach where the ice cream man frequents. Great for walking along the shore or on a wooded trail. It is my favorite beach on the ocean side.

There are so many reasons to love this beach- it’s beautiful, it’s easy to get on (once you drive to truro!), there’s lifeguards, and there’s something for everyone- waves, tide pools, large Sandbar/pond that fills up with the tide (free of seals/sharks!). But if you’re like me- I enjoy seeing the seals and keep my binoculars handy in case a shark visits.

We enjoyed a nice warm and sunny late summer day on this beach. Kids were able to go into the water (although quite cold already) and we saw a seal and a little shark passing by. This section of the Cape Cod shore is very quiet and rural. No big parking lot (which is just great, as not a lot of people can go there!), no food stands, no bathroom facilities, just pure nature. Being a passionate traveler to Denmark it was kind of nice to find a very similar scenery.

At low tide hundreds of harbor seals pull out to rest on the sand bars along the western end of the Meadow Beach. The sand bars form lagoons where the seals drive schools of fish into them and terns can be seen diving down for a low tide snack while the heads of hundreds of seals are bobbing in the water. It is about a half mile walk west toward Provincetown along the beach from the parking lots to reach the sand bars. Keep a safe distance for they are protected by law and it is illegal to harass or feed beached seals. You will need at least a 300 - 600 MM lens to capture some great close up photos and, although seals are very curious, they also keep a safe distance from humans.

Typical, wonderful outer-cape ocean (as opposed to bay) side beach. Bring your boogie board, and a couple of picnic items to weigh down your beach towel. It tends to be a bit windy on the "atlantic" side

We met a Park Ranger here for Seals and Sharks talk/hike. Our guide used to be a biology teacher and he engaged our homeschooled grandchildren with artifacts. When we hiked to the water we saw several seals and out further we saw many whales breaching. It was amazing. We did not see sharks. Great free experience

This is a beautiful natural looking beach with big dunes and protected areas to one side and beautiful sandy beach on the other. Lots of families come here from all over the world. You can be sitting next to French speaking people to one side and Dutch the other. Love how big and expansive the views are, despite been the summer there is always a little secluded spot you can find. The water is refreshing nice waves, if you looking for a beach with small calm waves, this beach is not for you.
A real beach with lots of movement and sound, love to hear the ocean so alive.
Have fun, bring lots of sunscreen and enjoy this Cape Cod majestic beach.

Gorgeous, huge beach and quite deserted off season. 4 seals were swimming just off the shoreline. Would definitely recommend it.

We vacation in the Cape every year but stay down in Dennis on the bay side. We LOVE Mayflower Beach. With that said, we wanted a change of scenery and took a ride up to the National Seashore. First of all, parking is cheaper ($15) than at Mayflower ($20) so I guess that's a plus. The waves are bigger/better and my kids had a great time boogie boarding and riding the waves. We don't get much of that down on the bay side. The views are beautiful, but you can say that about any beach in the cape really. We spotted some seals close to shore so my girls were a bit nervous about the possibility of sharks nearby. No really great sand bars during low tide like Mayflower...but definitely fun for a day or two and change of pace.

Head of the Meadow (National Seashore) is our favorite beach so we were devastated to learn on the very day 8/8/20 that we started our vacation that the beach parking lot was closed. I know COVID has created many issues regarding safety but this one is a real head scratcher - we still found creative ways to get our family dropped off at the beach and thoroughly enjoyed our time at the beach - but - we couldn't help but notice that the Town of Truro beach parking lot (resident sticker only) was never more than half full - even though the weather was perfect and in the mid to high 80's.
I'm sure the National Seashore management team has its agenda for which beaches stay open and which close but after spending one of our beach days at Marconi which was packed and somewhat uncomfortably crowded given COVID restrictions I wonder how they make their decisions. I guess in 2020 no one has logical answers.

This is another amazing outer cape beach. It is located on the Atlantic side of the cape offering a wide sweeping beach. The parking is adequate but in summer it is best to get there early. There is plenty of room on the beach to relax, though there are restricted areas for dune regeneration and piper cover nesting. There is no concession stand so bring what you need for your stay. There are bathrooms available and several books to borrow if you forget to bring one. Cool Atlantic breezes will keep you comfortable on hot summer days. Facing east, it is great for sunrises. 

Exactly what you expect from a sandy beach. However, very crowded on a sunny summer day. Sadly, announced seals (at low tide) where nowhere to be found.

What can I say about Ptown and its beaches. Their beaches as beautiful but you do need to be very careful as sharks have been sighted numerous times. The beach is wide and very clean.

We paid for a seasonal sticker for the beach ... they did not have a weekly pass. The sticker was $ 60. Let's you have in and out privileges while you are on the cape.

The Beach has been cut in to as you head to the water. The channel that has been formed let's the children play in calmer waters. Lots of seals are in the area and once in a while there is a Shark glad that goes pop.

Great beach for young kids and adults alike
Large sand bar that's there during high tide so kids can swim and surf with waves
Basically a double beach with a regular beach and then one that is literally out in the ocean
Occasional seals nearby makes it interesting
Best beach on ocean side

The landscape on the cape is always changing but what makes this beach great for families is that there's a giant Sandbar that rarely goes underwater so there's a shallow river that small kids can play in and big waves that older kids can Boogie Board in so basically there is something for everyone and it's a beautiful beach.

We were there out of season so it was cold and windy, but empty.

I'd been told there were seals in the area by a Park Ranger and there they were - at least half a dozen big seals playing in the surf. We also saw spouts off shore, but I never could see what kind of marine mammal they were coming from - could have been whales or porpoises.

A great beach for every one. Great waves, calm water golden sand and enough space for very one.
Seals swimming just off shore and a visit from a baby seal on one of the afternoons we were there. Good parking, free after 4pm and not too far to walk with all the kit we take to the beach, toilets and a visiting ice cream man, what more do you want!?

When staying on Cape Cod, the first beach we had planned to go to had a full parking lot so at the last minute we picked Head of the Meadow. I'm so glad we did! We were there for both low tide and high tide. Kids had fun boogie boarding and with low tide, the sand bar was perfect for my little ones. Saw lots of seals swimming. Decent changing facilities and bathrooms and the parking is not too far way from the beach. Highly recommend for families!

With three days spent beach side, this particular sandy spot was a great choice. The beach sand is slightly rocky, water is refreshing and constant crashing waves setting the sonic atmosphere. Coastal Cape Cod as you expected, at its best.

We got here around 10 am on a Saturday so we were able to stake out a prime spot before the beach filled with people. It was gorgeous with miles of sandy beaches and sand dunes, and overall it was pretty clean. There was sadly a line of dead fish halfway up the sand that got washed out with high tide, but the beach is so massive that we were able to find a spot far in front of it and couldn't smell it where we were. We saw two seals swim right up to the shore which was adorable. There were very clean port a potties and also a food truck serving inexpensive tacos. Parking is $15 but we stayed at the campground nearby so beach access was free if you are on foot.

My family has a house in Truro and this is one of their favorite beaches. Came in mid July and it wasn’t too crowded which was nice.
Lots of parking spots available at 1pm. Easy walk down to the shore. Scenic dunes once you pick a spot. We walked mile down the beach and saw a jillion seals. So fun to watch them. Bring chairs, umbrellas, anything you need. Several life guards on duty.

Your standard, average beach: sand, water and people. If you want something extraordinary, go to Longnook Beach.

Real nice beach, long, not very crowded (mid-summer on a hot weekday).

The seals are lovely to watch.

There are 2 parkings. Take the right one (owned by the town), the parking is less expensive than the left one (owned by the state park or something).

Great beach with plenty of parking. Perfect beach waves for boogie boarding and there is always a sandbar that appears, creating a nice shallow area for smaller children. Get here well before noon to avoid crowds!

This is another Truro Beach that I have never gotten to till now.
On the way back from Highland Light we stopped here. It is a spectacular beach. Located on the Atlantic Ocean side, it is wide and sweeping. There was a smattering of people, and even so, plenty of room to enjoy the water and warm sun. We were treated to a show by a couple of seals. Another great alternative to the more narrow and more crowded beaches of Provincetown. A wonderful late summer beach alternative.

We are here very year and this year low tide is awsome. Add in a beach fire and you can not ask for a better day.

There are two entrances to this beach, one at the National Seashore and one at the Truro town beach. Although the two lots will hold a lot of cars, the beach itself is large: both quite wide and you can easily walk a mile in either direction from the entrances.

We parked at the town beach and headed south, about 1/2 mile from the lifeguard stations. Since our closest neighbors were about 200 yards away, we opted for discreet nude/topless sunning, but on a more crowded day that might not be advisable.

Wonderful beach!!! Great place to bring your dogs. Saw many seals at the end of the sunset. Gorgeous view, easy access and tons of room to make it your own private Idaho!

No boogie boarding and lots of seaweed but beautiful day for a walk on the beach. Saw both gray and harbor seals close to shore

No facilities here other than what looks like two bathrooms, but is really the equivalent of a port-a-potty inside. That being said, maybe it's one of the reasons that you're not packed in there like sardines. Available parking, available space with your neighbors. An over dune walk to the beach which can be tough and no mats to make it a little easier. The beach and view are really nice. When high tide starts to come in, it forms these huge trails along the beach where kids gather to use skimming boards. Was awesome to watch them. With the sharks around town lately, not too many swimmers the day I was there. The beach had just been closed the day before. Usual recommendations - be aware, swim in groups. Lifeguards are stationed, helicopters fly overhead, etc. Pay to park just like other National Seashore beaches.

One of the real beauties of this part of the world is the Cape Cod National Seashore, and one of the gems of the National Seashore is Head of The Meadow. This is an easily-accessed beach that edges the Atlantic Ocean. It's family-friendly, with lots of bright colored umbrellas dotting the shoreline. Seals are a common sight as they bob along offshore. The beach itself is sandy and wide, plenty of room to spread out and enjoy the gorgeous Cape Cod weather. The water is clean and cool, but you need to pay close attention to 1) the undertow/rip current and 2) the presence of Great White sharks. Now before you go running for the highlands, understand that the whole shark thing (while true and important to note) should not be a deterrent from going to beach and having a good time. The truth is, the kids will be able to enjoy the safety of an inner channel that fills with the rising tides (a very unique natural feature). And while the water is refreshing, this really isn't a place most people go to do serious swimming. The parking is a bit expensive (unless you have a resident parking pass) but it's definitely worth it to enjoy a beach that is much the same as it was centuries ago - no condos or high-rise buildings or development of any kind. That's the beauty of the National Seashore (thanks, JFK!) and a real highlight of HoTM. ENJOY!!

This a another great find, A beach in Truro that is a great place to visit. It is a long stretch of sand. A great place to spend a day in the nice weather.

It was worth to walk 3 miles to view the seals at their habitat at the beach. It was such magical moments to see them playing. Do remember to take bottles of water with you to look for them as they move around and it might take longer walks. There was a lady told us that she usually needed to walk 30 to 45 mins to look for the seals. We saw ppl used monocular. We will come back to this beach to see the seals next time. Since we visited in season, July there is a parking fee of $25.

One of my "go-to" places when headed to the Cape Cod National Seashore. Near a golf course, lighthouse, cliffs and dunes. Need I say more. Typically not crowded and a nice breeze.

I mistakenly wrote this review for Coast Guard Beach, which is the next one down. Head of the Meadow is the place to go to see the seals. Couldn't figure out how to edit my review of Coast Guard, so it remains in error. Anyway - Head of Meadow has the sand bars that people - and seals - can play on at lower tide levels. It's a relatively short walk north to see the seals.

I would recommend this beach when compared to the other beaches on the national seashore. Some of the other beaches had so many small rocks and pebbles that entering the water meant going through excruciating pain. After trying to get into the water at a couple of other beaches and getting disappointed we stopped at a local gas stations and checked with the locals which beaches were worth visiting. One of the persons working there pointed us to this beach and he was so right !!
The water was good and it was much easier to enter the water when compared to the other beaches. We spent a good 2-3 hours here and finally had to leave around sunset. At low tide the tidal pools were filled with kids running and playing around. It is a good experience for little kids here.
The beach is wheelchair accessible which i find is a wonderful feature. Would say that this is a "must visit" amongst the beaches on the National Seashore.

Having been to almost all of the outer cape beaches, this one is my least favorite. The beach nearest the parking area has much of the sand restricted due to bird nesting. At high tide, there is hardly any beach unless you are willing to walk down quite away. Note that once you do, there is a lot of open sand and plenty of space and privacy to spread out. The beach area is beautiful with dramatic high sand dunes. There is plenty of parking and restroom facilities. Parking is expensive unless you invest in a National park pass, then you can use your pass to get in. Overall, a very nice beach if you are willing to walk down from the entrance a ways

Visited "Head of the Meadow" beach on Trip Advisor and Friend's recommendations. Pristine and unspoiled with good Atlantic Ocean waves and soft sand. Loved the cliffs and sand dunes. Saw seals swimming (which prompted a "Beware of Sharks" warning flag) but lifeguards are very vigilant. Cape Cod Bay beaches tend to be pebbly with lots of seaweed so opt for the Atlantic side for a true summer Cape Cod Seashore experience.

I have been in search of a great beach since I moved here from San Diego 16 years ago. This beach is beautiful, well maintained by the town and it's life guards. It's peaceful and wild at the same time, where you can see Sea Lions feed at dusk and fires are permitted by permit. It's fantastic for coffee in the morning, sunset, and in between.

Nice Beach kids love the low tide.waves are big fun to ride.keep an eye on kids.you have to swim out to second Beach where waves are.

I visited the beach after Labor day and it was worth driving 2.5 hrs from Boston. The beach is beautiful, calm, and not too crowded. Plenty of parking spaces and public bathrooms are available for visitors. The beach is dog friendly but owners have to follow the rule to keep the dog on leash. Hope to come back again.

Steep decline of the beach into the water. Bigger grained sand/pebbly which you begin to feel on your feet after a little while. Beautiful beach and cool sandbar during lower tides. Clean beach, few bugs that I noticed, compared to black fly heaven (aka Coast Guard Beach).

Our second beach on our “tour” and this one did not disappoint either. The beach was clean, water gorgeous, and parking was included with our pass we bought at Corn Hill beach. Great beach for a day trip. There was also an ice cream truck that seemed to follow us from beach to beach. Haha. Port-a-potties were available at this beach.

Ok, now I know saying this is the best beach on the Cape will for sure ruffle some feathers because everyone truly has their favorite spot, and I respect and dig that. For my money, the best beach on the Cape is in fact Head Of The Meadow. Located on the outer Cape in the town of Truro, Head Of The Meadow is a perfect destination for day trippers, families with small children, and locals alike.

Because of it's location at the crook of the Cape, a natural phenomenon occurs, especially after a winter with rougher seas. During the off season, nor'easters blow and drag sand from the southern parts of the Cape and push it up to where Truro is. This causes a sandbar effect, creating a totally safe tide pool that ranges from 6"-6' deep, depending on the time of day. It is a perfect barrier for young kids, and for people who don't feel safe swimming out in the open ocean, especially since we have had intense shark warnings all season. This tide pool is about 500 feet long, maybe 100-150 feet wide, and is really just the best. If you want to swim in open ocean, simply swim across the tide pool and look out for forever over some of the most beautiful and well kept waters in the north east. You can also run from the ocean side and jump in to the tide pool. The tide pool protects from harmful sea life - I'm looking at you, mr. shark - , riptide currents, large waves, and ocean currents.

It really is the best, I've been coming to the Cape for over two decades now and just discovered this gem of a beach last year. It is my favorite and for sure worth a look.

This beach also gets points for being dog friendly, however you'll want to call or check the National Seashore website to make sure that they are ok on that day. Nesting Shorebirds will occasionally keep the beach closed to pets, but on days when it's open, it is a perfect beach especially for dogs that don't like to contend with a lot of waves. Again, call first to avoid driving out there with your best canine friend only to have to turn back and drop fido off.

The beach had really nice sand and surf. Great for boogie boards. There are actually two beaches here. The access road splits at the end. To the left is the National Seashore beach and to the right the Town of Truro beach. You need to pay for both parking lots. National lot is $20/day but you can get $60 season pass for CCNS or $80/annual pass for all National Parks. If you plan on going more than 3 or 4 times, the pass is worth it. Not sure how the Town charges. There are better facilities at the CCNS beach (showers, restrooms) but it is possible to walk over from the town beach. Long sand path over a dune to the CCNS beach. Town beach is accessible due to level access and Mobi mats on the sand. Life guards at both beaches. The beach drops off a lot at high tide so you are immediately in waist deep water with pretty large waves depending on the conditions. Low tide offers sand bars that have easy access. In between, the waves roar across these bars making for great fun! If you don't have a boogies board, get one!

Head of the meadow is a really spectacular ocean beach on the Cape. The sand is soft and the waves are incredibly fun (and can be pretty rough at times too). Very kid-friendly beach as well as there are no stairs or large cliffs to walk down. Parking is actually $15/day (someone else said $20/day) which seems reasonable considering beach parking prices around New England.

We saw many seals swimming in the waters here which was nice. Great waves for boogie boarding too. Bathrooms are done via port-a-potties, I did not notice any changing facilities (might have been there with the port-a-potties though). When we were there (late August) a taco truck and ice-cream truck also visited the parking lot every day.

Have always made "Head of the Meadow" our beach of choice in the Cape. Large waves, sandbar, lots of open space and lifeguards.

Sharks aren't that frequent, and the lifeguards plus your own vigilance can improve your odds. Great surfing and people watching. It's a lovely spot - no kidding!

What a beautiful spot on the ocean. Nestled in the dunes, very active surf. Strong currents made actual swimming harder. Proactive lifeguards. But enchanting place--maybe the loveliest of the national seashore beaches on the upper Cape.

This beach is very nice and you can find shells on this beach. It could be a problem for people who have difficulty walking on sand because it is an uphill walk to get to the beach. Very nice beach and seals do come around here!

We love this beach. Quite beautiful and very removed from any commercial activity. There were hundreds of seals if you walk off to the north just a few hundred yards. Bathroom facilities available.

I come here every year and often time the beach is different due to winter storms . This make our annual visit here even better as we wonder what we will find each year ! No matter what old man winter does to the beach it's always a very enjoyable 2 weeks ! We all enjoy great Bogie Boarding and I being older still body surfing ! Everyone enjoys just relaxing on the beach and of course the Seals ! This year there were concerns over sharks but the Life Guards and planes are constantly checking the waters ! When swimming in any ocean always be cautious of the surroundings ! Have fun !

Over the last ten years storms have depleted the beaches in that area. You could never stay the entire day when high tide came in. However, like all cape cod beaches they are great for the views.

One of our favorite beaches in the cape. Over the years we have been to many beaches with our young kids, Head of the Meadow ranks high on the list. Get there early by 10am before it gets filled up to see the stunning big ocean beach, jaw dropping views. Other beaches like herring cove, corporation, and mayflower feel like a lake beach compared to this gorgeous wide open beach.

Kid friendly tidal pool. Excellent boogie board waves at the shore. We saw gray seals and had to get out of water per lifeguards, we saw a shark cruise up and down and breach - saw dorsal and tail fin - the crowd clapped and cheered. Helo overhead tracked the shark and eventually lifeguards gave all clear to get back to swimming.

Sand is coarse, not fine enough for master sand castles, but bring shovels and buckets and dig in anyway. Also no critters like hermit crabs to collect. Not a lot of shells either. There are many interesting smooth rocks to collect some perfect to skip on water. Wind was strong and steady enough for good kite flying.

Portapotties are available, no showers and no concession so pack lunch, beverages and snacks.

This is a beautiful beach with wide beaches, good breezes and large sand dunes as a backdrop. We love when the tide comes in to make what we call the "Sandbar Pool." It was refreshing to swim and jump into the pool without the fear of sharks. My sons loved fishing from the surf's edge and caught striped bass and a bluefish. The stars twinkle above at night. Many days we were there all day and came again in the p.m. to fish and enjoy the night.

Many of the beaches on the ocean side have rocks which are tough on the feet. Head of the Meadow had less rocks, a nice sand bar at low tide and lots of waves. This was my family's favorites ocean beach here on Cape Cod. Life guards did a life saving demonstration that was interesting.

Dunes. Really really high dunes. Perfect sand. Small surf. Space. Long walks. Seals. Lots of seals. This is a beautiful beach. Parking is $20/day. If your up for it park 2 miles away and bike along the Head of Meadows trail.

Beach - beach - beach ... and each totally amazing as the last. The views here as beautiful, well maintained sand and not at all crowded in September.

This is a favorite beach with it's rolling waves, flat sand bars and pristine sand. The whole tableau is framed by dunes fringed with beach grass and beach plum. Over the years we've found the soft sand hill climb a bit more challenging. It's not steep, but it is just enough of an incline to give one a short workout. However, the beach and the view are well worth a little huffing and puffing. It's magnificent!

Our top choice in Cape Cod. It's very clean and the sandbar was very cool to have. The lifeguards were running drills one of the days we came and they were especially attentive after a shark was spotted of the coast of North Truro. Great spot for walks on the beach. Felt very safe swimming. There were seals swimming just past the sandbar, which was very cool to see.

Beautiful beach and a fun trench to play in and it's pet friendly. Easy parking and the Lewis Brothers Ice Cream truck came twice a day and their ice cream is delicious!

Nice beach, has a shower, changing rooms, and bathrooms. The surf seems pretty gentle here and there were several seals swimming just offshore.

Lovely spot at low tide. You feel like you can walk straight to the horizon. It is a magical spot. Catch it at sunset and low tide if you can!

Sharks...? I don't think I've actually seen but seriously you'll be swimming amongst the seals as the tide comes in especially. The sand bars seem to make it a perfect place during to low tide for children and anyone nervous about stronger seas. The seals are everywhere and I spotted a few Whales in the distance as well. Like most of the National Seashore you can achieve solitude and privacy with a long walk. Though as the tide comes in you could be cut off from the beach that's not protected for the local wildlife especially the birds (an important thing to respect). If you venture far enough don't be surprised to find an occasional nude sun bather or swimmer. The beach is very clean. Plenty of parking and the area that is guarded isn't as large or crowded as some of the others.

We used to frequent Marconi but the past few years it became too rocky. This beach was recommended to us and we've been going back ever since. This year there was a larger gap between the sandbar and the beach upon entering so more of an effort to walk over to the ocean. It is definitely less crowded than Marconi and there is a taco truck you can walk over to for lunch. Great quesadillas! Some seaweed but i will take that over rocks.

Amazing! If you walk down the beach you can see the seals bathing in the sun and swimming! So cool!!!

We've been coming to The Cape every summer for years and this is the first year we visited Head of the Meadow Beach. Besides it being beautiful...little to no rocks, nice sand, great tidal pools at low tide, seal sightings, great waves (depending on the wind) for boogie boarding and skim boarding on the shore, it is rather easy, in comparison to other National Seashore Beaches, to get to. It is a walk through sand but it's not far at all. My children; 10 and 12 loved this beach! It's a great family-friendly beach with lifeguards as well. On our first visit, we made the mistake of sitting past the tidal pool and had to move when the tide came in. My advise would be to sit before the tidal pools so you don't have to relocate with the tide changes. Also, we walked to the left down quite a ways to see all the seals basking in the sun on the sandbar. Worth the walk as it was quite a sight!

Great beach. At low tide beach is vast and creates a small shallow rivulet as the tide comes in. Great for family and fun. National park side has bath house and the town managed lot has a taco truck and ice cream truck usually shows up about 4:00 - the taco truck is a bit pricey and food is underwhelming - better off packing snacks but the ice cream is worth the splurge (cash only though). This summer, there are no dogs allowed but dogs are allowed at Herring Cove in Provincetown.

Great family beach. Lots of seals, and good waves for boogie boarding. Life guards were a nice addition, so we could let the kids be kids.

This is one of the national park beaches. There are bathrooms, sand washoff station, dressing rooms, lifeguards during the day. There is a fee unless you have a national park service pass. The area is beautiful and not at all crowded. We saw a lot of seals just off shore. The guards were flying the shark flag but a lot of people in the cold (58F !) Water.

Love this beach.....great beach for walking. Walked about a mile(toward Race Point) at low tide and saw a sand bar full of seals. Sat for about an hour watching with no other people around. Also a great place for bird watching.

We always wander along here when we are in the Cape . Much less busy than Race point beach . If you park at far left of the car park and walk over the dune path and turn left you should see seals . It’s quite a walk towards the sand bar ( 15-30 mins) the seals are there . Your feet do sink into the sand quite a bit regardless of the route which can make it heavy going for anyone with knee issues but it’s worth it.

I loved Head of the Meadow beach and the water was really clear and clean. There were really cool sandbars, but in the sand there were sand fleas. My family was getting bitten and they said it really hurt. It was really pretty, I was bothered by the sand fleas.
Also, in certain parking lots, before 4:00 p.m., you have to pay, but after 4:00 p.m. all parking lots are free.

Head of the Meadow Beach is a wonderful beach! A big plus is that it is easily accessed, with a sizable free parking lot just a 5 minute walk from the shore. Seals bask on sandbars at low tide, or bob offshore at high tide. You often have the beach to yourself, and if there are other people there, if you walk a bit you can find a quiet spot to be alone. I took a nice long walk with my lab off leash. There is also a nice bike path that begins off the parking lot with a few hiking trails branching off it.

The surf was a little rough the day we visited- but the water was refreshing and the beach was clean. No lifeguard. Clean bathrooms.

This beach you can use during july and august with out living in town. No town beach sticker required for National Seashore portion of beach. It's a long beach.
Showers and facilities available, no food sold here.

Wild life ranges from seals to piping plovers. Beware rules on dogs.
To west of main beach you may run into some naturists. Just some of the local color.

At low tide there is an old shipwreck you can check out. Maybe uncover a good discovery as the sand shifts around a lot from day to day and year to year.

With sand bars there can be sudden drop offs and watch the incoming tide you can get stuck.

This beach is perfect at low tide! When I visited in July, low tide was right before noon. There are sand bars and perfect waves for body boarding! The water can be a bit chilly, but you will not even notice it once you are in the water and having a blast!

Its a nice place to relax.. one of the best beaches here at the Cape... best time to be is early morning to noon as crowd is fewer...it also has waves which is good for surfing.

Absolutely gorgeous beach with breathtaking views from the dunes. Nice sandbar at low tide that creates a great area for little ones to play. I think we've seen seals swimming just offshore on every visit. This year there was a large group resting on the sand bar. Rangers provided binoculars for viewing them safely.

Definitely my favorite beach on our trip so far—and it’s FREE plus there are lifeguards working. Bonus!
Park as far to the north (left) as you can. When on the beach, put your timer on and walk 20 minutes north (left) up the beach. It’s hard walking in this squishy Cape Cod sand. Bring water. There are two little natural peninsula/sandbars. Zero people. HUNDREDS of seals at low tide. I hit it right when the tide was starting to come back in. They were just floating en masse out there, watching me. Sat for almost an hour watching them with zero humans in sight anywhere. Magical. Seriously, a highlight of the trip—and the whole day was FREE!

Head of the Meadow Beach National Seashore was always one of our favorite beaches, but there is a problem there now with space restriction due to nesting birds, It used to be that beach goers would have to tolerate cordoning off of large sections of the beach but this was only during the early part of the season. Park officials are now seeing fit to keep these sections closed for the entire season, resulting in limited space and crowding. At times of high tide, the water can rise to just about where the beach is closed. It’s really very sad, because it’s forced us to go to other beaches where this is not happening. No one seems to have an explanation; perhaps there is not staffing to take all of the string wires down? When can we get our beach back? We pay to use it!

Because this beach is part of the National Parks it doesn't get as much visitation as other beaches. There is no lifeguard on duty, so some risk is involved. The sand is pretty soft without many rocky spots. Pleasantly surprised when we found it after the Beachcomber parking was overflowing.

This review concerns the National Seashore side. The beachfront is shared with the Town of Truro, whose beach is just south.. Separate access, parking, life guards. But it's the same beautiful ocean whichever side you're on! And of course once you are planted in the sand you can move any way you want at waterside. This beach is especially nice at low tide when a long and wide sand bar appears a few yards off shore, separated from the beach by a channel deep enough for swimming. Yes there are a lot of seals to be seen. Good parking and other facilities. The road to Head of the Meadow off Rt 6 is not very well marked, sign comes up fast, not comparable to the signage for Marconi to the south.

This is a must visit. The beach is more remote than some other national seashore beaches. The sand is soft and the views terrific. There are bathrooms and lifeguards. We saw many seals.

This was our first year vacationing on the Cape with a dog. We have a 1 year old Golden Retriever who had more fun than the rest of the family. The two large parking lots accommodate quite a few cars, so be prepared for the crowds. If you do not have a Truro town permit you can pay a $20 daily fee.

The giant sandbar is what makes this beach unique compared to the other beaches. Even at high tide, there is a huge sandbar which creates an amazing play space and double the waterfront space.

As this is one of the 6 National Seashore beaches, you are allowed to bring a dog anytime as long as you sit outside of the Life Guard area. We sat on the left side of the beach which IMO is the nicest area on the whole beach.

They also have a nice shower area for the end of the day a Taco truck for snacks.

We stopped here after touring the lighthouse and were pleasantly surprised. There was a sandbar which the teens could reach without really swimming. Beach was sandy not rocky and water between sandbar and beach was actually not too cold. We had a blast tossing the football from the sandbar to the beach and the teens enjoyed swimming. Facilities were minimal but adequate - change house, enclosed pit toilets, outdoor showers. Plenty of parking. We will definitely return.

This beach was wonderful. The little kids could safely play in the tidal pools. There was plenty of seashell treasure to find at low tide. The waves beyond the sandbar were great for the bigger kids boogie boarding or skim surfing. When the tide came in we had a great time spotting seals in the waves. The lifeguards were vigilant and constantly moving, swimming, running, patrolling. We will go back every year!

Our absolute favorite beach on the outer cape! Amazing sandbar, lovely surf, and unparalleled views of the meadow and dunes. Fun 2 mile bike trail is right off the parking lot. We haven't camped there but there is a beautiful camping area within easy walking distance.

Part of the National Seashore, Head of the Meadow Beach has ample parking, and plenty of open sand for enjoying a day at the beach. During our visit we watched many seals swimming nearby and enjoyed the sand and waves. Great family beach.

Ocean temp was chilly but still swim-able. Town beach charges $15 to park and has porta-lavs. We went to the National Seashore lot immediately adjacent and parked for free (mid June 2018) and there were showers and restrooms. Same seashore, just 100 yards north ....

Gorgeous beach area - great access for handicapped individuals. Great place to boogie board especially during low tide - no shells but lots of interesting rocks to collect. Water was extremely warm for July (many years we just about got frost bite). Perfect Cape beach!

This is a cool beach with a ton of seals at low tide and soft sand. Its close to Provincetown off 6. The lifeguards were very nice and helpful too.

I visited this beach after reading that it was a less crowded place to visit. I was ecstatic to see at least 8 seals in the water! To reach the beach, you have to climb over a sand dune. This could be tricky if someone had trouble walking. There were a few people on towels where the trail met the beach, but the number of people quickly dwindled. I had fun walking along the sandbars and looking at the shells and pebbles.

The Head of the Meadow Beach has soothing soft sands and if you look closely, you can see small groups of seals bobbing up and down in the water. This is part of the national shoreline and is all natural beach. A must see if you are in Cape Cod!

Friends and I have been coming to Head of the Meadow for as long as I can remember. Great meeting spot, great beach, only complaint is it can get quite crowded in the summer months. Each season we come back, the winter high tides alter the shoreline, so it’s always a surprise to see what’s in store at the beginning of each summer. Great beach for families to since a tide pool has been forming for a few years now that’s both shallow and good for little ones.

Beautiful setting with Dunes in background sand bars, pools .and nice white sand it is a proceed seal area but none were out this a.m.

On Cape Cod, ocean beaches sometimes get infested with this seaweed the locals call "mung." It basically makes the water unswimmable, unless you don't mind getting covered with gross brown slime. It has happened to us a number of times over the years, and the worst was this year at Head of the Meadow. Unfortunately, staff at the beach entrance will not tell you unless you ask. The day we went, there were hundreds of people on the beach, but no more than a couple of kids in the water at the time. That said, this is probably a nice beach when the slime isn't in the waves.

Nice beach overall, but pretty crowded. The biggest issue we had was that it is listed as handicapped/wheelchair accessible, but this is only true from the town permit parking lot.

This was our first time at Head of The Meadow. We just happened upon it trying to find a beach that you could get on to during this last winter storm. Only two beaches on the Atlantic side of Cape Cod were accessible and this was one of them. The beach is huge and the wave action was AMAZING! I can't wait to go back when there isn't a storm raging to see it's beauty during calmer weather. It was still awesome to see!

We visited here on a beautiful October day with a crisp breeze. very beautiful undeveloped, National Seashore. Truly Cape Cod. I have been here in the spring for saltwater flyfishing, it's also glorious then. I haven't been there in the summer season, I imagine it could get crowed.

I’ve been coming to this beach since I was a little kid and it’s still my favorite beach on the cape. The gray seal population has exploded over the years which makes for fascinating viewing. Of course you’ll hear about shark sittings but don’t be too concerned. Your chance of seeing one (or being bitten) is slim to none.

If you are looking to collect polished rocks this is the place for you to add to your collection or start one.

Enjoy!

The wave is big here. So if you like surfing, this is definitely the place to go in cape cod. I've been to 5 cape cod national beaches so far and this one has the biggest waves. There are safeguard on duty here.

We found our smooth, less rocky beach on the ocean side of the cape. Good waves for body boarding. Water wasn't as cold as expected. The tidal pools were really cool for the kids. Overall, our favorite beach in the cape.

Beautiful beach and dunes. Surfers catching waves. Seals lazily swimming by in the waters. Plenty of parking.

So this beach is huge and has a fantastic sandbar about 30 feet off the shore. However there is a town side and a national seaside side. If you pull into the left hand parking side it is the national seaside and if you have a town beach sticker you have to pay to use beach. If you pull into the right hand parking area (town side) vice versa (if you have a national seaside sticker.) Bottom line is park wherever your sticker allows you to park. Dogs are allowed on national seashore side all day all the way on the left past the last sign that says protected area. You have to have dogs off the protected area or they will make you move . Beach is nice but crowded most days. Also the walk to the parking lot is steep so if you have a lot of stuff and small children it can be exhausting getting back to your car.

Head of the Meadow beach is an amazing little beach. There are seals everywhere. You can watch them play in the surf and sunning themselves on the sand. It's very clean and beautiful all around.

Head of the Meadow Beach is one of the cleanest, most beautiful, wide open beaches at the Cape! While other more well known beaches are often crowed this beach has plenty of room. The water is clean and clear. This year the far north end of the beach was closed off due to 300 or more seals, but a park ranger showed us a notebook filled with photos of the seals and let everyone view them through binoculars. This was spectacular! Even with all the seals there was plenty of room on the beach.The parking lot is large, but sometimes fills up by 2:00 p.m. This gives you plenty of time to get in. This beach is pretty far up on the outer Cape, but it is well worth the drive!

Very nice Beach lots of seals swimming just off the beach. Good beach to walk with nice views
And clean

Great beach. Kids love it. Nice sandy beach with moderate wave action. Ice cream truck comes twice a day. Lifeguards on duty. If you like camping there is a camp ground within walking distance. 15 minutes. Daughter and family Love to camp.

The town of Truro has provided a surf chair and a path of access mats to make this ocean-side beach accessible to all.

First-timer to Cape Cod National Seashore, so we asked the Ranger at the Salt Pond Visitors Center for advice on the beaches; parking fees, etc. He said his favorite was this beach -- and now it's mine, too. Clean, wide, long ocean beach, way up at the north end of the cape so relatively unvisited, at least in midweek September. Beach is very free of sea debris and stones and shells; gradual entrance to surf, and we were visited in close by seals -- fun! (Don't bother them if they come ashore to sun themselves --prominently posted!) Not sheltered by cliffs like some other beaches, so it can be breezy. Changing areas adequate but modest. But a beautiful unhurried spot to spend an afternoon. WARNING: I didn't find the surf cold, but I love the Bay of Maine.... be advised.

There is nothing like beachcombing at low tide on this beach. The sandbars make you feel like you are all alone on a deserted island. So much wild and sealife to keep you searching. Many seals, birds and even a few sand sharks and horseshoe crabs, all alive in their natural environment!!!

Wow! There is a sand bar that protects the shore and creates an inlet of fresh, fish free and seaweed free ocean water that is shallow enough for the kids to stand in. My 9yo and 6yo had a blast! It was way worth our drive from Dennisport.

We just came back from a beautiful beach day here. Relaxed vibe, plenty of parking and gorgeous waves. Perfect for boogie boarding. No seaweed. Saw several seals all throughout the day. Easy walk over a dune from the parking lot and it's chill all day. There's no snack bar or whatever so bring your own stuff. Love this place.

Wide swath of beach backed by dunes, lots of fishing boats not too far offshore. FYI parking lot isn't that big compared to the wide expanse of beach! Best for mildly energetic folks, as the walk from the parking lot to the beach is on loose sand slightly up-and-over the dunes. Lovely sand, some waves, might even see seals - or a shark! Don't worry, the life guards will keep you safe :) Appreciated the toilets and sand rinse-off-stations at the parking lot.

Really a beautiful beach. Went on a nice warm Septmeber day and saw about 50 seals just off the beach in shallow water. Great place to lay down a towel and just listen to the waves meet the sand.!

Definitely go here if you are in Truro. There is a river like gully that forms at low tide that is great for small children. You have to cross it when the tide comes up but it is only waist deep. Gets a little sea weedy which is a little creepy. Nice tarp walkway for a portion of the beach if you have anything with wheels.