There are so many nice beaches to choose from on Cape Cod. We are always debating what the best beach is and I think we have all settled on Head of the Meadow. Not only does this beach have beautiful scenery, there are numerous reasons this is a great option for families.
Head of the Meadow Beach is in North Truro and managed by the National Seashore. As you travel down Head of the Meadow Road, you will pass a campground. There are two entrances to the beach. If you continue straight to the end of the road, that is the beach for Truro residents and it requires a permit to park there. If you turn to the left, that is where the public beach is. You will come to a small booth where you will pay your fee of about $20.
There is ample parking. You might have a bit of a walk, so I would suggest bringing a beach cart if you have a lot of stuff to haul. At the edge of the parking lot there are restrooms, changing rooms and a water bottle filling station.
What we love the most about Head of the Meadow Beach is that there is a natural sandbar that creates a kiddie pool area. Of course, when the tide is all the way in, it will disappear beneath the water. But for most of the day, our kids could swim and play in this sheltered area of the beach. I didn’t have to worry about sharks or rip currents.
It’s difficult to tell from the picture below, but see how the waves are crashing on the sand bar? The water from the sand bar to the beach is where my kids played.
Over 1,000 ship wrecks have occurred in the waters between Truro and Wellfleet earning this area the nickname “ocean graveyard.” You can tell your kids stories of lost treasures beneath the sea and the ship wrecks down below. In fact, the wreck of the Frances, which sank in a December gale in 1872, may still be seen at low tide.
Lifeguards are on duty from summer to Labor Day. They use a flag system to alert people to dangerous situations in the water such as rip currents or dangerous wildlife. If you see the purple shark flag up, that means that a Great White Shark is in the area. Most of the sharks are tagged so that research teams can track them.
While we were there, the lifeguards blew their whistles and had everyone get out of the water because a large seal swam by. The seal itself wasn’t dangerous, but the Great Whites hunt seals in shallow waters. That is why it is important to stay away from wildlife.
If you visit Head of the Meadow Beach from October to December, there is also a chance that you could see a sea turtle. Due to climate change, migrating sea turtles are traveling further north. When temperatures start to drop, they can become cold stunned. When they wash up on shore, they are hypothermic, and can appear dead. Here is what to do if you find a sea turtle on the beach.
Head of the Meadow is a huge beach so even though many people visit, there is plenty of room to spread out. I love how scenic the beach is with the grassy dunes in the distance.
Sea birds will nest on Head of the Meadow Beach, therefore no pets are allowed from from the third Saturday in June through Labor Day from 9 am to 6 pm.
For our handy beach packing printable, click here.
What is your favorite beach on Cape Cod? There are so many great options, but I hope you try Head of the Meadow Beach. The stunning landscape is sure to impress.
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