My first time here walking around. We've driven by but this time we decided to get a little exercise and enjoy the views. We weren't the only ones here. Lots of people from all over. There were families, tourists, college kids, locals, and of course, love birds!! ;) We enjoyed our little walks and stopping to rest. While resting, we enjoyed people watching, the waves, and surfers. What's not to like?!?! The waves are so beautiful and relaxing! It doesn't matter if it's cloudy or sunshine. It's just the doctor ordered!! read more

Don't go here. I was walking over the rocks and climbing on them and then they HAD to be slippery and mind you, I don't know how to swim, even though I'm from Gloucester. I fell on a rock, and I struggled to get back up. another time, I decided to go in the water and try to sit on the rock, but the thing is why is the sand so FUCKING DEEP? It could've been like 3 feet and I would've been okay, but it was like 5?! THE HELL? Never in my GODDAMN life that I would've been complaining over a beach but here I am. Why? I am a local and I would rather shoot myself with a hunter's rifle then swim here. Go to Good Harbor instead. read more

Such a special place. The rocks are simply gorgeous and provide many adventures, even for adults. The tide does come in quick here and most of the beach is lost during this time. So don't leave your items on the sand for long, unless all the back or up on rocks, far back from the water. Explore the trails and the canons. Walk all around. Park here and walk to town and other areas. There is a nice path along the water. Paying for the parking online is not cheap and you have to get here early or you won't have a spot. If you are renting a car, you will get residential beach access price if your car is from Massachusetts. (Much cheaper) read more

Halfmoon Beach - Shells in one of the rocks along the path - Beaches Near Me - Gloucester, Massachusetts

One of the most beautiful beaches I've been to so far in Massachusetts! There was shade from trees, clear water, and lots of rocks to hang out if you want to swim on the deeper end. read more

Halfmoon Beach - Beaches Near Me - Gloucester, Massachusetts

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We got there on the weekend no one wear mask, it's very small beach behide the big rock, at first you will see the beach w a lot stone and rock that's not the right beach, there's no sign but it's behide huge rock there's like hidden Halfmoon beach lol. It's not as good as what the review says on internet and water wasn't that clean. read more

Halfmoon Beach - Beaches Near Me - Gloucester, Massachusetts

Looks like a private beach in Bali. Come to Half Moon on a full moon and you'll be sure to be amoungst a possible Covent of witches, adorned in hooded cloaks, young family's and their tiny children, all super friendly and most locals enjoying the moonlight all the way up until the midnight hour and beyond. Such a special place. read more

Halfmoon Beach - Beaches Near Me - Gloucester, Massachusetts

My family and I love walking here and doing bbqs. It's conscience because of the public bathrooms, wide spaces, picnic benches, etc. The beach is right next to all that and walking through it and into the rocks is really nice and peaceful! Sometimes you find broken glass from beer and whatnot, but not it enough to make it a problem at all. We love to just climb on the rocks, find a flat area, and just sit there and eat while watching the waves. There's just a lot of seaweed in this area so I prefer not to swim so that I don't freak out when the seaweed touches me. read more

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Not really what I expected. I'm pretty disappointed. There is a lot of trash, the beach is very rocky and so much seaweed! It would be a great beach for young people who want to sun bathe or old people who do not swim. I would not recommend going here with little people. It's described as looking like a beach from the tropics but I have to disagree. It's more of a state park lake vibe. read more

Halfmoon Beach - Beaches Near Me - Gloucester, Massachusetts

so beautiful. heart eyes at this beach! the water is so nice to take a swim in and the sand is lovely too! cool rocks.

This is one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever been to. The speech has quite a large amount of shaded area which is pleasant for older or younger guests. The water is clean you can see through it there are rocks to sit on and relax and nice soft sand very enjoyable for young and old there is a handicap ramp there are stairs and there is a wall behind the beach to Shady Hill and wonderful restaurants and lots of fun in the local area surrounding please come out and enjoy yourself you will not regret it read more

Small, but mighty. The appropriately named Half Moon Beach is a little cove hugged by rocky cliffs that you can climb up to enjoy a really beautiful view of the beach and sea. The water itself is gentle and shallow, making this a great spot for kids. It was also ice-cold on Memorial Day weekend-- though for some mysterious reason, this didn't seem to put off anyone 5 and under from going all in. A grassy area, Stage Fort Park, affords grilling and picnicking opportunities on a huge lawn, and there's a longer, sunnier (though narrow at high tide) stretch of beach on the other side of the boulders and lawn. Parking is $15 and very plentiful, and there are public restrooms, though they're on the ickier side (don't forget your sandals!). Walkable from Gloucester station. read more

A pleasant find. We visited with two other families, including six kids all under seven years old. The kids had a great time at this beach catching hermit crabs on the rocks and playing in the soft sand. Very small beach, not crowded, soft sand, outside showers. There was public bathroom in the basement of the park house, could have been cleaner but no real complaints. When we were leaving we found a farmers market had setup in the park and were pleasantly surprised. Bought the kids some fruit and had faces painted. Great time. read more

NOPE. If you're looking for a nice, family spot, keep moving! While the setting itself is pretty and has so much potential, the locals that frequent this beach pretty much ruined our experience. We got a late start and Crane and Wingaersheek parking lots were already full so someone recommended Stage Fort Park and Halfmoon Beach. "It's great for little kids!" we were told. Yeahhhhhh, I didn't find it so "great" to watch the lady in front of us smacking her (very little) kid in the face for who knows what, while loudly dropping a string of f-bombs. The folks behind us sucked down cigs like it was their job. My husband asked the lifeguard about that and he confirmed that the beach was a 'no smoking' area but he wasn't going to speak to those folks about it because, "everyone smokes here anyway and they could just tell me to eff off." (This lifeguard was also preoccupied with putting the mack on a chick who'd settled herself in front of his chair. I mean, priorities!) Soooo..... the "lifeguards" are pretty useless and it's just accepted that people will light up and blow smoke your way, regardless of signage and however many sets of young lungs are in full view. I was holding a BABY if that tells you you anything. There was graffiti on some of the rocks, which was unfortunate but not surprising. The ONLY upside was leaving with lots of beach glass (cause..... shocker, there's a lot of glass in the area). Overall, just a total let down and waste of $20 to park. (Also: the "shower" to rinse off is a spigot that sprays into a mud puddle so... you'll probably leave dirty, too. YAY!!!!!!) Two words: NEVER AGAIN. read more

A hidden gem. I just love this beach!! It's s small but the view and the $15 to park makes up for it. Bathrooms are clean and they have outdoor showers to rinse off. Great place to do some walking on the boardwalk that is along Gloucester harbor. read more

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Graceful land features. Super crowded though. People camped out everywhere. Couldn't even put my dog down because there is glass EVERYWHERE. Not a very peaceful place. Mostly partying spot. Very disappointed. Stayed about 15 minutes. WASTE OF TiME AND $20 TO PARK. read more

Went today with my daughter. Parking was $20 but, you can leave and come back. Beach is a gem!!! Small and packed but everyone was so friendly! Up at the top They were picnic tables and you can grill and an out door shower to rinse off and they had a bathhouse but I never went in it. Two cruise ships docked not that far from the beach! All in all nice find and will go back read more

I went this weekend for the 1st time. I arrived at 9am There wasn't any traffic, no problem parking ( $15.00 but you can come and go) the beach was basically empty until 12pm. It was very quiet and relaxing. The beach is small and there are a lot of rock towards the shore. So i suggest some water shoes if you will be walking back and forth. There are picnic tables near the parking lot. read more

This is a pretty area with a nice view, but the setup makes for a very stressful beach day. Not only is the beach tiny, but it's so narrow that when the tide comes in, water rushes over the entire area. You're left with only a mountain of baseball-sized rocks to stand on, juggling your stuff, waiting for the tide to go back out. On a hot day, the beach is jam-packed and littered with trash left behind as people frantically try to escape the water rushing onto their blankets. This also means that even when the tide is out, the sand is perpetually wet, so you can't lie down without your towel or blanket becoming saturated. I can see Half Moon Beach being an enjoyable place to spend an hour, or a great spot for a quick dip, but it's only $15 for a reason. Between the tide constantly rushing in, the treacherous rock mountain to climb down to get to the beach, and having no choice but to sit within inches of other beach goers, I could never spend a full day here. It also seems to attract people who lack basic beach etiquette- so many groups setting up camp directly in front of other people's views of the water and competing music blasting from every direction. The park itself is beautiful, with plenty of places to picnic and enjoy the great outdoors, but on a busy summer day, this beach is anything but relaxing. read more