Best Time to Surf — Month-by-Month Guide for Every Coast

Find the perfect surf trip window. Monthly wave heights, water temps, wetsuit recommendations, and crowd levels for 16 states.

Best Month for Me

Tell us your skill level and we'll match you with the best state + month combo.

Skill Level

Crowd Preference

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California

Peak: August through February

Best monthSeptember
Wave range3-6 ft
Water temp68°F

Hawaii

Peak: November through February

Best monthDecember
Wave range8-15 ft
Water temp76°F

Florida

Peak: September through November

Best monthOctober
Wave range3-8 ft
Water temp80°F

New Jersey

Peak: September through November

Best monthSeptember
Wave range3-8 ft
Water temp72°F

North Carolina

Peak: September through November

Best monthSeptember
Wave range3-8 ft
Water temp78°F

Oregon

Peak: September through November

Best monthSeptember
Wave range4-8 ft
Water temp56°F

Washington

Peak: September through November

Best monthSeptember
Wave range4-8 ft
Water temp54°F

Texas

Peak: September through November

Best monthSeptember
Wave range3-6 ft
Water temp80°F

New York

Peak: September through November

Best monthSeptember
Wave range3-8 ft
Water temp70°F

New Hampshire

Peak: September through November

Best monthSeptember
Wave range3-7 ft
Water temp65°F

City guides (1)

Massachusetts

Peak: September through November

Best monthSeptember
Wave range3-8 ft
Water temp66°F

City guides (3)

Rhode Island

Peak: September through November

Best monthSeptember
Wave range3-8 ft
Water temp66°F

South Carolina

Peak: September through November

Best monthSeptember
Wave range3-7 ft
Water temp80°F

Georgia

Peak: September through November

Best monthSeptember
Wave range3-7 ft
Water temp80°F

City guides (1)

Maine

Peak: September through November

Best monthSeptember
Wave range3-8 ft
Water temp62°F

City guides (2)

Puerto Rico

Peak: November through February

Best monthDecember
Wave range5-12 ft
Water temp79°F

All City Surf Season Guides

California

Hawaii

Florida

New Jersey

North Carolina

Oregon

Washington

Texas

New York

New Hampshire

Massachusetts

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Georgia

Maine

Puerto Rico

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