Best Surf Beaches in Carmel-by-the-Sea
3.7·18 reviews
3 beaches
Surf Report Today
Poor Conditions
Best Right Now
Best of 3 Carmel-by-the-Sea spots
Carmel Beach
Surf score
5/100
Wave
5.1 ft
Wind
Breezy
Condition
Poor Conditions
Windy
View Forecast →All Beaches
| Beach | Height | Wind | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carmel Beach | 5.1 ft | Breezy | Poor |
| Carmel River State Beach | 3.2 ft | Breezy | Poor |
| Garrapata State Beach (southern coves) | 2.1 ft | Breezy | Poor |
Featured Beaches
3 spots
Carmel Beach
IntermediateMain Carmel-by-the-Sea surf zone with several shifting beach-break peaks along the white-sand beach. Better for research as the core local spot, but conditions can change quickly with sandbars, tide, and wind.
Carmel River State Beach
IntermediateA hazardous Carmel-area rivermouth and sandbar zone at Carmel River State Beach. Include for research completeness, but this is not a casual surf recommendation.
Garrapata State Beach (southern coves)
IntermediateRemote, exposed beach-break zone on the north Big Sur coast. Garrapata is a coastal state park surf zone with meaningful rips, undertow, rocks, and shark risk.
Loading map...
Featured Beaches(3)
Frequently Asked Questions
About surfing in Carmel-by-the-Sea
- Carmel-by-the-Sea has 3 surf spots. They break down by skill level: 2 intermediate.
- The top-ranked surf spots in Carmel-by-the-Sea are: 1. Carmel Beach (4.5/5), 2. Carmel River State Beach (3.3/5), 3. Garrapata State Beach (southern coves) (3.3/5). Rankings are based on community ratings, reviews, and recent surf intel.
- Carmel-by-the-Sea's surf spots are generally suited for intermediate to advanced surfers. Beginners should check individual spot reports for days with smaller, mellower conditions.
- Water temperatures in the area range from 55-72°F. In summer, spring suit or 3/2mm is typical. In winter, bring 4/3mm.
