Dawn patrol surfing in Isla Vista

Isla Vista, California

Sunrise and first light times for planning your dawn patrol session.

First light in Isla Vista means glass, empty peaks, and the best conditions of the day before thermal onshores build. These 1 spots are worth the 5am alarm.

Sunrise

6:30 AM
First Light: 6:00 AM

Day length: 10h 29m

-2 min vs yesterday

Sunrise

6:30 AM

First light: 6:00 AM

Sunset

4:59 PM

Last light: 5:29 PM

Data from Devereux / Sands (Coal Oil Point) · Updated daily

7-Day Sun Schedule

Today(Today)

Sunrise

6:30 AM

Sunset

4:59 PM

Day Length

10h 29m

Tomorrow

Sunrise

6:31 AM

Sunset

4:58 PM

Day Length

10h 27m

Fri, Nov 13

Sunrise

6:32 AM

Sunset

4:58 PM

Day Length

10h 26m

Sat, Nov 14

Sunrise

6:33 AM

Sunset

4:57 PM

Day Length

10h 24m

Sun, Nov 15

Sunrise

6:34 AM

Sunset

4:56 PM

Day Length

10h 23m

Mon, Nov 16

Sunrise

6:35 AM

Sunset

4:56 PM

Day Length

10h 21m

Best dawn patrol spots in Isla Vista

Dawn patrol access guide for Isla Vista

Parking and access info for early morning sessions before sunrise.

Devereux / Sands (Coal Oil Point)
beach
lower-intermediate

Open pocket west of Campus with peaky beach/reef setups.

Early access

Trail network to beach; avoid signed closures.

Parking

Street parking near Camino Majorca; respect neighborhoods.

Dawn patrol tips

  • Glassy morning conditions before onshore winds
  • Less crowded lineups at sunrise
  • East-facing beaches for sunrise views
  • Spots with easy parking for early arrivals

Surf Guides for Isla Vista

Frequently Asked Questions

About surfing in Isla Vista

Dawn patrol in Isla Vista typically starts at first light, around 30 minutes before sunrise. This gives you the glassiest conditions before onshore winds develop.
Early morning offers glassy conditions, fewer crowds, and calmer winds. Water temperature is also warmer relative to air temperature at sunrise.