Dawn patrol surfing in Santa Monica

Santa Monica, California

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

First light in Santa Monica means glass, empty peaks, and the best conditions of the day before thermal onshores build. These 3 spots are worth the 5am alarm.

Sunrise

5:46 AM

First Light: 5:16 AM

Day length: 14h 24m

-1 min vs yesterday

Sunrise

5:46 AM

First light: 5:16 AM

Sunset

8:10 PM

Last light: 8:40 PM

Data from Bay Street· Updated daily

7-Day Sun Schedule

7-day sun schedule showing sunrise, sunset, and day length
Day	Sunrise	Sunset	Day Length
Today(Today)	5:46 AM	8:10 PM	14h 24m
Tomorrow	5:46 AM	8:10 PM	14h 24m
Tue, Jun 30	5:46 AM	8:10 PM	14h 24m
Wed, Jul 1	5:47 AM	8:10 PM	14h 23m
Thu, Jul 2	5:47 AM	8:10 PM	14h 23m
Fri, Jul 3	5:47 AM	8:10 PM	14h 22m
Sat, Jul 4	5:48 AM	8:10 PM	14h 22m

Today(Today)

Sunrise

5:46 AM

Sunset

8:10 PM

Day Length

14h 24m

Tomorrow

Sunrise

5:46 AM

Sunset

8:10 PM

Day Length

14h 24m

Tue, Jun 30

Sunrise

5:46 AM

Sunset

8:10 PM

Day Length

14h 24m

Wed, Jul 1

Sunrise

5:47 AM

Sunset

8:10 PM

Day Length

14h 23m

Thu, Jul 2

Sunrise

5:47 AM

Sunset

8:10 PM

Day Length

14h 23m

Fri, Jul 3

Sunrise

5:47 AM

Sunset

8:10 PM

Day Length

14h 22m

Sat, Jul 4

Sunrise

5:48 AM

Sunset

8:10 PM

Day Length

14h 22m

Best dawn patrol spots in Santa Monica

Featured Beaches

3 spots

Bay Street

Intermediate

Bay Street is the more powerful section of Santa Monica Beach.

Santa Monica Beach

Beginner friendly

Santa Monica Beach near the iconic pier offers a wide, forgiving beach break.

Will Rogers State Beach

Beginner friendly

Will Rogers State Beach offers a gentle, forgiving beach break.

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Featured Beaches(3)

Bay Street

Intermediate

Bay Street is the more powerful section of Santa Monica Beach.

Santa Monica Beach

Beginner friendly

Santa Monica Beach near the iconic pier offers a wide, forgiving beach break.

Will Rogers State Beach

Beginner friendly

Will Rogers State Beach offers a gentle, forgiving beach break.

Dawn patrol access guide for Santa Monica

Parking and access info for early morning sessions before sunrise.

Bay Street

beach

intermediate

Bay Street is the more powerful section of Santa Monica Beach.

Early access

Walk down Bay Street to the beach. Enter near the breakwater for the best peaks.

Parking

Street parking along Bay Street and Ocean Avenue. Metered spots - bring quarters.

Santa Monica Beach

beach

beginner

Santa Monica Beach near the iconic pier offers a wide, forgiving beach break.

Early access

Use marked beach access and stay clear of crowded pier-adjacent lanes.

Parking

Use official beach lots or nearby paid parking and expect summer congestion.

Will Rogers State Beach

beach

beginner

Will Rogers State Beach offers a gentle, forgiving beach break.

Early access

Use official beach access and watch posted lifeguard guidance.

Parking

Use LA County beach lots and arrive early during busy beach seasons.

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 Santa Monica

Conditions

Dawn Patrol

You're here

Sunset Sessions

Evening golden hour spots

Tide Windows

Optimal tidal conditions

Water Temperature

Conditions & wetsuit guide

Style

Beginner Spots

Gentle waves for learning

Longboard Spots

Mellow waves for logging

Frequently Asked Questions

About surfing in Santa Monica

: Dawn patrol in Santa Monica 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.

Make the next surf call sharper

Check the forecast, surf the session, log what happened, and help Quiver keep tuning your local calls.

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