Tide conditions for Carlsbad surf spots
Carlsbad, California
Updated Refreshed hourly · Tide data refreshes every 30 minutes from NOAA stations.
A foot of tide swing can shut down one break and light up another in Carlsbad. These 4 spots all respond differently - some need the low to expose the bar, others clean up on a rising mid.
Current Tide
Next High
01:00 AM
3.2 ft
NOAA tide data via Cached Tide Data
Tide Chart
7-Day Tide Schedule
| Day | High 1 | Low 1 | High 2 | Low 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 12:00 AM(3.8ft) | 5:00 AM(2.0ft) | 12:00 PM(5.3ft) | 7:00 PM(1.0ft) |
| Tomorrow | 1:00 AM(3.2ft) | 6:00 AM(2.5ft) | 12:00 PM(5.0ft) | 8:00 PM(1.2ft) |
| Thu, Sep 17 | 4:00 AM(2.9ft) | 5:00 AM(2.9ft) | 1:00 PM(4.7ft) | 10:00 PM(1.3ft) |
| Fri, Sep 18 | 2:00 PM(4.4ft) | -- | -- | -- |
| Sat, Sep 19 | 8:00 AM(3.6ft) | 12:00 AM(1.1ft) | 4:00 PM(4.4ft) | 10:00 AM(3.6ft) |
| Sun, Sep 20 | 8:00 AM(3.8ft) | 1:00 AM(0.8ft) | 6:00 PM(4.7ft) | 12:00 PM(3.2ft) |
| Mon, Sep 21 | 8:00 AM(4.0ft) | 1:00 AM(0.5ft) | 7:00 PM(5.0ft) | 1:00 PM(2.8ft) |
Today
Tomorrow
Thu, Sep 17
Fri, Sep 18
Sat, Sep 19
Sun, Sep 20
Mon, Sep 21
Beach Tide Preferences
Each beach performs best at a specific tide range and direction. Plan your session around these windows.
Top spot recommendations
Sort your quiver, choose the right tide window, and jot down a backup in case the main peak gets stacked.
Featured Beaches
4 spots
Carlsbad State Beach
Beginner friendlyCarlsbad State Beach is a beach break in Carlsbad, CA. It is suited for beginner-intermediate surfers. Watch out for rip currents, pollution.
Ponto
Beginner friendlyPonto (South Carlsbad State Beach) benefits from Army Corps jetties at Batiquitos Lagoon, rated 7/10 for punchy beachbreak quality.
Tamarack
IntermediateTamarack State Beach features two warm-water jetties creating decent sandbars rated 6/10. River provides water movement for sandbar formation.
Terramar Point
IntermediateTerramar Point represents rare North San Diego County point break rated 6/10 but fickle. Rocky reef extending 200-300 feet produces long lefts (longest in SoCal potential) and rights.
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What to focus on today
- Annotated tide windows tied to specific breaks
- How lunar cycles reshape sandbars through the season
- Safety notes for rip-prone outbound tides
- Session planning tips for dawn patrol versus sunset
Frequently Asked Questions
About surfing in Carlsbad
- Tide preferences vary by spot in Carlsbad. Generally, incoming mid-tides work well for most beaches, offering a good balance of wave shape and power. Check individual spot guides for specific tide recommendations.
- Tides significantly impact surf conditions in Carlsbad. Low tide can expose reefs and sandbars creating hollow waves, while high tide often creates softer, more forgiving waves. Mid-tide transitions typically offer the most consistent conditions.
- You can check tide charts for Carlsbad on Quiver's surf forecast pages, NOAA tide predictions, or various surf forecast apps. Quiver provides real-time tide information integrated with surf conditions for accurate session planning.
Check it, surf it, log it
Check the forecast, surf the session, log what happened — and build the record you'll compare every next call against.
iPhone app is live. Android beta is open.
