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
10:00 PM
6.7 ft
NOAA tide data via Cached Tide Data
Tide Chart
7-Day Tide Schedule
| Day | High 1 | Low 1 | High 2 | Low 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 10:00 AM(4.6ft) | 4:00 AM(-1.1ft) | 10:00 PM(6.7ft) | 3:00 PM(1.6ft) |
| Tomorrow | 11:00 AM(4.9ft) | 4:00 AM(-0.8ft) | 10:00 PM(6.4ft) | 4:00 PM(1.3ft) |
| Fri, Aug 14 | 11:00 AM(5.0ft) | 5:00 AM(-0.5ft) | 11:00 PM(5.8ft) | 5:00 PM(1.2ft) |
| Sat, Aug 15 | 12:00 PM(5.2ft) | 5:00 AM(0.1ft) | -- | 6:00 PM(1.3ft) |
| Sun, Aug 16 | 12:00 AM(5.0ft) | 6:00 AM(0.7ft) | 12:00 PM(5.1ft) | 7:00 PM(1.4ft) |
| Mon, Aug 17 | 12:00 AM(4.2ft) | 6:00 AM(1.4ft) | 1:00 PM(5.1ft) | 8:00 PM(1.5ft) |
| Tue, Aug 18 | 1:00 AM(3.4ft) | 7:00 AM(2.0ft) | 2:00 PM(4.9ft) | 9:00 PM(1.6ft) |
Today
Tomorrow
Fri, Aug 14
Sat, Aug 15
Sun, Aug 16
Mon, Aug 17
Tue, Aug 18
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.
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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