Best surf spots in United States for beginners
The beaches in United States where a beginner can surf on the most days of the year: small enough, clean enough, on sand. Ranked from 2 years of hourly wave and wind model data at each spot, rated the way the app rates them for beginners. Updated 3 November 2026.
Today's forecast for beginners in United States →
The beaches with the most beginner days
| # | Spot | Beginner days a year | Best months | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Clemente Pier San Clemente · California (Orange County) | ~205 (39 good) | April to September | 16–23 °C |
| 2 | Canoes Waikiki · Hawaii (Oahu) | ~193 (21 good) | April to September | 25–27 °C |
| 3 | Pismo Beach Pier Pismo Beach · California (San Luis Obispo County) | ~192 (36 good) | April to June, August to October | 14–18 °C |
| 4 | Launiupoko Lahaina · Hawaii (Maui) | ~170 (56 good) | May to September | 25–28 °C |
| 5 | Linda Mar (Pacifica State Beach) San Francisco · California (San Mateo County) | ~168 (12 good) | April to June, August to September, December to January | 12–16 °C |
| 6 | Moonlight Beach San Diego · California (San Diego County) | ~163 (15 good) | November to February | 16–23 °C |
| 7 | Seal Beach Pier Huntington Beach · California (Orange County) | ~161 (19 good) | February to March, June to August, October to November | 16–22 °C |
| 8 | Bay Street (Santa Monica) Santa Monica · California (Los Angeles County) | ~144 (21 good) | February to March, August | 15–23 °C |
| 9 | Manzanita Manzanita · Oregon | ~137 (15 good) | April to September | 10–13 °C |
| 10 | Torrance Beach Torrance · California (Los Angeles County) | ~134 (31 good) | December to February | 16–22 °C |
| 11 | Surfers' Beach (Princeton Jetty) San Francisco · California (San Mateo County) | ~129 (32 good) | November, January | 12–16 °C |
| 12 | Cannon Beach (Tolovana) Cannon Beach · Oregon | ~124 (12 good) | April to June, September to October | 9–13 °C |
| 13 | Otter Rock Otter Rock · Oregon | ~123 (8 good) | April to June, October | 10–14 °C |
| 14 | Leadbetter Point Santa Barbara · California (Santa Barbara County) | ~119 (34 good) | November to February | 15–22 °C |
| 15 | Doheny State Beach San Clemente · California (Orange County) | ~113 (5 good) | June to September | 16–23 °C |
| 16 | Bolsa Chica State Beach Huntington Beach · California (Orange County) | ~110 (19 good) | February | 16–23 °C |
| 17 | Mondos Ventura · California (Ventura County) | ~109 (34 good) | November to February | 15–22 °C |
| 18 | Kihei Cove Kihei · Hawaii (Maui) | ~105 (11 good) | May to September | 25–28 °C |
| 19 | Kahalu'u Bay Kailua-Kona · Hawaii (Big Island) | ~101 (15 good) | May to September | 25–28 °C |
| 20 | Westport Jetty Westport · Washington | ~99 (10 good) | April, June, September, January to February | 9–15 °C |
"Beginner days": days with a surfable hour for a beginner (small waves, light or offshore wind, no dangerous size) at that spot; "good" days rate Good or better for a beginner. From 2 years of model data, not observations: a sandbank, a rip or a crowd can change a beach. How the rating works.
When beginners should go
Across United States's beginner spots, the best months are August to March. January has the most surfable days for a beginner (about 10 a month at the best spots), July the fewest (about 6). Water: 14–23 °C over the year, see the wetsuit by month.
Questions
Where is the best place to learn to surf in United States?
On our numbers, San Clemente Pier (San Clemente, about 205 beginner days a year), Canoes (Waikiki, about 193 beginner days a year), Pismo Beach Pier (Pismo Beach, about 192 beginner days a year). These are sandy, forgiving spots where the waves are small and clean enough for a beginner on the most days.
When is the best time for beginners to surf in United States?
August to March: the months with the most days of small, clean waves at the beginner spots. The fewest are in July.
Is United States good for beginner surfers?
57 of the 277 spots we follow suit beginners. At the best of them a beginner finds about 10 surfable days in January and 6 in July. Take a lesson first and surf near lifeguards.
Before your first session: your first surf lesson and rips and safety. More: all surf spots in United States · best time to surf in United States.