Surfing in Southern California: Best and Worst Spots

The sun does not stop shining in Southern California, which makes it one of the top destinations for a surf vacation. If you’ve never been before it’s easy to fall into the tourist traps of surf spots where the oceans are so crowded catching a wave comes with dodging three other surfers in the process.

Most people head to SoCal and immediately think to go to Malibu or Los Angeles to soak in the culture with a surf trip, but in San Diego County there are a series of sections along San Onofre State Beach that offer incredible surfing. There’s a section called Trestles that’s usually crowded, so you’ll want to head to other San Onofre State beaches instead to find less of a crowd. Either case, waves along this stretch of Southern California will not let you down.

San Diego also offers a lot of great surf near the reefs in Carlsbad and Tamarack. If you’re headed to the city, it’s a great stop. Stick to these areas instead of Oceanside where the normally relaxing surf vibe can get a little rough with the masses of people.

Head up the coast a little bit to Newport Beach and you’ll find a little section called Jetties. This spot offers great views of the coastline and incredible surf with plenty of room to catch your share of waves. It’s just south of Hermosa Beach Pier which is a great town to explore, but not so great to surf. Go for the incredible restaurants, bars and shops right on the pier, but head south for the surf.