The best surfing locations to catch a wave in the USA, and across the world.
71% of our world is covered in water, so what better way to experience it than riding a wave? Surfing can be the perfect way to connect with nature allowing us to view our oceans from a completely different perspective.
From the likes of Montauk, New York, to La Jolla, San Diego, for those dreaming of taking on the adrenaline rush that surfing brings, the surfing spot options are endless.
If you are not sure where to start your surfing adventure, and you need a little inspiration, then keep reading as we reveal the most popular surfing spots across the USA and the world.
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The USA’s top surfing spots
| Rank | Surf Spot | Location | Surf Breaks | Avg. Monthly Searches | Coastline Length (km) | Avg. High Sea Temp (°C) | TripAdvisor Rating | Overall Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waikiki | Oahu | 122 | 90,500 | 3.8 | 27.04° C | 4.2 | 8.82 |
| 2 | Cocoa Beach | Florida | 78 | 246,000 | 19.3 | 28.61° C | 4.3 | 8.71 |
| 3 | Santa Cruz Harbour | Orange County | 30 | 301,000 | 123.9 | 21.58° C | 4.6 | 8.54 |
| 4 | La Jolla | San Diego | 71 | 165,000 | 1.6 | 22.21° C | 4.6 | 8.48 |
| 5 | Folly Beach | South Carolina | 23 | 110,000 | 9.6 | 28.9° C | 4.3 | 8.35 |
| 6 | Huntington Beach | Orange County | 51 | 301,000 | 13.6 | 21.58° C | 4.5 | 8.31 |
| 7 | Montauk | New York | 44 | 135,000 | 21 | 21.61° C | 4.4 | 8.24 |
| 8 | Virginia Beach | Virginia | 12 | 301,000 | 4.8 | 25.87° C | 4.4 | 8.18 |
| 9 | San Clemente | Orange County | 51 | 110,000 | 6.4 | 21.33° C | 4 | 8.04 |
| 10 | Half-Moon Bay | Washington | 29 | 201,000 | 6.4 | 15.84° C | 4.5 | 7.9 |
1. Waikiki, Oahu, USA – Surfing Spot Score 8.82
Hawaii is well-known for its gorgeous beaches and warm seas, so it’s no surprise that Waikiki in Oahu tops the leaderboard. Oahu offers 122 surf breaks and a coastline of 3.8km to explore. Similarly to Cocoa Beach in Florida, surfers are in for a warm ride with average sea temperatures around 27°C.
2. Cocoa Beach, Florida, USA – Surfing Spot Score 8.71
Located in the sunshine state of Florida, Cocoa Beach is a popular destination for surfers and sunbathers alike. It’s an iconic and busy hub with an extensive surfing history dating back to the 1950s. Cocoa Beach is still very popular online with over 246,000 monthly searches. The sea temperatures are also favorable, averaging 28.61°C, so whether you’re looking to surf or to swim, it’s going to be a great place to take to the sea.
3. Santa Cruz, Orange County – 8.54
In third place is Santa Cruz Harbor in Orange County, California. Situated along one of America’s most famous coastlines, it combines consistent waves with a lively beach culture that draws surfers all year-round.
With 30 surf breaks, an extensive 123.9km of coastline and a strong TripAdvisor score, it’s easy to see why Santa Cruz ranks among the best surfing beaches in the U.S. Its popularity is reflected online too, as its world-famous name attracts more than 301,000 monthly searches from travelers and surfers alike.
The world’s top surfing spots
| Rank | Surf Spot | Location | Surf Breaks | Avg. Monthly Searches | Coastline Length (km) | Avg. High Sea Temp (°C) | TripAdvisor Rating | Overall Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Puerto Escondido | Oaxaca | 25 | 49,500 | 110 | 30.56° C | 4.4 | 8.77 |
| 2 | Noosa | Queensland | 69 | 14,800 | 2.4 | 26.87° C | 4.8 | 8.76 |
| 3 | Yamba | Queensland | 69 | 1,300 | 8.7 | 26.01° C | 4.6 | 8.65 |
| 4 | Montreal | New England | 2 | 246,000 | 266 | 23.13° C | 3.7 | 8.41 |
| 5 | Uluwatu | Bali | 15 | 9,900 | 0.2 | 29.16° C | 4.3 | 8.29 |
| 6 | Saltburn | North East England | 54 | 246,000 | 12.8 | 15.22° C | 4.5 | 8.05 |
| 7 | Bommie | Margaret River | 55 | 300 | 1.8 | 21.36° C | 3.9 | 8.01 |
| 8 | Tofino | Vancouver Island | 15 | 33,100 | 32 | 13.88° C | 4.7 | 7.89 |
| 9 | Thurso | Scotland | 31 | 1,900 | 1 | 13.42° C | 4.5 | 7.79 |
| 10 | Hossegor | Landes | 32 | 1,600 | 2.8 | 22.48° C | 3.2 | 7.59 |
1. Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, Mexico – Surfing Spot Score 8.77
Puerto Escondido is a laid-back coastal region, yet it’s home to one of the world’s most thrilling waves, making the spot perfect for expert surfers. The thrillseekers paradise is packed with options, with 110km of coastline to choose from.
2. Noosa, Queensland, Australia – Surfing Spot Score 8.76
In second position is Noosa, Queensland, Australia. Located on the sunshine coast, this is the perfect spot to take to the waves. This resort has waves for all levels, and the best time to surf is during April when sea temperatures average 26.87C. According to the research, Noosa has a total of 69 surf breaks, and it’s one of the highest-rated destinations in the rankings, with an impressive 4.8 TripAdvisor score.
3. Yamba, Queensland, Australia – Surfing Spot Score 8.65
Ranking in third place is Yamba, Queensland. With just 1,300 monthly searches, it’s often seen as one of Australia’s hidden surfing gems. It boasts a relaxed coastal atmosphere alongside powerful natural waves. With 69 surf breaks and warm waters reaching an average high of 26.01°C, it’s great for surfers of all abilities. Expect a combination of reliable swells and idyllic scenery. This, combined with strong visitor reviews have helped to secure its place among the world’s top surfing spots.
The surf spot with the most breaks
Waikiki, Oahu, USA – 122 total breaks
A surf break is an obstruction in the sea that makes a break in the tide, which creates the waves that surfers ride. Waikiki in Oahu, Hawaii, has an impressive 122 surf breaks, so there’s plenty of choice on the water. Some of the surfing breaks along Waikiki are Canoes, which create ideal conditions for beginners, Queens, which hosts many surfing competitions, and The Wall, a great spot to build confidence on smaller waves.
The surf spot with the longest coastline
Reunion, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa – 600km
Reunion is located in Durban, boasting a huge 600km of coastline. This massive stretch of beaches gives visitors plenty of areas to explore. Combined with warm weather all year-round, the destination is a favorite among surfers, beachgoers, outdoor enthusiasts and tourists alike.
The surf spot with the highest sea temperatures
Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, Mexico – 30.56° C
While there’s no perfect sea temperature for surfing, warmer waters can make sessions more pleasant. Puerto Escondido takes the top spot with average high temperatures of 30.56°C. As one of Mexico’s best-known surf destinations, the spot is well known for powerful waves, warm waters and long stretches of coast. For these reasons, Puerto Escondido attracts surfers from across the globe.
The best global surf spots for each month of the year
- January: La Jolla, San Diego (USA), Huntington Beach, Orange County (USA), Half-Moon Bay, Washington (USA), Tofino, Vancouver Island (Canada)
- February: Supertubos, Peniche (Portugal), Thurso, Scotland (UK)
- March: Saltburn, North East England (UK)
- April: Noosa, Queensland (Australia), Llangennith, Gower Peninsula (Wales, UK), Croyde, North Devon (England, UK)
- May: Reunion, KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa)
- June: Bommie, Margaret River (Australia), J-Bay, Eastern Cape (South Africa), Raglan, Waikato (New Zealand)
- July: Waikiki, Oahu (Hawaii, USA), Santa Cruz Harbour, Orange County (USA), Dunes, Western Australia (Australia), Pavones, Golfo Dulce (Costa Rica), Virginia Beach, Virginia (USA), Montreal, New England (Canada)
- August: Uluwatu, Bali (Indonesia)
- September: Montauk, New York (USA), Hideaways, Mentawai Islands (Indonesia)
- October: Yamba, Queensland (Australia), San Clemente, Orange County (USA), Hossegor, La Graviere, Landes (France)
- November: Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca (Mexico), Folly Beach, South Carolina (USA)
- December: Cocoa Beach, Florida (USA)
Methodology
Initially, ranking lists of surfing spots for the terms ‘top surfing spots around the world and ‘the world’s best surfing spots’ were analyzed to create a list of 150 key surfing locations.
From here any surfing locations that were not surf breaks were reviewed using the quality rating from Surf Forecast. The surf breaks with the highest ratings were selected.
Using this list we then undertook research into the following factors to identify the best surfing spots across the world.
Google Searches
Using data from search intelligence tool seoClarity, we gathered the average monthly search volume for each location.
Coastline Length
To determine coastline length details, a combination of tourist boards and surfing publications were used.
Average Sea Temperatures
Finding the lowest and highest sea temperatures in each location were completed using seatemperatures.net, and lowpressure.co.uk for Mentawai Island.
Best Month to Surf
To identify the best month to surf in each location Surf Forecast was used, for the locations where the best surfing month was unavailable alternative surfing publication sources were used, mywavefinder and surfline.
Main image: Jeremy Bishop – Unsplash
