Best Time to Ride · Surfing · October · North America

Where to go surfing in North America in October

The 20 best surfing spots in North America in October, ranked by wave height.

Find the best time to goTap a spot to see when to go: wind, waves, water temperature, sun and rain in every month, from years of weather statistics.

Updated October 2026 · weather data 2022–2026

In short

Best for surfing in North America in October: Oahu – Pipeline (United States), Kauai – Hanalei Bay (United States) & Puerto Escondido – Zicatela (Mexico).
Water at the top 10: 13–30°C.
Warm enough for no wetsuit: Oahu – Pipeline, Kauai – Hanalei Bay & Puerto Escondido – Zicatela.
For beginners: Malibu – Surfrider Beach, Santa Cruz – Cowell's & Short Sands – Oregon.

By continent

Worldwide Africa Asia Europe North America Oceania South America

1

Oahu – PipelineUnited States · water 27°C · air 29°C2 m wavesAdvanced only · no wetsuit · ✈ HNL 41 km 2

Kauai – Hanalei BayUnited States · water 27°C · air 27°C2 m wavesIntermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ LIH 32 km 3

Puerto Escondido – ZicatelaMexico · water 30°C · air 31°C1.6 m wavesAdvanced only · no wetsuit · ✈ PXM 4 km 4

Maui – Honolua BayUnited States · water 27°C · air 29°C1.6 m wavesAdvanced only · no wetsuit · ✈ JHM 7 km 5

CabareteDominican Republic · water 30°C · air 31°C1.4 m wavesIntermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ POP 17 km 6

Trestles – San ClementeUnited States · water 20°C · air 24°C1 m wavesIntermediate and up · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ CLD 40 km 7

Malibu – Surfrider BeachUnited States · water 19°C · air 26°C0.8 m wavesBeginner-friendly · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ LAX 27 km 8

Santa Cruz – Cowell'sUnited States · water 16°C · air 23°C1.9 m wavesBeginner-friendly · 4/3 wetsuit · ✈ MRY 45 km 9

Westport – WashingtonUnited States · water 13°C · air 15°C2.6 m wavesIntermediate and up · 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ OLM 92 km 10

Short Sands – OregonUnited States · water 13°C · air 16°C2.1 m wavesBeginner-friendly · 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ PDX 108 km 11

Tofino – Long BeachCanada · water 12°C · air 14°C2.3 m wavesBeginner-friendly · 5/4 wetsuit, hood, boots and gloves · ✈ YAZ 1 km 12

Cocoa BeachUnited States · water 26°C · air 27°C1.1 m wavesBeginner-friendly · no wetsuit · ✈ MLB 30 km 13

Morro BayUnited States · water 16°C · air 21°C1.6 m wavesBeginner-friendly · 4/3 wetsuit · ✈ SBP 25 km 14

Wrightsville BeachUnited States · water 23°C · air 23°C1.2 m wavesBeginner-friendly · shorty · ✈ ILM 13 km 15

Folly Beach – The WashoutUnited States · water 23°C · air 23°C1.2 m wavesBeginner-friendly · shorty · ✈ CHS 28 km 16

Mavericks – Half Moon BayUnited States · water 15°C · air 21°C1.6 m wavesAdvanced only · 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ SFO 18 km 17

Rockaway Beach – New YorkUnited States · water 18°C · air 18°C1.2 m wavesBeginner-friendly · 4/3 wetsuit · ✈ JFK 7 km 18

Blacks Beach – La JollaUnited States · water 19°C · air 24°C1 m wavesAdvanced only · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ SAN 18 km 19

SayulitaMexico · air 30°C1 m wavesBeginner-friendly · ✈ PVR 29 km 20

Huntington BeachUnited States · water 19°C · air 24°C0.9 m wavesBeginner-friendly · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ SNA 13 km

The 20 spots with the best surfing conditions in October, from years of weather data, ranked by wave height and, a little, warm water. Wave height: average daily maximum.

Questions

Where is the best surfing in North America in October?

Oahu – Pipeline (United States): 2 m waves; Kauai – Hanalei Bay (United States): 2 m waves; Puerto Escondido – Zicatela (Mexico): 1.6 m waves.

Where is the water warm in October?

Puerto Escondido – Zicatela: 30°C, no wetsuit; Cabarete: 30°C, no wetsuit; Kauai – Hanalei Bay: 27°C, no wetsuit.

Where can beginners go surfing in October?

Good spots for beginners this month: Malibu – Surfrider Beach, Santa Cruz – Cowell's & Short Sands – Oregon.

Other months

January February March April May June July August September October November December

More ideas

For beginners Winter sun Learn Camps This month