Surfing in United States in October

In October the best surfing in United States is at Jupiter – Florida, Rockaway Beach – New York & Wrightsville Beach.

Updated November 2026 · weather data 2022–2026

In short

  • Waves: 1.6 m on average (daily maximum)
  • Water: 13–28°C, 5/4 wetsuit and boots at 13–15°C; 4/3 wetsuit at 16–18°C; 3/2 wetsuit at 19–21°C; shorty at 23°C; no wetsuit at 26–28°C
  • Air: 24°C by day, 18°C at night
  • Weather: sun (6+ hours) on about 28 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 9; a day can have both
  • Warm enough for no wetsuit: Jupiter – Florida, Cocoa Beach & Oahu – Pipeline.
  • For beginners: Rockaway Beach – New York, Wrightsville Beach & Folly Beach – The Washout.

When are you planning to go?

1Jupiter – Florida, kitesurfing, wingfoiling & surfing. Photo: Abacoaseo
OctPEAK SEASON
Jupiter
Florida · United States
1.6 m waves28° water28° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ DJT 29 km
2Rockaway Beach – New York, surfing. Photo: joiseyshowaa
OctPEAK SEASON
Rockaway Beach
New York · United States
1.2 m waves18° water18° air
Beginner-friendly · 4/3 wetsuit · ✈ JFK 7 km
3Wrightsville Beach, surfing & SUP. Photo: FOCIIS Photography
OctPEAK SEASON
Wrightsville Beach
United States
1.2 m waves23° water23° air
Beginner-friendly · shorty · ✈ ILM 13 km
4Folly Beach – The Washout, surfing & SUP. Photo: Brian Stansberry
OctPEAK SEASON
The Washout
Folly Beach · United States
1.2 m waves23° water23° air
Beginner-friendly · shorty · ✈ CHS 28 km
5Cocoa Beach, surfing & SUP. Photo: Leonard J. DeFrancisci
OctPEAK SEASON
Cocoa Beach
United States
1.1 m waves26° water27° air
Beginner-friendly · no wetsuit · ✈ MLB 30 km
6Westport – Washington, surfing. Photo: Joe Mabel
OctGOOD
Westport
Washington · United States
2.6 m waves13° water15° air
Intermediate and up · 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ OLM 92 km
7Short Sands – Oregon, surfing. Photo: lamblukas from San Francisco, United States
OctGOOD
Short Sands
Oregon · United States
2.1 m waves13° water16° air
Beginner-friendly · 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ PDX 108 km
8Oahu – Pipeline, surfing. Photo: Fosterand sons
OctGOOD
Pipeline
Oahu · United States
2 m waves27° water29° air
Advanced only · no wetsuit · ✈ HNL 41 km
9Oahu – Waimea Bay, surfing & tow foiling. Photo: Fosterand sons
OctGOOD
Waimea Bay
Oahu · United States
2 m waves27° water29° air
Advanced only · no wetsuit · ✈ HNL 39 km
10Kauai – Hanalei Bay, surfing & SUP. Photo: Scorewith German
OctGOOD
Hanalei Bay
Kauai · United States
2 m waves27° water27° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ LIH 32 km
11Santa Cruz – Cowell's, surfing, surf foiling & tow foiling. Photo: Robert Ashworth from Bellingham, WA., USA
OctGOOD
Cowell's
Santa Cruz · United States
1.9 m waves16° water23° air
Beginner-friendly · 4/3 wetsuit · ✈ MRY 45 km
12Oahu – Kailua Beach, kitesurfing, wingfoiling & windsurfing. Photo: Forest & Kim Starr
OctGOOD
Kailua Beach
Oahu · United States
1.9 m waves27° water28° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ HNL 22 km
13Oahu – Haleiwa, kitesurfing, wingfoiling & windsurfing. Photo: Janine from Mililani, Hawaii, United States
OctGOOD
Haleiwa
Oahu · United States
1.8 m waves27° water29° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ HNL 36 km
14Mavericks – Half Moon Bay, surfing & tow foiling. Photo: Shalom Jacobovitz
OctGOOD
Mavericks
Half Moon Bay · United States
1.6 m waves15° water21° air
Advanced only · 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ SFO 18 km
15Maui – Honolua Bay, surfing. Photo: Carnaval.com Studios from The Inner Mission San Francisco, Earth
OctGOOD
Honolua Bay
Maui · United States
1.6 m waves27° water29° air
Advanced only · no wetsuit · ✈ JHM 7 km
16Maui – Ho'okipa, windsurfing, surfing & tow foiling. Photo: Nikkiundmichi
OctGOOD
Ho'okipa
Maui · United States
1.6 m waves26° water29° air
Advanced only · no wetsuit · ✈ OGG 9 km
17Morro Bay, surfing & SUP. Photo: Mike Baird from Morro Bay, USA
OctGOOD
Morro Bay
United States
1.6 m waves16° water21° air
Beginner-friendly · 4/3 wetsuit · ✈ SBP 25 km
18Kanaha Beach Park – Maui, kitesurfing, wingfoiling & windsurfing. Photo: Kirt Edblom from Kihei, Hi, United States
OctGOOD
Kanaha Beach Park
Maui · United States
1.6 m waves27° water29° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ OGG 0 km
19Montauk, surfing & surf foiling. Photo: GoBlue9
OctPEAK SEASON
Montauk
United States
1.4 m waves18° water17° air
Beginner-friendly · 4/3 wetsuit · ✈ WST 36 km
20Outer Banks – Waves, kitesurfing, wingfoiling & windsurfing. Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA
OctGOOD
Outer Banks
Waves · United States
1.3 m waves21° water21° air
Beginner-friendly · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ EWN 153 km
21Trestles – San Clemente, surfing. Photo: Mikefairbanks
OctPEAK SEASON
Trestles
San Clemente · United States
1 m waves20° water24° air
Intermediate and up · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ CLD 40 km
22Blacks Beach – La Jolla, surfing. Photo: Levi Clancy
OctGOOD
Blacks Beach
La Jolla · United States
1 m waves19° water24° air
Advanced only · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ SAN 18 km
23Malibu – Surfrider Beach, surfing & SUP. Photo: Photo Coben Ohana
OctPEAK SEASON
Malibu
Surfrider Beach · United States
0.8 m waves19° water26° air
Beginner-friendly · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ LAX 27 km

Averages of the 23 spots on this page. Wave height: average daily maximum.

Questions

Where to go surfing in United States in October?

Jupiter – Florida: 1.6 m waves; Rockaway Beach – New York: 1.2 m waves; Wrightsville Beach: 1.2 m waves.

How warm is the water in United States in October?

13–28°C: 5/4 wetsuit and boots at 13–15°C; 4/3 wetsuit at 16–18°C; 3/2 wetsuit at 19–21°C; shorty at 23°C; no wetsuit at 26–28°C.

Where can beginners go surfing in October?

Good spots for beginners this month: Rockaway Beach – New York, Wrightsville Beach & Folly Beach – The Washout.

Which airport is closest?

President Donald J. Trump International Airport (DJT), 29 km from Jupiter – Florida; John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), 7 km from Rockaway Beach – New York; Wilmington International Airport (ILM), 13 km from Wrightsville Beach.

Read more

All articles →

More