The Best Surf Spots Across the USA

Surfin’ USA

“If everybody had an ocean across the USA, then everybody’d be surfin’:” … Well, as it turns out you don’t necessarily need an ocean to surf. The pastime may be dominated by the tropical waters of the Pacific and the chilly waters of the Atlantic coast, but the Gulf of Mexico and the Great Lakes (seriously, we aren’t kidding!) are well-traveled spots for surfers, too! With so many opportunities spanning coast to coast, it is difficult to narrow down a list of the most popular spots, but we will give it a go!

Hang ten with us as we take you from the sun-drenched beaches that litter the Pacific to the cold breaks of the North Atlantic, and more than a few surprising places in between!

Hawaii: We cannot begin a post about the best places to surf without rightfully starting with Hawaii. After all, it was a Hawaiian (Duke Kahanamoku) who helped form the modern surf culture. So, below we will link you to the absolute best Hawaiian beaches for catching a wave!

First, Waikiki Beach in Honolulu (Oahu) is nearly universally recognized as THE spot for surfing in the islands, but you really can’t go wrong with any of the islands! So, go on and check out Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island while you are it! Or, go crazy and combine 2 or more for the ultimate surfin’ safari!

California: Whether you are a novice or an expert, surfing along California’s Pacific coast is a must! The Golden State has innumerable surf spots: from well-known beaches to under-the-radar coves.

Some of our favorites are Huntington Beach (pictured), La Jolla, Malibu, Newport Beach, Rincon Point (near Ventura), Salmon Creek (near Sonoma), and Pismo Beach. That doesn’t even begin to do California justice, so check out our California Vacations page for more ideas!

Florida: With more than 1,300 miles of coast facing both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, it’s not hard to imagine that Florida enjoys some of the country’s best surfing!

Here are some of the most iconic places to surf off Florida’s coasts: On the Atlantic side Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Cocoa Beach in Titusville (pictured) are inarguably the favorites for those looking to ride the waves. On the Gulf side, Venice Beach (just south of Sarasota) offers some of the most challenging waves in the Sunshine State, and Clearwater Beach, Panama City Beach, and Pensacola are perennial favorites!

Check out the gallery below to find more cities that in the USA surfers love! Some are expected, and some may surprise even die-hard surfers! In either case, each has something unique that attracts people and encourages them to try out a new challenge. Have fun!

If you want to explore outside the United States, click here to head back to the main page and explore surfing in the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and beyond!