Swell Cabin › Oceanside › Carlsbad
Carlsbad: surf spot in Oceanside
Suits all levels.
- Wave
- Beach break, lefts & rights
- Level
- all levels
- Faces
- SW (offshore wind: NE)
- Best tide
- all tides (from surfnerd.com, checked 2026-11-05)
- Best season
- Sep – Mar: September, October, November, December, January, February, March
- Water temperature
- 14–21°C (shorty or rash vest (warmest) to 4/3 mm (coldest))
- Location
- Oceanside, United States (33.1578, -117.3560)
Live surf cams at Carlsbad
- Terramar Point (Carlsbad): HDOnTap, free
Other surf spots in Oceanside
- Oceanside: Beach break, lefts & rights, for advanced surfers, faces SW (offshore wind: NE), best tide: low
- Oceanside Harbor: Beach break, lefts & rights, for advanced surfers, best tide: all tides
Places to stay near Carlsbad
- Beach Terrace Inn (0.2 km away): Hotel
- Seashore on the Sand (0.2 km away): Holiday rental
- Edgar H. Mullen Trustee Of The Sigafoose Administrative Trus (0.2 km away): Guesthouse
- Beach Terrace Inn (0.2 km away): Hotel
- Beach Terrace, a Carlsbad Hotel (0.2 km away): Hotel
- Ocean Villas (0.3 km away): Hotel
- Ocean Palms Beach Resort (0.3 km away): Resort
- Heritage Hall (0.4 km away): Guesthouse
Surf schools near Carlsbad
- Tower 37 (0.7 km away)
- Tower 15 Oceanside (1.9 km away)
- Oceanside Surf School (2.5 km away)
- DeJai's Surf Spot (Teramar-north end) (2.8 km away)
- Lifeguard Hut Tower 30 (2.8 km away)
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to surf Carlsbad?
Carlsbad is in Oceanside, where the best surf season is Sep – Mar (September, October, November, December, January, February and March). It works best at this tide: all tides. The wind is offshore there when it blows from the NE.
What wind is offshore at Carlsbad?
Carlsbad faces SW, so wind from the NE blows offshore and grooms the waves, while wind from the SW blows onshore and makes them choppy. The forecast on this page rates every hour with its wind.
What is the best tide to surf Carlsbad?
The best tide at Carlsbad is all tides, from published surf guides (surfnerd.com, checked 2026-11-05). The forecast on this page weighs each hour’s tide and shows the best window each day.
Is Carlsbad good for beginners?
Carlsbad suits all levels on an average day; check the size in the forecast before you go out.
Is there a surf cam at Carlsbad?
Yes: Terramar Point (Carlsbad) (HDOnTap, free). Swell Cabin checks these cams regularly.
Where can I stay near Carlsbad?
The nearest places to stay are Beach Terrace Inn (0.2 km away), Seashore on the Sand (0.2 km away), Edgar H. Mullen Trustee Of The Sigafoose Administrative Trus (0.2 km away) and Beach Terrace Inn (0.2 km away). Swell Cabin lists 178 places to stay within 10 km of Oceanside.
What is the surf forecast for Carlsbad?
Swell Cabin rates Carlsbad hour by hour for the next 7 days (Flat, Poor, Fair, Good, Great, Epic) from the way it faces, its level and its best tide, with the swell and wind forecast, and shows the best time each day.
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