Swell Cabin › San Clemente › Doheny State Beach
Doheny State Beach: surf spot in San Clemente
- Wave
- Reef break, lefts & rights
- Level
- Beginner
- Faces
- S (offshore wind: N)
- Best tide
- low to mid (from surfnerd.com and en.wannasurf.com, checked 2026-11-05)
- Best season
- Apr – Oct: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
- Water temperature
- 15–22°C (shorty or rash vest (warmest) to 4/3 mm (coldest))
- Location
- San Clemente, United States (33.4602, -117.6851)
Other surf spots in San Clemente
- San Clemente Pier: Beach break, lefts & rights, all levels, faces SW (offshore wind: NE), best tide: mid to high
- 204s: Beach break, lefts & rights, for intermediate surfers, faces SW (offshore wind: NE)
- Trestles: Point break, lefts & rights, for advanced surfers, faces SSW (offshore wind: NNE), best tide: mid
- San Onofre: Reef break, lefts & rights, all levels, faces SW (offshore wind: NE), best tide: all tides
- Strands Beach: Beach break, lefts & rights, for advanced surfers, faces WSW (offshore wind: ENE)
- Salt Creek: Reef break, left-hander, for advanced surfers, faces WSW (offshore wind: ENE), best tide: all tides
- Trails: Beach break, lefts & rights, all levels, faces SW (offshore wind: NE), best tide: mid
- Agate/Pearl Street: Reef break, lefts & rights, for advanced surfers, faces SW (offshore wind: NE), best tide: mid
- Laguna Beach (Brooks Street): Reef break, lefts & rights, for advanced surfers, faces WSW (offshore wind: ENE), best tide: all tides, rising
Places to stay near Doheny State Beach
- Doheny State Beach Campground (0.5 km away): Camping
- Doheny Beach Campground (0.5 km away): Camping
- SkyLoft Dana Point (0.5 km away): Holiday rental
- Hilton Garden Inn Dana Point Doheny Beach (0.5 km away): Resort
- Dana Point Harbor Inn (0.6 km away): Motel
- Best Western Plus Marina Shores Hotel (0.7 km away): Hotel
- Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa (0.8 km away): Hotel
- Riviera Trade & Travel (0.9 km away): Hotel
Surf schools near Doheny State Beach
- Dona Point Beach (0.5 km away)
- Loner Surf Club (5.9 km away)
- Trestles Surf Beach (6.0 km away)
- Beach San Clemente California (6.0 km away)
- 204 Surf Spot - Dije Beach (6.3 km away)
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to surf Doheny State Beach?
Doheny State Beach is in San Clemente, where the best surf season is Apr – Oct (April, May, June, July, August, September and October). It works best at this tide: low to mid. The wind is offshore there when it blows from the N.
What wind is offshore at Doheny State Beach?
Doheny State Beach faces S, so wind from the N blows offshore and grooms the waves, while wind from the S blows onshore and makes them choppy. The forecast on this page rates every hour with its wind.
What is the best tide to surf Doheny State Beach?
The best tide at Doheny State Beach is low to mid, from published surf guides (surfnerd.com and en.wannasurf.com, checked 2026-11-05). The forecast on this page weighs each hour’s tide and shows the best window each day.
Is Doheny State Beach good for beginners?
Yes: Doheny State Beach is a spot for beginners.
Where can I stay near Doheny State Beach?
The nearest places to stay are Doheny State Beach Campground (0.5 km away), Doheny Beach Campground (0.5 km away), SkyLoft Dana Point (0.5 km away) and Hilton Garden Inn Dana Point Doheny Beach (0.5 km away). Swell Cabin lists 145 places to stay within 14 km of San Clemente.
What is the surf forecast for Doheny State Beach?
Swell Cabin rates Doheny State Beach 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.
This page in other languages: Português · Español · Français · Deutsch · עברית