Swell Cabin › Santa Barbara › Leadbetter Beach
Leadbetter Beach: surf spot in Santa Barbara
- Wave
- Point break, right-hander
- Level
- Beginner
- Faces
- SE (offshore wind: NW)
- Best tide
- mid (from surfnerd.com and en.wannasurf.com, checked 2026-11-05)
- Best season
- Nov – Mar: November, December, January, February, March
- Water temperature
- 13–19°C (3/2 mm (warmest) to 5/4 mm + boots (coldest))
- Location
- Santa Barbara, United States (34.3969, -119.7009)
Other surf spots in Santa Barbara
- Sandspit: Beach break, right-hander, for advanced surfers, best tide: low to mid
- Hammonds Reef: Reef break, right-hander, for advanced surfers, faces S (offshore wind: N), best tide: mid
- Tarpits/Carpinteria State Beach: Beach break, lefts & rights, all levels, faces SW (offshore wind: NE), best tide: mid to high
- Devereux: Point break, right-hander, all levels, faces SSW (offshore wind: NNE), best tide: mid
- Haskels Beach: Beach break, lefts & rights, for advanced surfers, faces SW (offshore wind: NE)
Places to stay near Leadbetter Beach
- Sea Cliff Vacations (0.5 km away): Holiday rental
- Biltmore Coral Casino (0.7 km away): Hotel
- Shxhotel (0.8 km away): Hotel
- Ivy Apartment Homes Santa Barbara (1.2 km away): Guesthouse
- Inn by the Harbor (1.4 km away): Motel
- Beachside Inn (1.4 km away): Hotel
- Castillo Inn at the Beach (1.5 km away): Motel
- Santa Barbara Harbor Beach Side Inn (1.5 km away): Hotel
Surf schools near Leadbetter Beach
- Paddle Board Yoga (1.0 km away)
- Sandspit, Santa Barbara, CA (1.6 km away)
- Santa Barbara Surf Adventures (2.1 km away)
- Santa Barbara Seals Surf School (2.1 km away)
- 805 Surf Academy (2.4 km away)
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to surf Leadbetter Beach?
Leadbetter Beach is in Santa Barbara, where the best surf season is Nov – Mar (November, December, January, February and March). It works best at this tide: mid. The wind is offshore there when it blows from the NW.
What wind is offshore at Leadbetter Beach?
Leadbetter Beach faces SE, so wind from the NW blows offshore and grooms the waves, while wind from the SE blows onshore and makes them choppy. The forecast on this page rates every hour with its wind.
What is the best tide to surf Leadbetter Beach?
The best tide at Leadbetter Beach is 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 Leadbetter Beach good for beginners?
Yes: Leadbetter Beach is a spot for beginners.
Where can I stay near Leadbetter Beach?
The nearest places to stay are Sea Cliff Vacations (0.5 km away), Biltmore Coral Casino (0.7 km away), Shxhotel (0.8 km away) and Ivy Apartment Homes Santa Barbara (1.2 km away). Swell Cabin lists 227 places to stay within 16 km of Santa Barbara.
What is the surf forecast for Leadbetter Beach?
Swell Cabin rates Leadbetter 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.
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