San Onofre is the birthplace of California surf culture—a mellow point break where surfers have gathered since the 1930s, establishing the beach-going, wave-riding lifestyle that would define a generation. Old Man's section provides gentle, forgiving waves perfect for longboarding, while the general atmosphere retains an old-school camaraderie that has become rare at most crowded California breaks. The summer south swells roll through with metronomic regularity, creating the kind of easy, accessible surfing that introduces beginners to the sport and keeps veterans returning for pure soul sessions.
Pro unlocks the 10-day forecast window, unlimited alerts, and custom spot tracking that help turn a good-looking surf report into a better travel decision.
10-day window
See the trip window before flights get expensive.
Unlimited alerts
Let the app watch your score threshold for you.
Custom spots
Track the breaks that actually matter to your travel plans.
Water temp
18°C
Wetsuit
3/2mm fullsuit
Difficulty
2/10
Crowd level
7/10
👥 Summer Break (Jun 15 – Aug 25) — expect extra crowds
Access: San Onofre State Beach. Multiple areas: Old Man's, Dogpatch.
Peak: Jun-Sep
Secondary: May, Oct
Summer S swells best. Mellow longboard wave.
🏆 World's best high-performance • Cobblestone perfection • Pro proving grounds
🌊 Pier consistency • All-level access • Working-class waves
⚠️ Newport's beast • Jetty wedge chaos • Shore break fury
🕉️ Spiritual surf • Temple backdrop • Year-round quality
🇺🇸 Surf City USA • US Open home • California quintessential
🏔️ Scripps Canyon power • Cliff descent required • SoCal's heaviest