Ocean Beach SF
Ocean Beach SF is California's cold-water crucible—a powerful beach break directly exposed to the full fetch of the North Pacific, where San Francisco's most committed surfers battle freezing water, closeout sets, and the knowledge that great white sharks patrol these waters. The wave is not for the faint-hearted: massive paddle-outs, heavy lips, and conditions that can go from fun to survival in minutes. But when winter storms send clean groundswells and east winds blow offshore, OB delivers some of Northern California's most powerful beach break surfing.
Ocean Beach SF surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
Today's ConditionsToday's Conditions
Find FlightsLocation & Conditions
Hourly Forecast, Tide & Strike Windows
Tide times today
Strike Score Breakdown
Plan Your Strike
Return flights to SFO, departing today with a 5-day trip window.
Search Flights on SkyscannerLocation & Conditions
Know when North America is about to fire
Get the best strike windows in North America — and worldwide — in your inbox every Monday & Thursday. Live Strike Scores, the swell behind them, zero fluff.
Get the full Ocean Beach SF trip window
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.
Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- WNW (290°)
- Direction range
- 260° - 330°
- Size range
- 1m - 5m
- Ideal size
- 2.8m - 4m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 18s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- E (90°)
- Offshore range
- 45° - 135°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- low to mid
- Optimal range
- 0.5m - 1.5m
Water temp
13°C
Wetsuit
4/3mm fullsuit
Difficulty
8/10
Crowd level
5/10
Access: Beach parking along Great Highway.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Ocean Beach SF?
Ocean Beach SF is a beach break in San Francisco, USA, with peaks that run both left and right. It's on our list of the world's 100 best waves.
What's the story behind Ocean Beach SF?
Surfing here began at Kelly's Cove in the 1940s, and Jack O'Neill opened his first surf shop at Ocean Beach in 1952. Kelly Slater won his 11th world title at the 2011 Rip Curl Pro here, aged 39.
What swell works best at Ocean Beach SF?
Ocean Beach SF picks up swell from the W round to the NNW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the WNW. It starts working at around 1m and handles up to about 5m, with the sweet spot around 2.8 to 4m. Period matters too: aim for 18s or longer, as anything under 12s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
What wind is offshore at Ocean Beach SF?
An E wind is dead offshore at Ocean Beach SF, and anything from the NE round to the SE keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 6am to 10am. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
What tide is best at Ocean Beach SF?
Ocean Beach SF is at its best around the low to mid tide, roughly 0.5m to 1.5m on the local chart.
When is the best time of year to surf Ocean Beach SF?
The most reliable run of swell at Ocean Beach SF comes Oct to Mar. There's a second window in Apr and Sep too. Big swells year-round. Massive in winter storms.
How cold is the water at Ocean Beach SF?
The water at Ocean Beach SF averages around 13°C, so you'll want a 4/3mm fullsuit. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Is Ocean Beach SF good for beginners?
Not really. It's rated 8/10 for difficulty and suits experienced surfers. Expect a moderate crowd (5/10) when it's on. Powerful closeouts. Cold water. Great white shark territory.
How do I get to Ocean Beach SF?
The nearest airport on our list is SFO, then it's roughly a 25-minute drive. Beach parking along Great Highway.
What other surf spots are near Ocean Beach SF?
The closest breaks we track are Mavericks (30 km), handy when Ocean Beach SF isn't working.
Best Season
Peak: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Secondary: Sep, Apr
Big swells year-round. Massive in winter storms.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Mavericks
🐻 Northern California's monster • Boulder reef • Where legends test themselves
Steamer Lane
⬛ NorCal's finest • Lighthouse point • Cold-water champions
Pleasure Point
😊 Santa Cruz mellow • Multiple peaks • Year-round variety
Ghost Trees
👻 Ghostly cypress backdrop • Carmel Canyon power • Restricted access
Plan a trip around Ocean Beach SF
Compare this break with other destinations in these surf guides.