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Carlsbad · San Diego County

South Carlsbad State Beach (Campground)

Now · 11:00 PM
4–6 ft
Good
Wind
5–10 mph
calm · ENE
Tide
0.8 ft
best mid
Water
75°F
Boardshorts or a spring top
Air
61°F
Mostly sunny
Best window
Tomorrow 9 AM–11 AM · 3–6 ftGood
Next 5 daysSurf height and tide, hour by hour
1ft2ft3ft4ft5ftThuFriSatSunMonTide
16-day outlookTomorrow 2–4 ft · Fair–Good
  • Thu, Nov 53–6 ftWind AM calm, PM onshoreGood
  • Fri, Nov 62–4 ftWind AM calm, PM onshoreFair–Good
  • Sat, Nov 72–5 ftWind AM offshore, PM onshoreFair–Good
  • Sun, Nov 83–4 ftWind AM offshore, PM onshoreFair–Good
  • Mon, Nov 93–5 ftWind AM offshore, PM onshoreGood
  • Tue, Nov 103–5 ftWind AM calm, PM calmFair–Good
  • Wed, Nov 113–4 ftWind AM calm, PM onshoreFair–Good
  • Thu, Nov 123–4 ftWind AM calm, PM onshoreFair–Good
  • Fri, Nov 134–7 ftWind AM cross, PM calmEpic
  • Sat, Nov 145–12 ftWind AM cross, PM onshoreFair
  • Sun, Nov 156–10 ftWind AM onshore, PM onshorePoor–Fair
  • Mon, Nov 165–8 ftWind AM cross, PM crossGood
  • Tue, Nov 176–9 ftWind AM offshore, PM crossEpic
  • Wed, Nov 183–6 ftWind AM cross, PM onshoreFair–Good
  • Thu, Nov 192–4 ftWind AM offshore, PM onshoreFair
  • Fri, Nov 202–4 ftWind AM calm, PM onshoreFair–Good
Swell1.7 ft @ 14s SSW
  • 1.7 ft14 s SSW 204°swell
  • 1.3 ft14 s WNW 284°swell
  • 1.7 ft6 s W 268°swell

Offshore deep-water swell from NOAA WAVEWATCH III.

Wind & weather5 mph calm · Mostly sunny
5mph10mph15mphThuFriSatSunMon

Solid: wind · dashed: gusts · dots: offshore/calm, cross, onshore

  • 10 PM5–10 mphcalm62°F Mostly sunny
  • 12 AM5–10 mphcalm59°F Mostly sunny
  • 2 AM5–10 mphcalm58°F Partly cloudy
  • 4 AM4–9 mphcalm57°F Partly cloudy
  • 6 AM6–10 mphoffshore56°F Partly cloudy
  • 8 AM4–8 mphcalm63°F Partly cloudy
  • 10 AM2–7 mphcalm72°F Clear
  • 12 PM7–14 mphonshore76°F Clear
  • 2 PM8–15 mphonshore76°F Mostly sunny
  • 4 PM8–14 mphonshore74°F Mostly sunny
  • 6 PM5–9 mphcalm70°F Mostly sunny
  • 8 PM4–8 mphcalm67°F Mostly sunny
  • 10 PM4–8 mphcalm64°F Partly cloudy

National Weather Service forecast; NOAA GFS model beyond about 7 days.

Tides · La Jolla (Scripps Institution Wharf)Next low 11 PM · 0.6 ft
  • Low
    11 PM · 0.6 ft
  • High
    6 AM · 5.5 ft
  • Low
    12 PM · 0.6 ft
  • High
    6 PM · 4.4 ft

NOAA Tides & Currents predictions. Best tide here: mid.

Sun & lightFirst light 5:44 AM · Sunset 4:55 PM · UV 5

UV index peak 5 (moderate) around 12 PM.EPA UV index forecast.

First lightSunriseSunsetLast light
Today5:44 AM6:10 AM4:55 PM5:20 PM
Tomorrow5:45 AM6:11 AM4:54 PM5:19 PM
Water temp & live buoyWater 75°F · Buoy 3.6 ft @ 15s

Water 75°F (NOAA tide station, 11:06 PM). Suggested: Boardshorts or a spring top.

Leucadia Nearshore (CDIP 262) buoy (46274) · 9:56 PM
Wave height
1.1 m (3.6 ft)
Dominant period
15 s
Average period
7.7 s
Direction
W 259°
Water temp
24.1 °C

Measured at the buoy, shown as reported (feet converted from metres). Data: CDIP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, via NOAA NDBC.

Water qualityCheck before you paddle out, especially after rain

Health departments post bacteria advisories and sewage-spill closures. Avoid the water for at least 72 hours after rain, especially near river mouths, creeks and storm drains.

Today's status: San Diego County (sdbeachinfo) →
Getting thereState Parks day-use parking is limited (about $10, up to $20 peak); free roadside parking along Carlsbad Boulevard is common.
Parking
State Parks day-use parking is limited (about $10, up to $20 peak); free roadside parking along Carlsbad Boulevard is common.
Access
Stairs descend the bluffs from the campground and roadside to the sand.
Lifeguards
California State Parks lifeguards; towers staffed mainly in summer.
Facilities
Restrooms, showers and drinking water at the park; camp store seasonally.
Etiquette
Spread-out peaks with lighter crowds than most of North County.
Hazards
Cobble patches, rips and wind exposure; bluff erosion. Dogs not allowed on the beach.

Local info changes; check posted signs and lifeguards on the day.

About this breakbeach · mixed · faces WSW

Long stretch of beach peaks below the State Parks bluff-top campground, reached by stairs from the campground.

Faces WSW · works on S–WNW swell · best SSW–WSW · usually surfed by intermediate surfers

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Model run 2026-11-05 00Z. Surf heights are face-height estimates from our spot model. Data sources