Best beaches for surfing in Florida
6 documented surf spots in Florida, ranked by surf suitability: wave size in the biggest months and how many months have surf, from three years of marine model data. A beach with waves but no source is not listed, so this is not every place a wave breaks. Top score 9.9 of 10 at New Smyrna Beach. That is 6 of the 185 ranked beaches in Florida.
- Scored6 beaches
- Biggest wavesOctober
- Most listedNew Smyrna Beach (2)
- Top score9.9 of 10 at New Smyrna Beach
6 beaches in Florida with surfing.
When the waves are biggest
#1New Smyrna Beach, FloridaSurfingSurf 9.9 of 10Biggest waves September to October, mean daily maximum 4.9 ft; waves of 1.6 ft or more in 12 of 12 months. New Smyrna Beach was ranked ninth on Surfer magazine's list of best surf towns in 2009.Parking · Sunrise over water · Restaurants and barsView beach
#2FloridaSurfingSurf 9.3 of 10Biggest waves October to December, mean daily maximum 4.4 ft; waves of 1.6 ft or more in 12 of 12 months. Playalinda Beach is considered a surfing location by many of the locals.Parking · Sunrise over water · PierView beach
#3FloridaSurfingSurf 9.3 of 10Biggest waves October to December, mean daily maximum 4.4 ft; waves of 1.6 ft or more in 12 of 12 months. Playalinda Beach is considered a surfing location by many of the locals.Parking · Sunrise over water · BathroomsView beach
#4New Smyrna Beach, FloridaSurfingSurf 8.7 of 10Biggest waves September to October, mean daily maximum 4.0 ft; waves of 1.6 ft or more in 12 of 12 months. New Smyrna Beach was ranked ninth on Surfer magazine's list of best surf towns in 2009.Parking · Sunrise over water · BoardwalkView beach
#5FloridaSurfingSurf 8.0 of 10Biggest waves October to December, mean daily maximum 3.8 ft; waves of 1.6 ft or more in 11 of 12 months. Sebastian Inlet State Park lists surfing among its activities on both sides of the inlet.Parking · Sunrise over water · Restaurants and barsView beach
#6St. Augustine, FloridaSurfingSurf 6.6 of 10Biggest waves September to October, mean daily maximum 2.9 ft; waves of 1.6 ft or more in 11 of 12 months. Anastasia State Park lists surfing among its activities.Sunrise over waterView beach
Compare best beaches for surfing
| Beach | Surf score | Biggest waves | Parking | Beach Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Smyrna BeachNew Smyrna Beach | 9.9 | Sep to Oct, 4.9 ft | Yes | 4.7 |
| Playalinda Beach | 9.3 | Oct to Dec, 4.4 ft | Yes | 4.1 |
| Playalinda Beach (Nudist Area) | 9.3 | Oct to Dec, 4.4 ft | Yes | 4.1 |
| Inlet Shore Beach AreaNew Smyrna Beach | 8.7 | Sep to Oct, 4.0 ft | Yes | 4.2 |
| Tidal Cove Beach | 8.0 | Oct to Dec, 3.8 ft | Yes | 5.2 |
| Anastasia State ParkSt. Augustine | 6.6 | Sep to Oct, 2.9 ft | 2.9 |
How surfing works
A surf spot needs a swell, a shore or reef shape that makes it break cleanly, and a wind that does not flatten it. The biggest months come from the wave climatology at each beach, but wave height alone never makes a surf spot: a beach is listed because it is mapped as one or a cited page describes it as one, and the score only orders those documented spots. Skill level, break type, and the best wind are not measured yet; they need a surf source of their own.
How we verify surfing
A beach is listed when a surf spot is mapped within 500 m of it in OpenStreetMap, or when a cited page describes it as a surfing spot. It is then scored 0 to 10 for surf suitability from three years of marine model data: 60 percent the mean daily maximum wave over the three biggest months, 40 percent how many months average 0.5 m or more. The list is documented spots ranked by that score, not every beach where a wave breaks. Sources and methodology
Where in Florida
Most are in New Smyrna Beach (2), then St. Augustine (1).
Best today: St. Pete Beach, 86 of 100
Wind up to 11 mph, waves up to 0.9 ft, 23% rain chance, high 87 F in St. Pete Beach.
When to go
Warmest sea: August at 88 F (31 C). Calmest water: July, mean daily maximum wave 1.3 ft. Fewest rain days: February, November, December.