The Ultimate West Coast Surf Trip: The Definitive Guide

We all love spontaneity, right? It’s the thrill of the unknown that keeps us coming back to surf. But with a big trip like this, you need to balance that spontaneity with some solid planning. The first thing to decide is what time of year you’ll go. Do you want warmer water, or bigger swell size? Unfortunately, you have to choose.

Check out the graphs on swell size and water temperature across the year in this post from Surfing Waves. Once you’ve chosen your time of year, it’s time to book hotels (and air travel, if you need it). Check out the links below, and make sure you book in the suggested timeframes.

This is a serious dilemma if you’re flying in. Taking your own board with you will mean that you are surfing a familiar board. However, you have to consider the baggage surcharges that airlines may charge, the potential damage that careless baggage handlers could do to your board and the hassle of traveling with a board. If you go this route, be sure you have a solid board bag. Other options are renting a board at each location, or buying a board at each location and selling it before you leave. If you want to rent equipment, we’ll give you the best board rental spots at each location when we get there.

What else should you pack? Obviously, the basics—clothes, toiletries, swimsuit, sunscreen, and towels. Don’t forget surf sunglasses. Regular sunglasses aren’t designed for the specific needs of surfers. If you need prescription vision, prescription surf sunglasses are the way to go.

You’ll need to take care of your board, too, with wax, a ding repair kit, and possibly a backup leash.

Along those lines, consider your transportation on land. For shorter trips, renting a car is the most convenient option, though it gets expensive. If you’re flying in from outside the US and taking a long trip, consider buying a used car and selling it at the end of the trip. Either way, arranging your transportation can be a bit of a headache. Make sure you do your homework.

Check out these links for packing checklists and transportation advice. We’ve got every kind of packing list, from just the essentials to bringing everything you could possibly need.

This is it. Any farther south, and you’re in Mexico. That sounds awesome—if you planned for it. But that’s beyond our topic.

Unfortunately, many of the beaches in San Diego are crowded. But while you’re here, you may as well surf as far south as you can in the US, right? Here are some great locations in San Diego.