7 Stellar Surf Spots in North County San Diego (2024)

North County San Diego is littered with great surf spots for locals and visitors looking to jump in the Pacific Ocean. Winter swells are typically a better time to catch massive waves. However, the summer is a great time to surf here too because you won’t need a wetsuit. I – Alex of SD House Guys – have personally surfed at all of these beaches. When I am not helping someone to sell a house fast in San Diego, I am usually surfing.

From Oceanside down to Del Mar, here are 7 stellar surf spots in North County San Diego where you can catch great waves.

Pipes at San Elijo State Beach in Cardiff is my number one surf spot in North County San Diego. This is a great beach to practice your surfing skills and improve quickly. The surf breaks at Pipes are consistent, which makes it easy to improve over time. You’ll be able to identify certain wave breaks that are better for carving and some that ride for 5-10 seconds.

Unless it’s an insanely busy weekend with good weather, Pipes always has free public parking along Highway 101. This surf spot isn’t usually as crowded as other surf spots in North County San Diego, which is also why I enjoy it so much. Avoid going to the main parking lot and primary surf break at Pipes. That spot does get crowded. Surf slightly north or south of the main parking lot and enjoy the waves.

You won’t find many tourists or visitors roaming this beach. It’s oftentimes high tide with not much sand to lay out on. This makes Pipes an optimal surfing setting where you can bring your board, wax up, and catch some waves. Many surfers consider Pipes an easier surf spot in North County San Diego. When a big swell comes in, the waves do get big here. However, they are usually more tame and good for beginner surfers.

While it technically has an Encinitas address, Grandview Beach is nestled right in the heart of Leucadia in North County San Diego. Grandview is another beach – similar to Pipes surf spot – that doesn’t have much sand. It’s very rocky and typically high tide. This makes it bad for laying out and reading a book on the beach, but great for surfing. There are no little kids or Groms to dodge when catching waves here.

Grandview has a parking lot that almost always has spots available. It’s a short walk down the stairs from the parking lot to the beach where you can surf. The waves at Grandview in Leucadia are bigger than Pipes. If the swell is large, expect big sets here. They break fast and peak quickly.

After catching waves at Grandview, you can grab some tacos on the main street of Encinitas. It’s a great way to refuel after a strong surfing session. Grandview is a gem of a surf spot. It does get crowded on weekends.

Heading to one of the most northern surfing spots in North County San Diego, we find Cassidy Street in Oceanside. This surfing spot is one that you want to work up to if you’re just starting out as a surfer. There’s a huge sand bar that causes the waves to grow quickly as they approach the beach. From this point, they peak quickly and start to break. To catch waves at Cassidy, you must immediately cut left or right ‘down the line’ of the wave in order to fully ride one.

Besides the explosive waves, Cassidy is a mellow surf spot in North County San Diego. You can park on the street next to the houses. On weekdays, it’s easy to find a spot. There are large rocks on both sides of the small entrance to the ocean. This spot is purely for surfing. There isn’t any place to lay out at Cassidy Street in Oceanside.

People ask if Oceanside is a safe place in San Diego County. It’s getting there! Oceanside is much safer than it used to be. If you’re parking your car to surf at Cassidy, don’t leave bags or valuable items on the seats of your car. Put everything in your trunk. The city of San Diego is getting safer just like Oceanside is. The entire county has improved over the past decade.

Swami’s is a famous surf spot in Encinitas. It’s located right next to the Self-Realization Fellowship Temple and, of course, Swami’s Café at the end of Encinitas’ main street. This surf spot is the perfect location that is incredibly scenic. You’ll see tourists and locals frequent this beach constantly.

Swami’s has a parking lot that does get filled if it’s a busy day. There is a solid surf break here but depending on the size of the waves, it only goes in one direction. This can lead to congestion among surfers trying to catch the same wave at the same time.

Ideally, try surfing at Swami’s on the weekdays. Avoid the crowds so that you can get the most enjoyment out of this North County surf spot as possible.

Tamarack in Carlsbad is a great surf spot for intermediate surfers. They have several jetties that create unique surf breaks that locals love. You can park right along the beach on Carlsbad Boulevard. Part of Tamarack is located along the cliffs. You’ll find dirt and rock paths to walk down to the beach as a surfer.

If you travel slightly further south, Carlsbad State Beach and Ponto also offer great surf breaks. When I go to this beach in North County San Diego to surf, I normally check out the waves in between these three surf spots. Whichever looks the least crowded with the best waves is the spot I end up at.

After surfing great waves at Tamarack Beach, grab a coffee at Lofty Coffee in Carlsbad. It’s a refreshing way to conclude your surf session. Overall, the waves at Tamarack are fun to ride. They break toward one side but can become steep if the sets are bigger.

11^th Street in Del Mar is one of the most southern surfing spots in North County San Diego. During the week, it’s easy to find public parking along the mansions of Del Mar on the streets. You’ll be situated at the tops of the cliffs. Once you walk over the train tracks, you’ll have to traverse down fairly steep, muddy paths. Go slow and take your time as you carry your surfboard down to the beach.

Del Mar has a huge stretch of beaches with multiple surf breaks. If the waves are smaller for a day, they are very small here. Save Del Mar surfing for days when the waves are huge. You’ll have fun surfing here. The waves break hard. When you surf here, try cutting to the left or right immediately to get the most bang for your buck on a wave.

Yes, there have been several shark sightings and attacks in Del Mar over the years. Most aren’t fatal. These typically happen during the summer when the water is warmer and the white sharks come closer to the shore to feed on stingrays. Don’t be nervous about sharks here overall. It’s not common but has appeared in the news.

After finishing up at 11^th Street in Del Mar, grab a breakfast burrito at Roberto’s. They are extremely filling and will refuel your body after a long surfing session. Avoid Del Mar’s main beach during peak surf hours as the parking is hard to find and expensive.

To round out our list of the 7 best surf spots in North County San Diego, we conclude with the Oceanside Harbor. It’s basically the most northern point in North County SD where you can surf. Oceanside is known to have some of the best waves in the area, and this surfing spot doesn’t disappoint.

On days with bigger waves, go prepared. The waves here are no joke. Oceanside is a place with big waves that crash fast. You’ll want to improve your carving and cutting across waves before jumping into the ocean here.