Surf spot

Sand Dollar Beach

Forecast conditions and map view for Sand Dollar Beach in USA, California, Monterey. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: USA, California, Monterey
Coordinates: 35.9237, -121.4728

Metric
Metric	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00
Wave height (m)	0.5	0.6	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.9	1.1	1.2	1.3	1.4	1.3	1.3	1.1	1.1	1.4	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.6	1.3	1.6	1.6	1.7	1.6	1.6	1.6	1.6	1.6	1.4	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.1	1	1	1	0.9	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7
Wave direction	SW	SSW	WSW	WSW	WSW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	NW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	SSW	S	S	S	S
Wave period (s)	11.4	11.9	12.3	11.4	11.4	7.2	6	5.3	5.3	5.3	5.3	6.3	6.6	6.7	5.5	5.5	5.5	5.8	6	6.2	6.8	6.2	6.2	6	6.1	6.3	6.4	6.5	6.5	6.4	6.3	6.3	6.2	6.3	6.3	6.3	6.5	6.5	6.5	6.3	6.2	6.2	6	6.1	6.1	6	6	5.9	5.8	6.7	6.6	10.7	11.2	11.1	11	10.9
Wave energy (kJ)	76	96	157	114	100	87	86	78	98	109	98	124	109	111	117	134	131	153	171	184	161	202	197	202	200	208	220	222	206	170	143	134	122	113	111	116	130	130	124	116	105	95	79	74	69	59	52	47	42	52	45	111	123	114	105	104
Wind speed (km/h)	3.4	1.5	2.9	8	12.9	14.5	8.7	5.1	7.9	9.4	8.2	9.6	20.8	19.8	9	10.4	9.1	9.2	6.4	3.6	14.7	14.4	9.2	5.8	5.8	2.7	5.7	8.2	9	9.8	7.3	4.5	4.7	4	2.4	9.4	12.2	8.7	7.8	3.7	4	2.9	0.8	8.6	11.7	10.2	9.6	6.8	5.4	3.9	3.4	6.9	15	11.6	8.8	5
Wind direction	ENEGlassy	NEGlassy	SGlassy	WCross	WNWCross-on	WNWCross-on	NNWOnshore	NOnshore	ENECross-on	ENECross-on	ENECross-on	NWCross-on	WNWCross-on	WNWCross-on	NOnshore	NECross-on	NECross-on	ENECross-on	ENECross-on	NWGlassy	WNWCross-on	NWCross-on	NOnshore	NNEOnshore	ENECross-on	ENEGlassy	SECross-off	SWCross-off	WCross	WNWCross-on	NNWCross-on	NNWGlassy	NGlassy	NGlassy	WNWGlassy	WSWCross-off	WCross	WNWCross-on	NNWOnshore	NGlassy	NGlassy	NNEGlassy	NNWGlassy	WSWCross	WCross	WNWCross-on	NNWOnshore	NOnshore	NOnshore	NNEGlassy	NNEGlassy	WCross	WNWCross-on	NWCross-on	NOnshore	NNEOnshore

Sand Dollar Beach in Monterey, California is a scenic coastal surf spot known for its rugged Big Sur-style beauty and relatively exposed shoreline. It sits along a stretch of central California coast that gets plenty of Pacific swell, so when conditions line up it can offer fun, powerful surf.

What it’s like

Wave type: Typically a beach-break setup with shifting sandbars, so the waves can change a lot from day to day.
Swell exposure: Picks up west and northwest swell well, especially in fall and winter.
Wind: Best with light offshore or calm conditions; onshore wind can quickly make it choppy.
Power: Can be punchy and energetic, and larger swells can make it more serious.

Best conditions

Tide: Often works best around mid tide, though this can vary with sandbar formation.
Season: Fall and winter are usually the most reliable for surf, with more consistent swell.
Crowds: Usually less crowded than many more accessible California beach breaks, but popularity can increase on good days.

Things to know

The beach is beautiful but somewhat remote compared with many other California surf areas.
Conditions can change quickly due to shifting sand and coastal exposure.
Be mindful of strong currents, colder water, and occasional large surf.

Overall

Sand Dollar Beach is a scenic, swell-hungry surf spot that can deliver fun, hollow, or powerful waves when conditions align. It’s best suited for surfers who are comfortable reading changing beach breaks and dealing with central California surf conditions.