Surf spot

Doheny

Forecast conditions and map view for Doheny in USA, California, Orange County. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: USA, California, Orange County
Coordinates: 33.4602, -117.6889

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)	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.7	0.8	0.9	0.9	0.8	0.6	0.7	0.5	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5
Wave direction	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	S	W	W	W	W	W	W	SSW	S	W	W	W	W	W	WSW	W	WSW	W	W	W	W	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
Wave period (s)	11.8	11.6	11.3	11.2	11.3	10.8	11.1	8.7	4.7	4.8	5	5.8	5.8	7.2	9.4	4.7	5.3	5.7	5.7	5.5	4.8	5.7	4.9	7.2	7.2	10	9.1	12.6	12.2	14.5	14.8	14.5	14.3	14.2	14.1	13.9	13.8	13.6	13.4	13.3	13.1	12.8	13.6	13.4	13.3	13.4	12.4	12.3	12.2	12.1	11.9	11.9	11.8	11.7	11.3	11.2
Wave energy (kJ)	161	147	134	130	99	91	107	65	23	29	32	38	29	37	59	19	35	52	47	38	17	31	13	18	18	32	26	56	68	97	110	114	120	126	134	130	138	142	147	153	150	152	132	122	118	121	118	115	106	98	90	89	75	73	74	68
Wind speed (km/h)	8.1	8.4	7.2	13.9	14.1	11	6.6	5.8	8.3	6.4	5.1	11.6	13.6	11.2	5.8	7	7.8	8.2	5.9	14.9	17.9	15.1	10.7	10.5	8.8	7.9	5.8	13	14.4	12.2	6	6.1	5.4	3.6	3.5	11.1	13.8	10.9	6.6	4.7	3.3	1.1	2.6	11.4	15.6	13.3	7.7	3.3	4.1	3.4	3.3	11.3	14.5	13.4	6.6	3.4
Wind direction	SSECross-on	SSECross-on	SSECross-on	SSWCross-off	SSWCross-off	SCross	SCross	SCross	SCross	SSECross-on	SECross-on	SSWCross-off	SSWCross-off	SSWCross	SSECross-on	SSECross-on	SECross-on	SECross-on	SECross-on	SCross	SCross	SCross	SSECross	SSECross-on	SECross-on	SSECross-on	SSECross-on	SSWCross-off	SSWCross-off	SSWCross-off	SSECross-on	SCross	SECross-on	SGlassy	SSEGlassy	SWCross-off	SWCross-off	SWCross-off	SCross	SGlassy	SGlassy	NNEGlassy	WNWGlassy	WSWOffshore	WSWOffshore	WSWOffshore	WOffshore	WGlassy	NWGlassy	NNWGlassy	WGlassy	WOffshore	WSWOffshore	WOffshore	WOffshore	SSWGlassy

Doheny State Beach (Doheny) — Dana Point, Orange County, California

Doheny is one of Southern California’s most beginner-friendly and relaxed surf spots. Located in Dana Point, it’s a classic beach break with a mellow vibe, longboard-friendly waves, and a setting that makes it popular with surfers, families, and beachgoers alike.

Wave type

Primarily a beach break
Mostly small, soft, rolling waves
Can form peaky sections depending on sandbars and swell direction
Known for long, manageable rides rather than powerful surf

Best for

Beginners
Longboarders
Cruiser-style surfing
Intermediate surfers on smaller, cleaner days

Conditions

Works best on small to moderate south or southwest swell
Can get crowded, especially when conditions are good
Tends to be more forgiving than many Orange County surf spots
Can be shaped by shifting sandbars, so quality changes over time

Hazards / things to know

Crowds are the biggest issue
Can have strong currents at times
Beach break closeouts can happen on bigger or poorly lined-up swells
Watch for rocks near the harbor area and other surfers

Atmosphere

Very laid-back and beginner-friendly
Popular with surf schools
Easy access and a welcoming beach environment
More of a fun, casual session spot than a high-performance wave

Quick summary

Doheny is a mellow, iconic South Orange County surf spot best known for its soft, longboardable waves and beginner-friendly conditions. It’s a great place to learn, cruise, or enjoy an easy session when the swell is small and the lineup is clean.