Surf spot

Stinson Beach

Forecast conditions and map view for Stinson Beach in USA, California, SF Marin. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: USA, California, SF Marin
Coordinates: 37.8977, -122.6529

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	1	0.9	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.3	1	1.2	1.4	1.5	1.5	1.3	1.1	1.3	1.7	1.6	1.7	1.7	1.6	1.4	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.2	1.2	1.1	1.1	1	1	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5
Wave direction	NW	WNW	NW	WNW	WNW	NW	S	S	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	W	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	WNW	WNW	WNW	NW	S	NW	WNW	WNW	S	S	S
Wave period (s)	5.8	5.3	5.6	6.1	7.5	7.6	11.9	12	11.6	11.3	11.8	11.9	11.6	11.8	7.3	6	5.8	5.6	5.9	6.1	6.5	6.7	6.3	6.2	6.3	6	6	5.9	6	6	5.7	5.5	5.7	5.8	5.8	5.9	6	5.9	5.8	5.8	5.7	6.3	6	7.5	7.5	7.4	7.3	7.3	7.2	11.6	7.4	10.2	10	12.2	12.1	12.1
Wave energy (kJ)	44	55	53	29	38	39	60	66	61	64	65	65	62	59	11	78	91	123	157	163	138	109	134	217	195	208	198	174	147	124	103	102	111	114	107	104	99	90	80	70	60	50	45	66	58	51	46	40	37	84	32	56	46	62	62	67
Wind speed (km/h)	11.6	13.6	12.2	14.8	23.7	23.8	22.4	20	17.6	18	13.8	10.1	21.5	23.1	18.4	6.2	2.5	3.7	1.8	5.6	14.8	18	13	8.1	9.2	5.7	7.9	10.8	15.3	15.8	12.9	11.2	10.7	10.8	9.7	12.1	16.1	16.9	12.8	9.9	9.4	8.7	5.9	10.3	15.5	18	13	9.3	9.2	8	6	7.7	17.1	20.7	14.2	11.5
Wind direction	WNWCross-on	WNWCross-on	WCross-on	WCross-on	WCross-on	WNWCross-on	WNWCross-on	WNWCross-on	WNWCross	WNWCross	NWCross	WNWCross	WNWCross-on	WNWCross-on	NWCross	NWCross	NEGlassy	EGlassy	SWGlassy	SSWOnshore	SWOnshore	WCross-on	WCross-on	WSWOnshore	SOnshore	SSWOnshore	SCross-on	SCross-on	SSWOnshore	SWOnshore	SWOnshore	SWOnshore	SWOnshore	SWOnshore	SSWOnshore	SSWOnshore	SWOnshore	SWOnshore	WSWOnshore	WSWOnshore	SWOnshore	SWOnshore	SWOnshore	SWOnshore	SWOnshore	WSWOnshore	WSWCross-on	WSWCross-on	WCross-on	WCross-on	WNWCross-on	WSWOnshore	WCross-on	WNWCross-on	WNWCross-on	WNWCross-on

Stinson Beach, California (Marin County, near San Francisco) is a classic Northern California beachbreak with a long, scenic stretch of sand backed by hills and coastal bluff. It’s one of the more accessible and popular surf spots in the SF Bay Area, known for its beautiful setting and playful waves when conditions line up.

Surf character

Type: Mostly sandbar beachbreak
Wave shape: Can be peaky, punchy, and fun rather than especially long or predictable
Best for: Beginners to advanced surfers depending on swell size and sandbar setup
Consistency: Fairly consistent, but quality depends heavily on sandbars, swell direction, and wind

Best conditions

Swell: Works best with NW to W swells
Wind: Light offshore or calm mornings are ideal; onshore wind can make it messy quickly
Tide: Often better around mid to incoming tide, but this can change with sand movement

What to expect

Crowds: Often crowded, especially on weekends and during good summer surf
Vibe: Laid-back, local Bay Area crowd with plenty of beach visitors
Hazards: Strong currents, shifting sandbars, cold water, and occasional powerful surf on bigger swells

Practical notes

Water temperature: Cold year-round; a wetsuit is essential even in summer
Amenities: Easy beach access, parking nearby, and a town with basic services
Scenery: One of the most picturesque surf locations in the region, with wide beach views and open space

Summary

Stinson Beach is a fun, accessible, scenic beachbreak that can offer quality surf when swell and wind cooperate. It’s not the most reliable “world-class” wave, but it’s a beloved Bay Area spot for its atmosphere, convenience, and occasional great sessions.