Surf spot

Gilgo

Forecast conditions and map view for Gilgo in USA, North East, Long Island NY. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: USA, North East, Long Island NY
Coordinates: 40.6168, -73.3974

Metric
Metric	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	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00
Wave height (m)	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.4	0.5	0.5	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.3	0.2	0.3	0.3	0.4	0.3	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.3	0.3	0.4	0.5	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.4	0.4	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.4	0.4	0.3
Wave direction	S	S	S	S	S	SSE	S	SSE	SSE	S	SSE	SSE	SSE	S	SSE	S	S	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	ENE	E	E	E	E	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	E	E	E	E	E	E	SE	SE	E
Wave period (s)	5.3	5.3	5	5	5	5	4.9	5.2	5	4.7	4.8	4.8	4.7	4.3	6.1	3.8	4.5	6.7	3.6	3.5	3.5	3.6	3.5	3.6	3.8	4	4.3	5.1	5.5	5.6	5.8	5.8	6.2	5.8	3.3	3.8	4.2	4.3	4	4.3	4.5	4.4	3.9	3.9	4.1	4.8	4.6	4.5	4.5	4.5	4.6	4.8	4.9	4.2	3.8	5.3
Wave energy (kJ)	29	24	18	14	12	12	9	11	11	8	7	6	5	2	5	3	7	7	13	9	8	7	7	7	6	7	10	15	17	16	13	11	11	7	2	5	10	12	7	9	8	7	4	4	3	3	5	4	4	4	4	4	4	5	4	6
Wind speed (km/h)	12.1	9	13.8	14.7	12.7	11.3	6.8	10	10.7	10	10.4	14.6	17.4	16.4	15.3	17.7	14.8	13.4	5.1	10	9.3	5.1	12.8	11.7	13.8	17.3	15.5	14.8	19.1	20.4	17.2	13.4	14.5	13.7	14	12.9	16.4	15	16.5	16.2	16.3	15.3	15.1	17.6	18.3	15.9	15.2	15.4	13.1	9.5	11.8	13.2	8.6	18.3	18.9	20.4
Wind direction	NOffshore	NNWOffshore	NNWOffshore	NNWOffshore	NWCross-off	NNWOffshore	NNECross-off	NNECross-off	NECross-off	NECross-off	ENECross	SECross-on	SSEOnshore	SEOnshore	SEOnshore	SSEOnshore	SEOnshore	SOnshore	SWCross-on	WSWCross	WSWCross-on	WCross	SWCross-on	SWCross-on	NWCross-off	NOffshore	NOffshore	NOffshore	NOffshore	NNEOffshore	NNEOffshore	NECross-off	NECross-off	ENECross	ENECross	ESECross-on	SSEOnshore	SSEOnshore	SOnshore	SOnshore	SSWOnshore	SSWCross-on	SSWCross-on	SSWCross-on	SSWOnshore	SOnshore	SOnshore	SSWCross-on	SSWCross-on	SSWCross-on	SSWCross-on	SSWCross-on	WNWCross-off	NECross-off	NECross-off	NECross-off

Gilgo, Long Island, NY (Northeast USA) is a well-known beachbreak surf spot on the South Shore of Long Island, set along the Atlantic Ocean in the Gilgo/Ocean Parkway area.

Quick description

Gilgo is generally a soft-sand beachbreak with shifting peaks that can offer fun, punchy waves when conditions line up. It’s a popular local surf area because it can handle a range of swell directions and is accessible from the New York metro area.

Wave characteristics

Type: Beachbreak
Wave quality: Can be fun and peaky, though often inconsistent
Best with: East to southeast Atlantic swell
Shape: Usually short, fast, and hollow at times when sandbars are lined up; otherwise more crumbly and beginner-friendly
Tide sensitivity: Often works best around mid tide, but this can vary with sand conditions

Best conditions

Swell: East / southeast swell tends to light it up
Wind: Northwest offshore winds are typically best
Crowds: Can get crowded, especially on good summer and fall days
Season: Fall is often the best overall season for cleaner surf and better swell consistency

Suitability

Beginners: Can be suitable on smaller, softer days
Intermediate surfers: Probably the best fit most of the time
Advanced surfers: Can still be fun when the sandbars align and the swell gets bigger

Local vibe

Gilgo has a classic Long Island surf scene—easy access, regular local traffic, and a mix of surfers, bodyboarders, and beachgoers. It can feel mellow on small days but much more competitive when the waves are firing.