Surf spot

Nauset Light Beach

Forecast conditions and map view for Nauset Light Beach in USA, North East, Southern New England. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: USA, North East, Southern New England
Coordinates: 41.7992, -69.9423

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)	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.2	0.3	0.2	0.2	0.1	0.1	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.2	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.2	0.4	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	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3
Wave direction	NNW	NW	NW	NW	NNW	N	N	SSE	E	N	NNE	NNE	NNE	NNE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	SE	ESE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	WNW	NW	SE	SE	NW	NW	NNW	NNW	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	ENE	E	ENE	ENE	ENE	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E
Wave period (s)	4.7	4.5	4.2	4	3.5	3.5	3.6	4.8	5.5	3.5	3.5	3.5	4.7	4.5	7.5	4.5	8.4	9.3	5	6.7	4.1	3.3	3.5	3.5	3.5	3.5	3.9	3.1	3.4	5.3	5.4	4.4	4.8	4.2	4.6	4.7	4.4	4.3	4	3.8	3.8	4.3	4.3	4	4.6	4.2	4.1	4.6	4.8	4.9	5.2	5.2	5.2	5.2	4.3	4.3
Wave energy (kJ)	2	2	2	2	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	2	1	3	3	1	2	1	1	2	3	2	2	1	1	1	3	2	1	1	2	2	6	10	10	8	5	4	3	4	3	3	3	3	3	4	5	6	6	5	5	3	2
Wind speed (km/h)	19.6	14.8	17.9	16.3	10.1	6.9	10.8	6.6	1.3	4	1.8	3.6	13.9	15	13.7	15.5	17.7	14.7	13.8	20.7	8.6	4.3	8.2	8	11.5	20.9	15.5	12.9	15.5	14.7	11.1	15	16.9	13	15.5	10.9	12.5	12.7	14.8	12.3	12	11.1	13.4	20.8	21.1	16.9	15.9	12	11.1	9.7	5.4	5.5	8.1	16.4	20.6	21
Wind direction	WNWOnshore	WNWOnshore	NNWOnshore	NNWOnshore	NCross-on	SSEOffshore	SSECross-off	SSECross-off	SEGlassy	NGlassy	NEGlassy	EGlassy	SSEOffshore	SCross-off	SSEOffshore	SSECross-off	SCross-off	SCross-off	SSEOffshore	ESEOffshore	SCross-off	WGlassy	NWOnshore	WCross-on	WSWCross-on	NWOnshore	NNWCross-on	NNECross-on	NCross-on	ENECross-off	NECross	NCross-on	NECross	NECross	ECross-off	ECross-off	SEOffshore	SSEOffshore	SSEOffshore	SCross-off	SSWCross-off	SSWCross-off	SSWCross	SSWCross-off	SWCross	SWCross	SSWCross	SWCross	SWCross	SWCross	SWCross	SSWCross	NNWCross-on	NNECross-on	NNECross-on	NNECross-on

Nauset Light Beach is a classic New England surf break on the outer Cape in Orleans, Massachusetts, along the Atlantic coast of Southern New England. It’s known for its exposed ocean-facing shoreline, which helps it pick up swell better than many nearby beaches.

Surf character

Type: Open beach break
Best for: Intermediate surfers, though it can be fun for all levels when conditions are small and clean
Wave quality: Can be punchy and powerful, with shifting sandbars that create multiple peaks
Consistency: Fairly reliable for the region, especially when Atlantic swell lines up
Crowds: Can get busy in summer and during good swell windows, but usually less crowded than more urban East Coast spots

Conditions

Swell direction: Works well with east, southeast, and northeast swells
Wind: Best with westerly/offshore winds; onshore winds can quickly make it messy
Tide: Often changes a lot with tide; the spot can be best at mid tide, but this depends on sand movement
Hazards: Strong currents, shifting bars, and cold water are common

Water and environment

Water temperature: Cold for much of the year; a wetsuit is typically needed outside midsummer
Beach setting: Scenic dune-backed beach near the historic Nauset Light lighthouse area
Bottom: Mostly sand, which means the surf setup can change frequently after storms

Overall vibe

Nauset Light Beach is a solid New England surf destination with a raw, exposed ocean feel. It can deliver fun, fast beach-break waves when the swell and wind cooperate, but it’s also a spot that demands attention because conditions can change quickly.