Best Surfing Spots in California

Whilst Hawaii might be the birthplace of surfing, the state of California helped establish it as a popular watersport. So much so in fact, that it has become the state’s official sport which is no surprise when you try to count the many idyllic surf spots across the state. From north to south, the Pacific facing state gathers some of the best waves in the world along its coastline. With golden sands and perfect surfing waves, there’s nothing quite as refreshing as a water sporting trip to California, it’s exactly the reason why hotels like the Good Nite Inn offer Good Nite Inn promotion code to travelling adventurers so that you can worry less about money and more about catching that perfect wave.

So where to start if you’re planning a trip around California’s best surf spots? With many great value hotels in California to shore up at along the coastline, these are the tried and tested crowning jewels of Californian surfing, all ready for you as surfing season sets in.

Newport Beach

Home to the famous “Wedge” wave, Newport Beach on the outskirts of Los Angeles gains its reputation as a surfing hotspot thanks to south swells from the Pacific Ocean that are rebounded off and strengthened by the rocky jetties, leading to them smashing against incoming waves. One for the pros then, but even if you tire of the monster surf, there are 10 miles of beach to explore alongside beachside shopping malls and restaurants.

Rincon Point

Located between Ventura and Santa Barbara, Rincon Point is thought to be the best beach in California for Pointbreaks, making for stellar surfing conditions. This stretch of beach can get quite crowded, however, thanks to its ideal location just off of Highway 1, so make sure to get in early for a spot.

Surfrider Beach

Easily reachable from the Good Nite Inn Calabasas Malibu, Surfrider Beach is probably one of the best-known surf beaches in California and was recently titled the World Surfing Reserve by a coalition of beach charities. With a lineage of famous surfers using this spot in the 60s’ surfing boom, it’s no surprise that Surfrider Beach has gone down in history as one of the best of its kind.

Half Moon Bay

Mavericks in Half Moon Bay was once shrouded in obscurity, but thanks to its often-80 foot waves, it has become another must-visit for professional surfers across the world. Located near San Francisco, Half Moon Bay’s Maverick Beach is situated just beneath the Pillar Point Harbour near an Air Force station, giving you the best of the sky and the sea all in one view.

Asilomar State Beach

Asilomar State Beach is a perfect example of mellow surfing conditions, offering newcomers and amateurs to the sport a way to sink their teeth into the sport without the dangerous riptides of nearby beaches. Asilomar Beach can be found on the southern edge of Monterey Bay, and the city it inhabits is Pacific Grove, well worth an explore if you tire of the waves.

San Onofre State Beach

San Clemente’s San Onofre Beach is a longboard haven and gentle giant of a wavemaker. A perfect place to cut your teeth in the sport, beaches in the area include Old Man’s, The Point and Dog Patch. San Onofre is also laced with surfing history, its roots dating back to the fishing and surfing camps that developed there almost a hundred years ago.