Newport Jetties
A string of beachbreak peaks organized by short rock groins along West Newport, roughly 28th through 56th Street. Fast, punchy waves that wedge off the rocks and break close to the sand.
When it’s on
Newport Jetties works best on a SE to NW swell. Light offshore from the northeast. Low to mid tide window sharpens the peaks.
Spot intel
- Parking
- Metered street parking on the numbered streets off Balboa Boulevard and along the beachfront. Residential blocks, posted limits, and summer mornings fill early.
- Crowd
- Thick in summer but spread across many jetties, so each street runs its own peak and its own pack. Winter thins it to the regulars.
- Beginner-friendly?
Depends.
On small days the sand-bottom peaks between jetties are manageable for a novice who stays wide of the rocks. On any real swell the waves get fast and hollow, break in shallow water, and the current pulls toward the groins.
- Famous for
- The Newport street jetties. Groins built to hold West Newport’s sand that turned into a row of wedging peaks, and a longtime engine of Newport Beach’s high-performance shortboard scene.
- Lineup etiquette
- Each jetty is its own peak. The surfer deepest on the wedge coming off the rocks has priority, and the next street over is always an option when a peak is taken.
Where it breaks
- Coordinates
- 33.6160, -117.9425
- Shore faces
- SSW
- Region
- Central OC, California
Common questions
- What swell direction is best for Newport Jetties?
- Newport Jetties works best on a SE to NW swell.
- How big does Newport Jetties need to be?
- Newport Jetties is best in the 3-8ft range on a 11-18s period.
- What are the best conditions at Newport Jetties?
- Light or offshore wind under about 8 knots, with the tide around 1-4ft.
- Where is Newport Jetties?
- Newport Jetties is a jetty beach break in Central OC, California. The beach faces SSW.
- Does GhostFingers forecast Newport Jetties?
- Yes. GhostFingers grades Newport Jetties with a six-tier verdict from swell height, period, direction, tide, and wind. iPhone, winter 2026.
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