San Onofre
Mile-long cobblestone beachbreak with multiple peaks across the cove inside San Onofre State Park. South and southwest swell window. The longboard-culture seat of Orange County.
When it’s on
San Onofre works best on a S to SW swell. It also picks up WSW to WNW swell. Light offshore wind from the northeast through east. Mid-tide window.
When beginners can paddle out
Knee-high to chest-high on a mid-tide window with light morning wind, off the side peaks where the longboard rotation is lighter.
Spot intel
- Parking
- $15 day-use at the San Onofre State Park entrance off the 5 at the Basilone Road exit. The lot runs along the bluff; spaces are walk-down to the sand. Lot fills early on south-swell weekends.
- Crowd
- Thick on south-swell days. Longboard presence runs generational. Surf-school clusters and family camps spread along the cove.
- Beginner-friendly?
Depends.
Wave shape is approachable on the smaller days, but the cove runs at longboard-festival density and the priority hierarchy at the main takeoff zones is locally rotated. Not a wave to learn the lineup at.
- Famous for
- Old Man’s at San Onofre. Birthplace of the modern California longboard scene through the San Onofre Surfing Club, and still the regional touchstone for traditional longboarding.
- Lineup etiquette
- At a longboard-heavy point cove, priority extends further back along the shoulder than at a shortboard break. Dropping in on a wave already taken from the peak is the standard call-out.
Where it breaks
- Coordinates
- 33.3706, -117.5694
- Shore faces
- SW
- Region
- South OC, California
Common questions
- What swell direction is best for San Onofre?
- San Onofre works best on a S to SW swell. It also picks up WSW to WNW swell.
- How big does San Onofre need to be?
- San Onofre is best in the 2-5ft range on a 12-20s period.
- What are the best conditions at San Onofre?
- Light or offshore wind under about 8 knots, with the tide around 2-4ft.
- Where is San Onofre?
- San Onofre is a mellow longboard peaks in South OC, California. The beach faces SW.
- Does GhostFingers forecast San Onofre?
- Yes. GhostFingers grades San Onofre with a six-tier verdict from swell height, period, direction, tide, and wind. iPhone, winter 2026.
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