Huntington Beach (Surf City USA)

21601 Pacific Coast Hwy, Huntington Beach, CA 92646

"Surf City USA" — 10 miles of broad sand fronted by the historic Huntington Beach Pier and the Main Street walkable village. U.S. Open of Surfing competition every summer. The most consistently surfable beach in Southern California, and the de facto SoCal beach when out-of-staters picture one.

Ideal for a beach walk.

73°F water · 75°F air

Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon

Sunny, with a high near 75. Southwest wind around 10 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southwest wind 0 to 10 mph.

Weather

  • 75°F air — ideal beach weather
  • Sunny skies — clear conditions

Water

  • 73°F water — swimmable, refreshing
81 /100
great
79 Swim
80 Sunbathe
86 Walk
71 Fish
81 Photo

Best for walking today

Water level 0.6 ft above predicted

Observed water level is running higher than the astronomical tide prediction. Expect a narrower beach, faster-rising water, and stronger near-shore currents than the tide chart suggests.

NOAA station 9410660 · Observed 5.38 ft · Predicted 4.75 ft

Air Temp
75°F
Sunny
Wind
10 mph
SW
Rain
2%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
9 Very High
High 11 AM–03 PM · burn in ~22m
Burn-free before 09 AM & after 05 PM
Tomorrow
74°F
Mostly Sunny
Water Temp
73°F
Swimming weather
Wave Height
2.6 ft
15s · WSW swell
Water Quality
Above threshold
1,700 cfu/100mL · Total Coliform
USGS · sampled 6mo ago
Sunrise
8:54 AM
Sunset
11:01 PM
Moon · 18%
Waxing Crescent
Neap tides — smaller range
Time Type Height
12:10 AM High 5.5 ft
6:58 AM Low -0.2 ft
1:37 PM High 4.8 ft
7:20 PM Low 1.9 ft

High/low predictions from NOAA station 9410660, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.

Today Jul 18
75°

Sunny

2%
83
Sun Jul 19
74°

Mostly Sunny

2%
83
Mon Jul 20
73°

Mostly Sunny

0%
79
Tue Jul 21
74°

Sunny

4%
79
Wed Jul 22
75°

Mostly Sunny

0%
80
Thu Jul 23
75°

Mostly Sunny

2%
80
Fri Jul 24
74°

Mostly Sunny

2%
83
  • critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 9 — very high
  • optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 73°F

Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).

Solunar theory: fish activity peaks at moon transits (major) and moonrise/moonset (minor). All times local.

Minor
1:00 AM - 2:00 AM
Major
6:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Minor
1:10 PM - 2:10 PM

Parking

Paid municipal lots near the pier; metered street parking. Free 8-block walk-up from inland streets.

Dogs

Designated Dog Beach at the north end (Goldenwest to Seapoint) — leashed, no time restrictions. Main beach prohibits dogs.

Entry Fee

Free

Address

21601 Pacific Coast Hwy, Huntington Beach, CA 92646

lifeguardspierboardwalkrestroomsshowersrestaurantsshopssurf museum
Is it safe to swim at Huntington Beach (Surf City USA) today?

Huntington Beach (Surf City USA) shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. Seasonal lifeguards patrol the swim area in summer — follow their flags. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.

Is Huntington Beach (Surf City USA) dog-friendly?

Designated Dog Beach at the north end (Goldenwest to Seapoint) — leashed, no time restrictions. Main beach prohibits dogs.

Is there an entry fee at Huntington Beach (Surf City USA)?

Entry to Huntington Beach (Surf City USA) is free.

Are there lifeguards at Huntington Beach (Surf City USA)?

Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Huntington Beach (Surf City USA) during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.

What amenities are at Huntington Beach (Surf City USA)?

Amenities at Huntington Beach (Surf City USA) include lifeguards, pier, boardwalk, restrooms, showers, restaurants, shops, surf museum.

When is the water warmest at Huntington Beach (Surf City USA)?

The Pacific is cold. Southern California (San Diego to Santa Barbara) peaks in August at 65-72°F. Central and Northern California stay in the upper 50s to low 60s year-round. Oregon and Washington rarely exceed 60°F. Wetsuits are common.

Where is Huntington Beach (Surf City USA) located?

Huntington Beach (Surf City USA) is in Orange County, CA, at 21601 Pacific Coast Hwy, Huntington Beach, CA 92646.

Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS

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