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Cape Disappointment, United States

Stay in Ilwaco: see the trip Its beds, the way there and every spot near it.

Also within 20 km of Ilwaco

Watch this spot We email you when Cape Disappointment is worth the trip.

About Cape Disappointment

Known for kitesurfing and windsurfing, by the OpenStreetMap map of the area. The shore faces E, so wind from the W blows out to sea (our estimate from the coastline). Facts: verified.

Water about 13°C: 4/3 wetsuit and boots. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.

A spot for kitesurfing and windsurfing, as OpenStreetMap maps it, on a shore facing E. Wind from the E blows onshore, wind from the W blows out to sea, and wind from the S or N runs along the shore. It is sheltered to the open sea. The sea floor shelves very gently: 10 m deep about 7.1 km out (1 in 714). The sea is about 9°C in February, its coldest month (4/3 or 5/4, boots and gloves), and 15°C in August, its warmest (4/3 wetsuit and boots). For kitesurfing at intermediate level the best months are usually January, November and December, with about 2 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Ilwaco. Within 5 km we also list 1 surf spot and 1 wind sports spot.

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Book the trip

From Chicago: about 8 h 45 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.

  1. Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to PDX, direct.

    See flights MDW → PDX · Skyscanner from about £215 returnAd

  2. Getting there. 2 h 40 from the airport to Cape Disappointment.

    Car hire · Discover CarsAd

  3. Accommodation.

    Stay in IlwacoAd

    Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.

    Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).

    See all places to stay on Booking.com →

    Closest towns to stay in

    Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.

  4. Hire and lessons.

    Kitesurfing lessons in Ilwaco · GetYourGuideAdKite and board hire in Ilwaco · GetYourGuideAd

Everything else for the trip

Where it is

Cape Disappointment on Google Maps · Directions

The map needs JavaScript. Every place on it is listed on this page, and each place's page links to Google Maps.

One finger scrolls the page; two fingers move the map. Pins are our own positions. Map OpenFreeMap, © OpenMapTiles, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Forecast

Best on Sat 24: 19 kn gusting 28, side-onshore. Water: chop.

The score for kite, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoor

DayScoreWindGustsShoreWater
Sun 18Oct012knsidechop
Mon 19Oct012knsidechop
Tue 20Oct011knsidechop
Wed 21Oct07knsidechop
Thu 22Oct010knsidechop
Fri 23Oct018kncross-offchop
Sat 24Oct8028knside-onchop
Sun 25Oct8031knsidechop
Mon 26Oct015knonchop
Tue 27Oct09knside-onchop

Day scores are the conditions out of 80. Wind is the day's best reading: the mean and the gusts in knots (10 kn is about 19 km/h); the arrow points where it blows to. Shore: "side" is side-shore, blowing along the beach, the safe way; "side-on" and "on" blow in towards it; "cross-off" and "off" blow out to sea, and offshore scores nothing for kite and windsurf. Water is the open sea's waves near the spot: flat under 0.3 m, chop to 0.8 m.

The season

Good kite days in a typical week, each month, from 2016 on (ERA5 history scored the same way).

  1. Jan2of 7
  2. Feb1of 7
  3. Mar1of 7
  4. Apr1of 7
  5. May0of 7
  6. Jun0of 7
  7. Jul0of 7
  8. Aug0of 7
  9. Sep0of 7
  10. Oct1of 7
  11. Nov2of 7
  12. Dec2of 7

Typical, not a forecast. Reanalysis wind misses some local thermal winds, so a spot known for an afternoon breeze may do better than this.

Your trip, day by day

6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for kite. Change dates

  1. Mon 19 Oct
    Travel out

    Direct flight MDW to PDX, then 2h 40 by road. About 8h 45 door to door

  2. Tue 20 Oct
    Rest day

    Not enough of the right wind: 8 kn gusting 11, side-shore. Offshore: not safe to ride. Water: chop.

  3. Wed 21 Oct
    Rest day

    Not enough of the right wind: 3 kn gusting 7, side-shore. Offshore: not safe to ride. Water: chop.

  4. Thu 22 Oct
    Rest day

    Not enough of the right wind: 12 kn gusting 16, side-onshore. Water: chop.

  5. Fri 23 Oct
    Rest day

    Not enough of the right wind: 8 kn gusting 18, cross-offshore. Offshore: not safe to ride. Water: chop.

  6. Sat 24 Oct
    Kite Cape Disappointment

    19 kn gusting 28, side-onshore. Water: chop.

  7. Sun 25 Oct
    Travel home

    Direct flight MDW to PDX, then 2h 40 by road. About 8h 45 door to door

Rough cost

About £895–£1,640 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing. A guide from typical prices, not a quote. Kit hire is not in it yet: we have no sourced price for it.

  • Flights £215–£450
  • To the UK airport £35–£65
  • Hire car £115–£190
  • Stay £270–£455
  • Food £260–£480

Places to eat near Ilwaco

Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation. Credits

Book the trip

Getting thereAd

Flights · Skyscanner Car hire · Discover Cars

Where to stayAd

Places to stay · Booking.com

In the waterAd

Kitesurfing lessons · GetYourGuide Kite and board hire · GetYourGuide

Links marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.