Bird Island, United States
Also within 20 km of Sunset Beach
- Sunset Beach Surf spot · 1.5 km from Sunset Beach
- Little River Jetties Surf spot · 4.2 km from Sunset Beach
- Ocean Isle Surf spot · 7 km from Sunset Beach
- Cherry Grove Pier Surf spot · 12.5 km from Sunset Beach
- Holden Beach Surf spot · 19.6 km from Sunset Beach
Watch this spot We email you when Bird Island is worth the trip.
About Bird Island
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces SE (146°), so it takes swell from the SE. The wind blows offshore from the NW (326°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 2–10 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves very gently: 10 m deep about 4.3 km out (1 in 435). On a typical 5 ft, 11 s swell the waves here would spill softly. The sea is about 11°C in February, its coldest month (4/3 or 5/4, boots and gloves), and 29°C in July, its warmest (no wetsuit). The town to stay in is Sunset Beach, 3.6 km away (about 10 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 2 surf spots.
Water about 23°C: 2 mm shorty. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
Save this trip A link to come back to, or to send to the group.
Book the trip
From Chicago: about 5 h door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to MYR, direct.
See flights MDW → MYR · Skyscanner from about £135 returnAdGetting there. 1 h from the airport to Bird Island.
Accommodation.
Stay in Sunset BeachAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Sunset Beach (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Sunset Beach 6 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 15 places to stay · where Bird Island stays
Places to stay in Sunset Beach · Booking.com AdCherry Grove Beach 18 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 61 places to stay
Places to stay in Cherry Grove Beach · Booking.com AdOcean Isle Beach 20 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 26 places to stay
Places to stay in Ocean Isle Beach · Booking.com AdHolden Beach 40 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 20 places to stay
Places to stay in Holden Beach · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Sunset Beach · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Sunset Beach · GetYourGuideAd
Budget 
Mid-range 
Luxury Where it is
Bird Island on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
The score for experts, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for experts | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 6, too small | 2 ft7 smushy | 21kJ | offshorewind from the north, 16 knots, offshore | 19°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 22, too small | 3 ft8 ssoft | 121kJ | offshorewind from the north, 11 knots, offshore | 19°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 11, too small | 2 ft8 ssoft | 50kJ | offshorewind from the north, 9 knots, offshore | 22°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 9, too small | 2 ft4 smushy | 16kJ | offshorewind from the north, 7 knots, offshore | 21°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 7, too small | 1 ft7 smushy | 16kJ | offshorewind from the north, 7 knots, offshore | 20°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 6, too small | 2 ft4 smushy | 12kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 8 knots | 20°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 6, too small | 2 ft6 smushy | 20kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 12 knots | 19°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 7, too small | 2 ft8 smushy | 45kJ | wind from the north-east, 11 knots | 21°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 18, too small | 3 ft9 ssoft | 127kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 7 knots | 21°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 31, too small | 5 ft9 ssoft | 330kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 7 knots | 21°C |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. The word under the swell is the wave's shape, our estimate from the sea floor. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for expert surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Direct flight MDW to MYR, then 1h by road. About 5h door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Direct flight MDW to MYR, then 1h by road. About 5h door to door
The plan picks the best of 3 spots near Sunset Beach each day: Bird Island, Little River Jetties, Sunset Beach.
Rough cost
About £885–£1,585 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return MDW to MYR, estimated from distance and season, 1 airline on the route, with a hold bag | £135–£280 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Taxi | airport and back, shared | £70–£115 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £270–£455 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £260–£480 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £115–£190 |
| Total | £885–£1,585 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Book the trip
Where to stayAd
Places to stay · Booking.com (ad)Links marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.