Chandeleur Islands, United States
No town nearby. No bookable town within 50 km: the nearest, Dauphin Island, is 84 km away. Nearest airport: GPT (GPT), 67 km.
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About Chandeleur Islands
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces SE (134°), so it takes swell from the SE. The wind blows offshore from the NW (314°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits beginners and up. It works in 1–6 ft of swell. The sea is about 16°C in January, its coldest month (3/2 wetsuit), and 30°C in July, its warmest (no wetsuit). For beginners the best months are usually January, February, March and December, with about 1 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. No town nearby. No bookable town within 50 km: the nearest, Dauphin Island, is 84 km away. Nearest airport: GPT (GPT), 67 km.
Water about 26°C: no wetsuit. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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Book the trip
From Chicago: about 6 h 50 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to MSY, direct.
See flights MDW → MSY · Skyscanner from about £140 returnAdGetting there. 2 h 45 from the airport to Chandeleur Islands.
Accommodation.
No town nearby
No bookable town within 50 km: the nearest, Dauphin Island, is 84 km away. Nearest airport: GPT (GPT), 67 km.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Chandeleur Islands · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Chandeleur Islands · GetYourGuideAd
Where it is
Chandeleur Islands 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 | 7, poor | 3 ft6 s | 40kJ | wind from the north-east, 14 knots | 20°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 7, poor | 3 ft5 s | 37kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 15 knots | 21°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 10, poor | 3 ft5 s | 25kJ | wind from the north-east, 11 knots | 21°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 12, poor | 2 ft5 s | 14kJ | wind from the north-east, 13 knots | 22°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 12, poor | 2 ft4 s | 6kJ | wind from the north-east, 6 knots | 23°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 5, too small | 1 ft4 s | 5kJ | wind from the north-east, 10 knots | 23°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 6, poor | 2 ft5 s | 18kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 14 knots | 23°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 9, poor | 3 ft6 s | 41kJ | wind from the north-east, 17 knots | 20°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 11, poor | 2 ft5 s | 21kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 13 knots | 21°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 10, poor | 2 ft3 s | 5kJ | offshorewind from the north, 7 knots, offshore | 22°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. 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 MSY, then 2h 45 by road. About 6h 50 door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 14 of 80.
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 14 of 80.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 14 of 80.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 8 of 80.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 7 of 80.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Direct flight MDW to MSY, then 2h 45 by road. About 6h 50 door to door
Rough cost
About £665–£1,220 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book. No town nearby, so no stay is in it.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return MDW to MSY, estimated from distance and season, 1 airline on the route, with a hold bag | £140–£295 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Hire car | 6 days, shared | £115–£190 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £260–£480 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £115–£190 |
| Total | £665–£1,220 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
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