Deadman's, United States
Also within 20 km of San Francisco
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- Crissy Field Kite spot · 4.8 km from San Francisco
- Fort Point Surf spot · 6.6 km from San Francisco
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- Ocean Beach San Francisco Surf spot · 9.4 km from San Francisco
Watch this spot We email you when Deadman's is worth the trip.

About Deadman's
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces W (277°), so it takes swell from the W. The wind blows offshore from the E (97°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 2–9 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves moderately: 10 m deep about 250 m out (1 in 24). On a typical 5 ft, 11 s swell the waves here would crumble. The sea is about 12°C in January, its coldest month (4/3 or 5/4, boots and gloves), and 15°C in August, its warmest (4/3 wetsuit and boots). For intermediate surfers the best months are usually January, February, October and November, with about 3 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is San Francisco, 8.3 km away (about 15 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 5 surf spots and 3 wind sports spots.
Water about 14°C: 4/3 wetsuit and boots. 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 7 h door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO), direct.
See flights MDW → SFO · Skyscanner from about £225 returnAdGetting there. 45 min from the airport to Deadman's.
Accommodation.
Stay in San FranciscoAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
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Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in San Francisco · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in San Francisco · GetYourGuideAd
Where it is
Deadman's on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for intermediates | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 29, too small | 3 ft11 shollow | 154kJ | wind from the west-north-west, 5 knots | 16°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 35, poor | 4 ft9 smushy | 216kJ | wind from the west-north-west, 11 knots | 15°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 54, good | 5 ft10 scrumbling | 452kJ | offshorewind from the south-east, 4 knots, offshore | 16°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 56, good | 4 ft8 scrumbling | 158kJ | offshorewind from the east-south-east, 2 knots, offshore | 17°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 19, too small | 2 ft11 shollow | 96kJ | wind from the south-west, 3 knots | 16°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 48, good | 4 ft6 smushy | 116kJ | offshorewind from the east-north-east, 5 knots, offshore | 16°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 36, fair | 5 ft6 smushy | 134kJ | wind from the west-south-west, 6 knots | 15°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 32, poor | 4 ft6 smushy | 120kJ | wind from the west-south-west, 9 knots | 15°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 60, good | 3 ft8 scrumbling | 141kJ | offshorewind from the south-east, 7 knots, offshore | 14°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 33, too small | 2 ft8 scrumbling | 67kJ | offshorewind from the east-north-east, 3 knots, offshore | 14°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 intermediate surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Direct flight MDW to SFO, then 45 min by road. About 7h door to door
- Tue 20 OctSurf Fort Point
Best 08:00 to 11:00 local time: 4 ft at 10 s, offshore wind.
- Wed 21 OctSurf Taraval
Best 08:00 to 11:00 local time: 4 ft at 8 s, wind 2 kn (4 km/h).
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Fri 23 OctSurf Deadman's
Best 08:00 to 11:00 local time: 4 ft at 6 s, offshore wind.
- Sat 24 OctSurf Deadman's
Best 11:00 to 14:00 local time: 5 ft at 6 s, wind 6 kn (11 km/h).
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Direct flight MDW to SFO, then 45 min by road. About 7h door to door
The plan picks the best of 7 spots near San Francisco each day: Deadman's, Fort Point, Land's End Beach, Noriega, Ocean Beach San Francisco, Taraval, The Cogwheel.
Rough cost
About £945–£1,725 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 SFO, estimated from distance and season, 1 airline on the route, with a hold bag | £225–£470 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Taxi | airport and back, shared | £40–£65 |
| 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 | £945–£1,725 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Book the trip
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