Donuts, United States
Also within 20 km of Coronado
- Coronado Kite spot · 0.4 km from Coronado
- Coronado Surf spot · 0.9 km from Coronado
- Outlet Surf spot · 1.7 km from Coronado
- SS Monte Carlo Dive site · 1.9 km from Coronado
- Gator Beach Surf spot · 2.1 km from Coronado
- Breakers beach Surf spot · 3.2 km from Coronado
- Zuñiga Jetty Dive site · 5 km from Coronado
- Point Loma (Ralph's) Surf spot · 6.2 km from Coronado
Watch this spot We email you when Donuts is worth the trip.
About Donuts
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces SW (245°), so it takes swell from the SW. The wind blows offshore from the NE (65°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 2–8 ft of swell. The sea is about 15°C in February, its coldest month (4/3 wetsuit and boots), and 22°C in August, its warmest (2 mm shorty). For intermediate surfers the best months are usually January, February, May and June, with about 4 good days in 7; in March, April and August, about 3. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Coronado, 7 km away (about 15 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 5 surf spots and 3 dive sites.
Water about 20°C: 2 mm shorty. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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Book the trip
From Chicago: about 6 h 30 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to San Diego International Airport (SAN), direct.
See flights MDW → SAN · Skyscanner from about £215 returnAdGetting there. 30 min from the airport to Donuts.
Accommodation.
Stay in CoronadoAd
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 Coronado (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Coronado 12 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 43 places to stay · where Donuts stays
Places to stay in Coronado · Booking.com AdSan Diego 16 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 185 places to stay
Places to stay in San Diego · Booking.com AdTijuana 43 min by car · rooms from £60 a night · 136 places to stay
Places to stay in Tijuana · Booking.com AdDel Mar 57 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 10 places to stay
Places to stay in Del Mar · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Coronado · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Coronado · GetYourGuideAd
Where it is
Donuts on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
Donuts does not suit beginners. This is the forecast for intermediates, so you can see what it does.
The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Scorefor Intermediate | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 60, good | 3 ft13 s | 370kJ | offshorewind from the east, 4 knots, offshore | 24°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 64, good | 4 ft13 s | 429kJ | offshorewind from the east, 4 knots, offshore | 23°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 61, good | 4 ft12 s | 343kJ | offshorewind from the east, 5 knots, offshore | 22°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 49, good | 3 ft11 s | 265kJ | wind from the south-east, 5 knots | 22°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 42, fair | 3 ft11 s | 179kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 6 knots | 20°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 53, good | 4 ft6 s | 102kJ | offshorewind from the east, 8 knots, offshore | 21°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 34, too small | 3 ft6 s | 39kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 3 knots | 23°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 30, too small | 2 ft12 s | 101kJ | offshorewind from the east, 4 knots, offshore | 22°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 20, too small | 2 ft11 s | 64kJ | wind from the south-south-west, 3 knots | 21°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 38, fair | 3 ft5 s | 30kJ | offshorewind from the north-east, 5 knots, offshore | 20°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 intermediate surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Direct flight MDW to SAN, then 30 min by road. About 6h 30 door to door
- Tue 20 OctSurf Donuts
Best 08:00 to 11:00 local time: 4 ft at 12 s, offshore wind.
- Wed 21 OctSurf Donuts
Best 08:00 to 11:00 local time: 3 ft at 11 s, wind 5 kn (10 km/h).
- Thu 22 OctSurf Coronado Silver Strand State Beach
Best 08:00 to 11:00 local time: 3 ft at 10 s, offshore wind.
- Fri 23 OctSurf Ab
Best 08:00 to 11:00 local time: 4 ft at 6 s, offshore wind.
- Sat 24 OctSurf Kings Bay
Best 08:00 to 11:00 local time: 3 ft at 6 s, wind 2 kn (4 km/h).
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Direct flight MDW to SAN, then 30 min by road. About 6h 30 door to door
The plan picks the best of 16 spots near Coronado each day: Ab, Bird Shit, Breakers beach, Coronado, Coronado Silver Strand State Beach, Donuts, Garbage, Gator Beach, Ian's Reef, Kings Bay, Newbreak (Nubes), No Surf, Outlet, Pianos, Point Loma (Ralph's), Sunset Cliffs - Osprey.
Rough cost
About £910–£1,660 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 SAN, estimated from distance and season, 1 airline on the route, with a hold bag | £215–£445 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Taxi | airport and back, shared | £15–£25 |
| 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 | £910–£1,660 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
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Where to stayAd
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