Fort Macon, United States
Also within 20 km of Beaufort
- Queen Anne's Revenge Shipwreck Dive site · 2.1 km from Beaufort
- USS Pilgrim (SP-1204) Dive site · 7.1 km from Beaufort
- Shackleford Banks Surf spot · 8.3 km from Beaufort
Watch this spot We email you when Fort Macon is worth the trip.
About Fort Macon
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces S (197°), so it takes swell from the S. The wind blows offshore from the N (17°). It is sheltered to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 3–11 ft of swell. The sea is about 14°C in January, its coldest month (4/3 wetsuit and boots), and 28°C in July, its warmest (no wetsuit). For intermediate surfers the best months are usually February, March, September and October, with about 1 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Beaufort, 2.8 km away (about 5 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 1 dive site.
Water about 24°C: no wetsuit. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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From Chicago: about 6 h 40 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to ILM, direct.
See flights ORD → ILM · Skyscanner from about £135 returnAdGetting there. 2 h 25 from the airport to Fort Macon.
Accommodation.
Stay in BeaufortAd
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 Beaufort (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Beaufort 5 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 14 places to stay · where Fort Macon stays
Places to stay in Beaufort · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Beaufort · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Beaufort · GetYourGuideAd
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Where it is
Fort Macon on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
Fort Macon 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 | 25, too small | 2 ft8 s | 79kJ | offshorewind from the north-north-east, 21 knots, offshore | 20°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 44, fair | 3 ft8 s | 95kJ | offshorewind from the north-north-east, 21 knots, offshore | 19°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 20, too small | 2 ft8 s | 35kJ | offshorewind from the north, 13 knots, offshore | 21°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 23, too small | 2 ft6 s | 30kJ | offshorewind from the north, 11 knots, offshore | 19°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 17, too small | 2 ft8 s | 26kJ | offshorewind from the north-north-east, 7 knots, offshore | 19°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 13, too small | 1 ft5 s | 9kJ | offshorewind from the north-north-east, 13 knots, offshore | 19°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 20, too small | 2 ft5 s | 27kJ | offshorewind from the north, 12 knots, offshore | 19°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 29, too small | 3 ft7 s | 69kJ | offshorewind from the north-east, 15 knots, offshore | 20°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 56, good | 4 ft7 s | 178kJ | offshorewind from the north-east, 9 knots, offshore | 20°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 57, good | 4 ft9 s | 255kJ | offshorewind from the north, 7 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 ORD to ILM, then 2h 25 by road. About 6h 40 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: 2 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 ORD to ILM, then 2h 25 by road. About 6h 40 door to door
The plan picks the best of 2 spots near Beaufort each day: Fort Macon, Shackleford Banks.
Rough cost
About £930–£1,665 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 ORD to ILM, estimated from distance and season, 2 airlines on the route, with a hold bag | £135–£285 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Hire car | 6 days, shared | £115–£190 |
| 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 | £930–£1,665 |
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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