Holden Beach, United States
Also within 20 km of Holden Beach
- Long Beach Chill Spot Surf spot · 10.7 km from Holden Beach
- Ocean Isle Surf spot · 12.7 km from Holden Beach
- Oak Island Surf spot · 17.7 km from Holden Beach
- Sunset Beach Surf spot · 19.1 km from Holden Beach
Watch this spot We email you when Holden Beach is worth the trip.
About Holden Beach
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces S (176°), so it takes swell from the S. The wind blows offshore from the N (356°). 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 1.7 km out (1 in 167). 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). For intermediate surfers the best month is usually September, with about 1 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Holden Beach, 0 km away (about 5 min by car).
Water about 23°C: 2 mm shorty. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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From Chicago: about 5 h 25 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 25 from the airport to Holden Beach.
Accommodation.
Stay in Holden 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 Holden Beach (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Holden Beach 1 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 20 places to stay · where Holden Beach stays
Places to stay in Holden 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 AdOak Island 31 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 23 places to stay
Places to stay in Oak Island · Booking.com AdSunset Beach 34 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 15 places to stay
Places to stay in Sunset Beach · Booking.com AdBald Head Island 51 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 15 places to stay
Places to stay in Bald Head Island · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Holden Beach · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Holden Beach · GetYourGuideAd
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Where it is
Holden Beach 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 | 12, too small | 3 ft7 smushy | 88kJ | offshorewind from the north-north-east, 12 knots, offshore | 19°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 24, too small | 4 ft8 ssoft | 176kJ | offshorewind from the north, 11 knots, offshore | 19°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 9, too small | 2 ft9 ssoft | 61kJ | offshorewind from the north, 8 knots, offshore | 22°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 11, too small | 2 ft5 smushy | 23kJ | offshorewind from the north, 7 knots, offshore | 21°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 7, too small | 1 ft8 smushy | 19kJ | offshorewind from the north, 6 knots, offshore | 20°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 6, too small | 2 ft4 smushy | 13kJ | offshorewind from the north-east, 7 knots, offshore | 20°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 7, too small | 2 ft5 smushy | 24kJ | offshorewind from the north-north-east, 10 knots, offshore | 20°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 9, too small | 3 ft7 smushy | 53kJ | offshorewind from the north-north-east, 11 knots, offshore | 22°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 19, too small | 3 ft8 smushy | 118kJ | offshorewind from the north-north-east, 6 knots, offshore | 22°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 38, fair | 5 ft9 ssoft | 428kJ | offshorewind from the north-north-east, 7 knots, offshore | 23°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 25 by road. About 5h 25 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 25 by road. About 5h 25 door to door
Rough cost
About £930–£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 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 |
| 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–£1,660 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Holden Beach
- Patronies PizzaPizza · 1.9 km from the centre
- Pelicans Perch EastAmerican · 0.9 km from the centre
- Co•No•Mo1.9 km from the centre
Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation. Credits
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.