Holly Beach, United States
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About Holly Beach
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces S (178°), so it takes swell from the S. The wind blows offshore from the N (358°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 2–10 ft of swell. The sea is about 15°C in January, its coldest month (4/3 wetsuit and boots), and 30°C in July, its warmest (no wetsuit). The town to stay in is Holly Beach, 0 km away (about 5 min by car).
Water about 26°C: no wetsuit. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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From Chicago: about 7 h 45 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), direct.
See flights MDW → HOU · Skyscanner from about £150 returnAdGetting there. 3 h 20 from the airport to Holly Beach.
Accommodation.
Stay in Holly 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 Holly Beach (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Holly Beach 1 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 5 places to stay · where Holly Beach stays
Places to stay in Holly Beach · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Holly Beach · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Holly Beach · GetYourGuideAd
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Where it is
Holly Beach on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
Holly Beach 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 | 6, too small | 1 ft3 s | 1kJ | offshorewind from the north-east, 8 knots, offshore | 21°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 15, too small | 2 ft4 s | 7kJ | wind from the north-east, 8 knots | 23°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 15, too small | 1 ft5 s | 8kJ | offshorewind from the north-east, 10 knots, offshore | 25°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 20, too small | 2 ft4 s | 6kJ | offshorewind from the north-north-east, 7 knots, offshore | 25°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 10, too small | 1 ft3 s | 2kJ | offshorewind from the north-east, 7 knots, offshore | 26°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 6, too small | 1 ft4 s | 2kJ | wind from the north-east, 5 knots | 25°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 8, too small | 1 ft3 s | 4kJ | wind from the east, 11 knots | 25°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 21, too small | 2 ft4 s | 14kJ | wind from the north-east, 11 knots | 25°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 18, too small | 2 ft4 s | 6kJ | offshorewind from the north-east, 8 knots, offshore | 24°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 12, too small | 1 ft4 s | 4kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 7 knots | 24°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 HOU, then 3h 20 by road. About 7h 45 door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Too small: 1 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: 1 ft at best.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Direct flight MDW to HOU, then 3h 20 by road. About 7h 45 door to door
Rough cost
About £945–£1,695 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 HOU, estimated from distance and season, 1 airline on the route, with a hold bag | £150–£315 |
| 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 | £945–£1,695 |
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
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.