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Island Beach State Park, United States

Stay in Seaside Park: see the trip Its beds, the way there and every spot near it.

Also within 20 km of Seaside Park

All 18 on Seaside Park's map

Watch this spot We email you when Island Beach State Park is worth the trip.

About Island Beach State Park

Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.

The spot faces E (98°), so it takes swell from the E. The wind blows offshore from the W (278°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 2–9 ft of swell. The sea is about 6°C in February, its coldest month (5/4 or 6/5, hood, boots and gloves), and 24°C in July, its warmest (no wetsuit). For intermediate surfers the best months are usually January, February, March and April, with about 1 good days in 7; in June and July, about 0. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Seaside Park. Within 5 km we also list 1 surf spot and 1 dive site.

Water about 19°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 5 h 55 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.

  1. Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), direct.

    See flights MDW → EWR · Skyscanner from about £135 returnAd

  2. Getting there. 2 h from the airport to Island Beach State Park.

    Car hire · Discover CarsAd

  3. Accommodation.

    Nearest beds: Seaside Park, 11 km (about 20 min by car)Ad

    Island Beach State Park is 11 km from the beds: plan on the drive each day you surf.

    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 Seaside Park, 11 km away on Booking.com →

    Closest towns to stay in

    Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.

  4. Hire and lessons.

    Surf lessons in Seaside Park · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Seaside Park · GetYourGuideAd

Everything else for the trip

Where it is

Island Beach State Park on Google Maps · Directions

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One finger scrolls the page; two fingers move the map. Pins are our own positions. Map OpenFreeMap, © OpenMapTiles, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Forecast

The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small

DayScoreSwellEnergyWindTemp
Sun 18Oct204 ft6 s93kJ13°C
Mon 19Oct156 ft7 s251kJ15°C
Tue 20Oct06 ft8 s444kJ17°C
Wed 21Oct06 ft8 s409kJ15°C
Thu 22Oct255 ft7 s255kJ17°C
Fri 23Oct243 ft8 s72kJ12°C
Sat 24Oct223 ft5 s33kJ10°C
Sun 25Oct252 ft4 s15kJ13°C
Mon 26Oct151 ft7 s15kJ15°C
Tue 27Oct61 ft9 s14kJ14°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

  1. Mon 19 Oct
    Travel out

    Direct flight MDW to EWR, then 2h by road. About 5h 55 door to door

  2. Tue 20 Oct
    Rest day

    Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 29 of 80.

  3. Wed 21 Oct
    Rest day

    Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 0 of 80.

  4. Thu 22 Oct
    Surf Island Beach State Park

    Best 17:00 to 20:00 local time: 5 ft at 7 s, offshore wind.

  5. Fri 23 Oct
    Rest day

    Too small: 2 ft at best.

  6. Sat 24 Oct
    Rest day

    Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 34 of 80.

  7. Sun 25 Oct
    Travel home

    Direct flight MDW to EWR, then 2h by road. About 5h 55 door to door

The plan picks the best of 6 spots near Seaside Park each day: Demikes, Island Beach State Park, Midway Beach, Seaside Park, Seaside Park, NJ, Tices Sholls.

The trip from Seaside Park, with every spot near it

Rough cost

About £930–£1,655 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.

WhatHow we worked it outEach
Flightsreturn MDW to EWR, estimated from distance and season, 1 airline on the route, with a hold bag£135–£275
To the UK airportparking or the train, there and back£35–£65
Hire car6 days, shared£115–£190
Stay6 nights, a mid-range double, shared£270–£455
Food7 days eating out£260–£480
Board and wetsuit5 days, or about £85 to fly your own£115–£190
Total£930–£1,655

Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.

Places to eat near Seaside Park

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

Getting thereAd

Flights · Skyscanner Car hire · Discover Cars

Where to stayAd

Nearest beds: Seaside Park, 11 km (about 20 min by car) · Booking.com

In the waterAd

Surf lessons · GetYourGuide Board and wetsuit hire · GetYourGuide

Links marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.