Jug Handle State Beach, United States
Also within 20 km of Fort Bragg
- Hare Creek Surf spot · 2.9 km from Fort Bragg
- Caspar Surf spot · 8.4 km from Fort Bragg
- The Oasis Surf spot · 12.6 km from Fort Bragg
- Big River Surf spot · 15.2 km from Fort Bragg
- Blues Surf spot · 18.9 km from Fort Bragg
Watch this spot We email you when Jug Handle State Beach is worth the trip.
About Jug Handle State Beach
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces W (277°), so it takes swell from the W. The wind blows offshore from the E (97°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 2–8 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves moderately: 10 m deep about 250 m out (1 in 25). On a typical 5 ft, 11 s swell the waves here would crumble. The sea is about 11°C in February, its coldest month (4/3 or 5/4, boots and gloves), and 14°C in September, its warmest (4/3 wetsuit and boots). For intermediate surfers the best months are usually July, August, September and October, with about 2 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Fort Bragg, 7.5 km away (about 15 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 2 surf spots.
Water about 13°C: 4/3 wetsuit and boots. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
Save this trip A link to come back to, or to send to the group.
Book the trip
From Chicago: about 10 h 05 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to SMF, direct.
See flights MDW → SMF · Skyscanner from about £220 returnAdGetting there. 3 h 55 from the airport to Jug Handle State Beach.
Accommodation.
Stay in Fort BraggAd
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 Fort Bragg (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Fort Bragg 13 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 28 places to stay · where Jug Handle State Beach stays
Places to stay in Fort Bragg · Booking.com AdMendocino 14 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 36 places to stay
Places to stay in Mendocino · Booking.com AdWestport 51 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 6 places to stay
Places to stay in Westport · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Fort Bragg · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Fort Bragg · GetYourGuideAd
Budget 
Mid-range 
Luxury 
Where it is
Jug Handle State Beach on Google Maps · Directions
The map needs JavaScript. Every place on it is listed on this page, and each place's page links to Google Maps.
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
| Day | Score for intermediates | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 11, poor | 5 ft10 smushy | 472kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 6 knots | 13°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 13, poor | 6 ft8 scrumbling | 400kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 4 knots | 13°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 0, too big | 9 ft10 scrumbling | 1,592kJ | wind from the east-south-east, 5 knots | 14°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 56, good | 4 ft7 smushy | 175kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 3 knots | 16°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 34, poor | 4 ft6 smushy | 125kJ | wind from the north, 4 knots | 14°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 40, fair | 4 ft9 scrumbling | 231kJ | wind from the north, 9 knots | 14°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 57, good | 4 ft9 scrumbling | 195kJ | wind from the north-west, 3 knots | 14°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 0, too big | 6 ft6 smushy | 301kJ | wind from the west-south-west, 6 knots | 13°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 0, too big | 6 ft8 smushy | 452kJ | wind from the south-east, 7 knots | 13°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 56, good | 4 ft7 smushy | 178kJ | wind from the west-south-west, 1 knot | 14°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 intermediate surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Direct flight MDW to SMF, then 3h 55 by road. About 10h 05 door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 0 of 80.
- Wed 21 OctSurf The Oasis
Best 17:00 to 20:00 local time: 4 ft at 7 s, wind 1 kn (3 km/h).
- Thu 22 OctSurf The Oasis
Best 08:00 to 11:00 local time: 4 ft at 6 s, offshore wind.
- Fri 23 OctSurf Hare Creek
Best 08:00 to 11:00 local time: 4 ft at 10 s, wind 9 kn (16 km/h).
- Sat 24 OctSurf Jug Handle State Beach
Best 14:00 to 17:00 local time: 4 ft at 9 s, wind 3 kn (6 km/h).
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Direct flight MDW to SMF, then 3h 55 by road. About 10h 05 door to door
The plan picks the best of 4 spots near Fort Bragg each day: Caspar, Hare Creek, Jug Handle State Beach, The Oasis.
Rough cost
About £1,015–£1,835 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 SMF, estimated from distance and season, 1 airline on the route, with a hold bag | £220–£455 |
| 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 | £1,015–£1,835 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Fort Bragg
- RelishHot dog · in the centre
- Taka's GrillJapanese · in the centre
- Asian Fusion Sea ValleyThai · 0.1 km from the centre
- Egghead's RestaurantBreakfast and brunch · 0.1 km from the centre
- Lee'sChinese · 0.1 km from the centre
- Los GallitosMexican · 0.1 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.