Refish Island, United States
Watch this spot We email you when Refish Island is worth the trip.
About Refish Island
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces NE (48°), so it takes swell from the NE. The wind blows offshore from the SW (228°). It is sheltered to the open swell. It suits beginners and up. It works in 5–20 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 San Leon, 4.5 km away (about 10 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 5 h 25 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. 1 h from the airport to Refish Island.
Accommodation.
Stay in San LeonAd
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 San Leon (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
San Leon 8 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 13 places to stay · where Refish Island stays
Places to stay in San Leon · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in San Leon · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in San Leon · GetYourGuideAd
Budget 
Mid-range 
Luxury Where it is
Refish Island on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
Refish Island does not suit intermediates. This is the forecast for experts, so you can see what it does.
The score for experts, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Scorefor Expert | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 1, too small | 1 ft2 s | 0kJ | wind from the north-east, 5 knots | 20°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 1, too small | 1 ft4 s | 1kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 7 knots | 23°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 1, too small | 1 ft3 s | 1kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 5 knots | 25°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 2, too small | 1 ft4 s | 3kJ | wind from the east, 7 knots | 24°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 2, too small | 1 ft4 s | 1kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 2 knots | 24°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 1, too small | 1 ft3 s | 1kJ | wind from the east, 3 knots | 24°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 0, too small | 1 ft4 s | 1kJ | wind from the east-south-east, 12 knots | 25°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 1, too small | 1 ft5 s | 3kJ | wind from the east, 11 knots | 24°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 1, too small | 1 ft4 s | 2kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 7 knots | 22°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 2, too small | 1 ft3 s | 1kJ | wind from the east, 5 knots | 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. 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 HOU, then 1h by road. About 5h 25 door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Too small: 1 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 1h by road. About 5h 25 door to door
Rough cost
About £900–£1,620 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 |
| Taxi | airport and back, shared | £70–£115 |
| 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 | £900–£1,620 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near San Leon
- BullChicksBurger · 0.4 km from the centre
- Frutas LocasBurger · 0.5 km from the centre
- Gilhooley's Restaurant and Oyster BarSeafood · 0.9 km from the centre
- Radio CityBar and grill · 1.0 km from the centre
- The Shepherd Mix Food BarBurger · 1.1 km from the centre
- Pier 6Seafood · 1.2 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.