Sand Island, United States
Also within 20 km of Dauphin Island
- Dauphin Island Pier Surf spot · 3.6 km from Dauphin Island
Watch this spot We email you when Sand Island is worth the trip.
About Sand Island
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces S (180°), so it takes swell from the S. The wind blows offshore from the N (0°). 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 17°C in January, its coldest month (3/2 wetsuit), and 30°C in July, its warmest (no wetsuit). The town to stay in is Dauphin Island, 2.8 km away (about 5 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 1 surf spot.
Water about 26°C: no wetsuit. 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 6 h door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to PNS, direct.
See flights MDW → PNS · Skyscanner from about £140 returnAdGetting there. 1 h 55 from the airport to Sand Island.
Accommodation.
Stay in Dauphin IslandAd
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 Dauphin Island (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Dauphin Island 5 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 24 places to stay · where Sand Island stays
Places to stay in Dauphin Island · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Dauphin Island · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Dauphin Island · GetYourGuideAd
Budget 
Mid-range 
Luxury 
Where it is
Sand Island 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 experts, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for experts | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 11, too small | 4 ft5 s | 69kJ | offshorewind from the north-east, 14 knots, offshore | 21°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 12, too small | 3 ft5 s | 44kJ | offshorewind from the north-east, 7 knots, offshore | 22°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 11, too small | 3 ft4 s | 24kJ | offshorewind from the north-north-east, 5 knots, offshore | 22°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 13, too small | 2 ft4 s | 18kJ | offshorewind from the north-east, 7 knots, offshore | 23°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 8, too small | 2 ft4 s | 6kJ | offshorewind from the north-east, 5 knots, offshore | 23°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 4, too small | 1 ft4 s | 4kJ | offshorewind from the north-north-east, 10 knots, offshore | 24°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 8, too small | 3 ft5 s | 29kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 9 knots | 22°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 13, too small | 3 ft5 s | 58kJ | offshorewind from the north-east, 14 knots, offshore | 20°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 13, too small | 3 ft5 s | 37kJ | offshorewind from the north-east, 14 knots, offshore | 21°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 3, too small | 1 ft3 s | 1kJ | offshorewind from the north, 10 knots, offshore | 22°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 PNS, then 1h 55 by road. About 6h door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Too small: 3 ft at best.
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Too small: 3 ft at best.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Direct flight MDW to PNS, then 1h 55 by road. About 6h door to door
The plan picks the best of 2 spots near Dauphin Island each day: Dauphin Island Pier, Sand Island.
Rough cost
About £935–£1,670 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 PNS, estimated from distance and season, 1 airline on the route, with a hold bag | £140–£290 |
| 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 | £935–£1,670 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Dauphin Island
- Dority'sBar and grill · 0.1 km from the centre
- Krispy Krunchy ChickenChicken · 0.1 km from the centre
- Miguel's Beach'n BajaMexican · 0.1 km from the centre
- Pirate's Bar And GrillBar and grill · 0.1 km from the centre
- Noble Roman'sPizza · 0.2 km from the centre
- Dockside Seafood RestaurantSeafood · 0.5 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.