Sand Stone, United States
Also within 20 km of Kure Beach
- Shit Pipe Surf spot · 1.9 km from Kure Beach
- Fort Fisher Surf spot · 2.6 km from Kure Beach
- The Cove Surf spot · 3 km from Kure Beach
- Beauregard Surf spot · 3.5 km from Kure Beach
- Carolina Beach Surf spot · 4.4 km from Kure Beach
Watch this spot We email you when Sand Stone is worth the trip.

About Sand Stone
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces E (110°), so it takes swell from the E. The wind blows offshore from the W (290°). 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 12°C in January, its coldest month (4/3 or 5/4, boots and gloves), and 28°C in July, its warmest (no wetsuit). For intermediate surfers the best month is usually September, with about 1 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Kure Beach, 2.7 km away (about 5 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 3 surf spots.
Water about 24°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 5 h 05 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to ILM, direct.
See flights ORD → ILM · Skyscanner from about £135 returnAdGetting there. 55 min from the airport to Sand Stone.
Accommodation.
Stay in Kure 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 Kure Beach (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Kure Beach 5 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 31 places to stay · where Sand Stone stays
Places to stay in Kure Beach · Booking.com AdCarolina Beach 13 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 62 places to stay
Places to stay in Carolina Beach · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Kure Beach · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Kure Beach · GetYourGuideAd
Where it is
Sand Stone on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
The score for experts, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for experts | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 8, too small | 4 ft9 s | 226kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 23 knots | 18°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 21, too small | 5 ft8 s | 342kJ | wind from the north, 16 knots | 19°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 13, too small | 4 ft8 s | 155kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 13 knots | 22°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 12, too small | 3 ft5 s | 46kJ | wind from the north, 9 knots | 20°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 16, too small | 3 ft7 s | 69kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 7 knots | 19°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 4, too small | 2 ft8 s | 34kJ | wind from the north, 12 knots | 19°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 3, too small | 3 ft6 s | 55kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 18 knots | 17°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 6, too small | 3 ft7 s | 100kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 21 knots | 18°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 12, too small | 5 ft7 s | 191kJ | wind from the north, 19 knots | 19°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 26, poor | 7 ft9 s | 712kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 24 knots | 18°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 ORD to ILM, then 55 min by road. About 5h 05 door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Too small: 4 ft at best.
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Too small: 3 ft at best.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Too small: 3 ft at best.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Too small: 3 ft at best.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Direct flight ORD to ILM, then 55 min by road. About 5h 05 door to door
The plan picks the best of 4 spots near Kure Beach each day: Fort Fisher, Sand Stone, Shit Pipe, The Cove.
Rough cost
About £870–£1,570 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 ORD to ILM, estimated from distance and season, 2 airlines on the route, with a hold bag | £135–£285 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Taxi | airport and back, shared | £55–£95 |
| 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 | £870–£1,570 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Kure Beach
- Jack Mackerels Island GrillSeafood · 0.1 km from the centre
- Beach House BurgersBurger · 0.2 km from the centre
- Big Daddy's Seafood RestaurantSeafood · 0.2 km from the centre
- Freddie's RestaurantItalian · 0.2 km from the centre
- Beach House Bar & GrillBar and grill · 1.9 km from the centre
- Riverview Restaurant1.9 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.