Sanibel, United States
Also within 20 km of Sanibel
- Sanibel Kite spot · 5.8 km from Sanibel
Watch this spot We email you when Sanibel is worth the trip.
About Sanibel
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 sheltered to the open swell. It suits beginners and up. It works in 2–9 ft of swell. The sea is about 20°C in January, its coldest month (2 mm shorty), and 31°C in July, its warmest (no wetsuit). The town to stay in is Sanibel, 0 km away (about 5 min by car).
Water about 28°C: no wetsuit. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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From Chicago: about 5 h 35 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to RSW, direct.
See flights MDW → RSW · Skyscanner from about £165 returnAdGetting there. 50 min from the airport to Sanibel.
Accommodation.
Stay in SanibelAd
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 Sanibel (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Sanibel 1 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 28 places to stay · where Sanibel stays
Places to stay in Sanibel · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Sanibel · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Sanibel · GetYourGuideAd
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Where it is
Sanibel on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for intermediates | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 6, too small | 1 ft7 s | 15kJ | offshorewind from the north-north-east, 15 knots, offshore | 27°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 3, too small | 1 ft3 s | 1kJ | offshorewind from the north-east, 12 knots, offshore | 28°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 3, too small | under 1 ft3 s | 0kJ | offshorewind from the north-east, 12 knots, offshore | 27°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 4, too small | 1 ft3 s | 1kJ | offshorewind from the north-north-east, 10 knots, offshore | 27°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 5, too small | 1 ft3 s | 1kJ | offshorewind from the north-north-east, 10 knots, offshore | 27°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 4, too small | 1 ft3 s | 1kJ | offshorewind from the north-north-east, 11 knots, offshore | 27°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 7, too small | 1 ft3 s | 2kJ | offshorewind from the north-east, 12 knots, offshore | 27°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 9, too small | 1 ft4 s | 5kJ | offshorewind from the north-east, 17 knots, offshore | 26°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 11, too small | 1 ft5 s | 7kJ | offshorewind from the north-north-east, 14 knots, offshore | 26°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 10, too small | 1 ft6 s | 8kJ | offshorewind from the north-north-west, 11 knots, offshore | 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 intermediate surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Direct flight MDW to RSW, then 50 min by road. About 5h 35 door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Too small: under 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 RSW, then 50 min by road. About 5h 35 door to door
Rough cost
About £895–£1,615 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 RSW, estimated from distance and season, 1 airline on the route, with a hold bag | £165–£345 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Taxi | airport and back, shared | £50–£80 |
| 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 | £895–£1,615 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Sanibel
- Gramma Dot's RestaurantSeafood · 0.9 km from the centre
- Stacie Krupa's Grille Gallery Of Sanibel IslandSeafood · 0.9 km from the centre
- Dante's Coal Fired PizzaItalian · 1.8 km from the centre
- Lazy FlamingoSeafood · 1.9 km from the centre
- Wickies Lighthouse Restaurant0.3 km from the centre
- Tortuga Beach Club Resort2.0 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
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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.