Upham Beach, United States
Also within 20 km of Saint Pete Beach
- St. Pete Beach Kite spot · 0.5 km from Saint Pete Beach
- Sunset Beach Surf spot · 3.7 km from Saint Pete Beach
- Sand spit Surf spot · 4.1 km from Saint Pete Beach
- Redington Breakwater Surf spot · 11.7 km from Saint Pete Beach
- Indian Rocks Beach Surf spot · 19.9 km from Saint Pete Beach
Watch this spot We email you when Upham Beach is worth the trip.

About Upham Beach
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces W (250°), so it takes swell from the W. The wind blows offshore from the E (70°). It is sheltered to the open swell. It suits beginners and up. It works in 1–6 ft of swell. The sea is about 18°C in January, its coldest month (2 mm shorty), and 31°C in July, its warmest (no wetsuit). For beginners the best month is usually October, with about 2 good days in 7; in March, May and July, about 0. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Saint Pete Beach, 1.5 km away (about 5 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 2 surf spots and 1 wind sports spot.
Water about 27°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 25 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to TPA, direct.
See flights MDW → TPA · Skyscanner from about £155 returnAdGetting there. 55 min from the airport to Upham Beach.
Accommodation.
Stay in Saint Pete 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 Saint Pete Beach (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Saint Pete Beach 3 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 77 places to stay · where Upham Beach stays
Places to stay in Saint Pete Beach · Booking.com AdRedington Beach 18 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 57 places to stay
Places to stay in Redington Beach · Booking.com AdIndian Rocks Beach 32 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 66 places to stay
Places to stay in Indian Rocks Beach · Booking.com AdClearwater 46 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 15 places to stay
Places to stay in Clearwater · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Saint Pete Beach · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Saint Pete Beach · GetYourGuideAd
Where it is
Upham 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 experts, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for experts | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 6, poor | 1 ft4 s | 5kJ | offshorewind from the east-north-east, 15 knots, offshore | 26°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 4, too small | 1 ft4 s | 4kJ | offshorewind from the north-east, 15 knots, offshore | 26°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 3, too small | 1 ft3 s | 2kJ | offshorewind from the north-east, 9 knots, offshore | 26°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 2, too small | 1 ft3 s | 1kJ | offshorewind from the north-north-east, 8 knots, offshore | 27°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 3, too small | 1 ft3 s | 2kJ | offshorewind from the north-east, 7 knots, offshore | 26°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 2, too small | 1 ft3 s | 2kJ | offshorewind from the east-north-east, 8 knots, offshore | 26°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 5, too small | 1 ft4 s | 4kJ | offshorewind from the north-east, 13 knots, offshore | 26°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 4, too small | 1 ft4 s | 5kJ | offshorewind from the north-east, 17 knots, offshore | 25°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 1, too small | 1 ft5 s | 2kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 14 knots | 25°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 1, too small | 1 ft5 s | 3kJ | wind from the north, 13 knots | 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 TPA, then 55 min 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
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 6 of 80.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 8 of 80.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Direct flight MDW to TPA, then 55 min by road. About 5h 25 door to door
The plan picks the best of 3 spots near Saint Pete Beach each day: Sand spit, Sunset Beach, Upham Beach.
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 TPA, estimated from distance and season, 1 airline on the route, with a hold bag | £155–£325 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Taxi | airport and back, shared | £60–£100 |
| 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 Saint Pete Beach
- 1200 ChophouseSteakhouse · in the centre
- The PalaceGreek · in the centre
- Crabby Bill'sSeafood · 0.1 km from the centre
- IHOPAmerican · 0.1 km from the centre
- Mad Fish St Pete BeachSeafood · 0.1 km from the centre
- Bongos Beach Bar and GrilleBar and grill · 0.2 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.