Back to results

Pismo Beach, United States

Stay in Pismo Beach: see the trip Its beds, the way there and every spot near it.

Also within 20 km of Pismo Beach

All 10 on Pismo Beach's map

Watch this spot We email you when Pismo Beach is worth the trip.

About Pismo Beach

Known for kitesurfing and windsurfing, by the OpenStreetMap map of the area. The shore faces SW, so wind from the NE blows out to sea (our estimate from the coastline). Facts: verified.

Water about 15°C: 4/3 wetsuit and boots. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.

A spot for kitesurfing and windsurfing, as OpenStreetMap maps it, on a shore facing SW. Wind from the SW blows onshore, wind from the NE blows out to sea, and wind from the NW or SE runs along the shore. It is sheltered to the open sea. The sea floor shelves moderately: 10 m deep about 400 m out (1 in 39). The sea is about 12°C in April, its coldest month (4/3 or 5/4, boots and gloves), and 16°C in September, its warmest (3/2 wetsuit). For windsurfing at intermediate level the best months are usually January, February, March and April, with about 1 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Pismo Beach. Within 5 km we also list 3 surf spots.

Save this trip A link to come back to, or to send to the group.

Book the trip

From Chicago: about 8 h 35 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.

  1. Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to SBA, direct.

    See flights ORD → SBA · Skyscanner from about £220 returnAd

  2. Getting there. 2 h 10 from the airport to Pismo Beach.

    Car hire · Discover CarsAd

  3. Accommodation.

    Stay in Pismo 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 on Booking.com →

    Closest towns to stay in

    Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.

  4. Hire and lessons.

    Windsurfing lessons in Pismo Beach · GetYourGuideAdBoard and rig hire in Pismo Beach · GetYourGuideAd

Everything else for the trip

Where it is

Pismo 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

Best on Thu 22: 11 kn gusting 25, side-shore. Water: chop.

The score for windsurf, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoor

DayScoreWindGustsShoreWater
Sun 18Oct06knoffnot safechop
Mon 19Oct04knside1.0 mwaves
Tue 20Oct07knoffnot safechop
Wed 21Oct013knoffnot safe0.9 mwaves
Thu 22Oct3225knsidechop
Fri 23Oct2724knside0.8 mwaves
Sat 24Oct014knoffnot safechop
Sun 25Oct09knoffnot safechop
Mon 26Oct013knoffnot safechop
Tue 27Oct05knon0.8 mwaves

Day scores are the conditions out of 80. Wind is the day's best reading: the mean and the gusts in knots (10 kn is about 19 km/h); the arrow points where it blows to. Shore: "side" is side-shore, blowing along the beach, the safe way; "side-on" and "on" blow in towards it; "cross-off" and "off" blow out to sea, and offshore scores nothing for kite and windsurf. Water is the open sea's waves near the spot: flat under 0.3 m, chop to 0.8 m.

The season

Good windsurf days in a typical week, each month, from 2016 on (ERA5 history scored the same way).

  1. Jan1of 7
  2. Feb1of 7
  3. Mar1of 7
  4. Apr1of 7
  5. May1of 7
  6. Jun1of 7
  7. Jul0of 7
  8. Aug0of 7
  9. Sep0of 7
  10. Oct0of 7
  11. Nov1of 7
  12. Dec1of 7

Typical, not a forecast. Reanalysis wind misses some local thermal winds, so a spot known for an afternoon breeze may do better than this.

Your trip, day by day

6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for windsurf. Change dates

  1. Mon 19 Oct
    Travel out

    Direct flight ORD to SBA, then 2h 10 by road. About 8h 35 door to door

  2. Tue 20 Oct
    Rest day

    Not enough of the right wind: 3 kn gusting 7, offshore. Offshore: not safe to ride. Water: chop.

  3. Wed 21 Oct
    Rest day

    Not enough of the right wind: 4 kn gusting 13, offshore. Offshore: not safe to ride. Water: waves 0.9 m.

  4. Thu 22 Oct
    Rest day

    Not enough of the right wind: 11 kn gusting 25, side-shore. Water: chop.

  5. Fri 23 Oct
    Rest day

    Not enough of the right wind: 11 kn gusting 24, side-shore. Water: waves 0.8 m.

  6. Sat 24 Oct
    Rest day

    Not enough of the right wind: 4 kn gusting 14, offshore. Offshore: not safe to ride. Water: chop.

  7. Sun 25 Oct
    Travel home

    Direct flight ORD to SBA, then 2h 10 by road. About 8h 35 door to door

Rough cost

About £900–£1,650 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing. A guide from typical prices, not a quote. Kit hire is not in it yet: we have no sourced price for it.

  • Flights £220–£460
  • To the UK airport £35–£65
  • Hire car £115–£190
  • Stay £270–£455
  • Food £260–£480

Places to eat near Pismo Beach

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

Getting thereAd

Flights · Skyscanner Car hire · Discover Cars

Where to stayAd

Places to stay · Booking.com

In the waterAd

Windsurfing lessons · GetYourGuide Board and rig hire · GetYourGuide

Links marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.