Back to results

San Clemente, United States

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

Also within 20 km of San Clemente

All 31 on San Clemente's map

Watch this spot We email you when San Clemente is worth the trip.

About San Clemente

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 20°C: 2 mm shorty. 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 exposed to the open sea. The sea floor shelves gently: 10 m deep about 500 m out (1 in 50). The sea is about 15°C in January, its coldest month (4/3 wetsuit and boots), and 22°C in August, its warmest (2 mm shorty). For windsurfing at beginner level the best months are usually April and May, with about 2 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is San Clemente. Within 5 km we also list 10 surf spots.

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

Book the trip

From Chicago: about 7 h 10 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.

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

    See flights ORD → SNA · Skyscanner from about £215 returnAd

  2. Getting there. 55 min from the airport to San Clemente.

    Car hire · Discover CarsAd

  3. Accommodation.

    Stay in San ClementeAd

    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 San Clemente · GetYourGuideAdBoard and rig hire in San Clemente · GetYourGuideAd

Everything else for the trip

Where it is

San Clemente 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: 7 kn gusting 15, side-shore. Water: waves 1.1 m.

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

DayScoreWindGustsShoreWater
Sun 18Oct4715knon1.1 mwaves
Mon 19Oct814knon1.2 mwaves
Tue 20Oct2816knon1.2 mwaves
Wed 21Oct1516knon1.1 mwaves
Thu 22Oct5415knside1.1 mwaves
Fri 23Oct2413knside-on1.1 mwaves
Sat 24Oct05knon0.9 mwaves
Sun 25Oct4315knside-onchop
Mon 26Oct3114knside-on0.9 mwaves
Tue 27Oct05knside-on1.0 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. Apr2of 7
  5. May2of 7
  6. Jun1of 7
  7. Jul1of 7
  8. Aug1of 7
  9. Sep1of 7
  10. Oct1of 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 SNA, then 55 min by road. About 7h 10 door to door

  2. Tue 20 Oct
    Rest day

    Not enough of the right wind: 6 kn gusting 16, onshore. Water: waves 1.2 m.

  3. Wed 21 Oct
    Rest day

    Not enough of the right wind: 6 kn gusting 16, onshore. Water: waves 1.1 m.

  4. Thu 22 Oct
    Windsurf San Clemente

    7 kn gusting 15, side-shore. Water: waves 1.1 m.

  5. Fri 23 Oct
    Rest day

    Not enough of the right wind: 5 kn gusting 13, side-onshore. Water: waves 1.1 m.

  6. Sat 24 Oct
    Rest day

    Not enough of the right wind: 2 kn gusting 5, onshore. Water: waves 0.9 m.

  7. Sun 25 Oct
    Travel home

    Direct flight ORD to SNA, then 55 min by road. About 7h 10 door to door

Rough cost

About £840–£1,550 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 £215–£445
  • To the UK airport £35–£65
  • Taxi £60–£105
  • Stay £270–£455
  • Food £260–£480

Places to eat near San Clemente

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.