Coquina Beach, United States
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About Coquina Beach
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces E (68°), so it takes swell from the E. The wind blows offshore from the W (248°). 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 8°C in February, its coldest month (5/4 or 6/5, hood, boots and gloves), and 26°C in July, its warmest (no wetsuit). For intermediate surfers 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 Wanchese, 7.3 km away (about 15 min by car).
Water about 22°C: 2 mm shorty. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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The link holds the trip itself: nothing about you is kept. Check the forecast again before you book.
Book the trip
From Chicago: about 6 h 30 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to ORF, direct.
See flights MDW → ORF · Skyscanner from about £130 returnAdGetting there. 2 h 35 from the airport to Coquina Beach.
Accommodation.
Stay in WancheseAd
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 Wanchese (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Wanchese 13 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 4 places to stay · where Coquina Beach stays
Places to stay in Wanchese · Booking.com AdKill Devil Hills 43 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 37 places to stay
Places to stay in Kill Devil Hills · Booking.com AdKitty Hawk 50 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 36 places to stay
Places to stay in Kitty Hawk · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Wanchese · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Wanchese · GetYourGuideAd
Budget 
Mid-range 
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Where it is
Coquina Beach on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
Coquina Beach does not suit beginners. This is the forecast for intermediates, so you can see what it does.
The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Scorefor Intermediate | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 19Oct | 0, too big | 7 ft10 s | 821kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 30 knots | 18°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 0, too big | 7 ft9 s | 740kJ | wind from the north, 29 knots | 18°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 0, too big | 6 ft9 s | 573kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 26 knots | 17°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 3, poor | 6 ft8 s | 341kJ | wind from the north, 18 knots | 16°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 15, poor | 4 ft8 s | 155kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 19 knots | 17°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 8, too small | 3 ft7 s | 63kJ | wind from the north-east, 20 knots | 18°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 14, poor | 4 ft6 s | 117kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 19 knots | 18°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 15, poor | 3 ft5 s | 50kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 12 knots | 17°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 36, fair | 4 ft8 s | 201kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 12 knots | 17°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 today, leaving from Chicago, for intermediate surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Direct flight MDW to ORF, then 2h 35 by road. About 6h 30 door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 0 of 80.
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 0 of 80.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 12 of 80.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 17 of 80.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 9 of 80.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Direct flight MDW to ORF, then 2h 35 by road. About 6h 30 door to door
Rough cost
About £925–£1,655 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 ORF, estimated from distance and season, 1 airline on the route, with a hold bag | £130–£275 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Hire car | 6 days, shared | £115–£190 |
| 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 | £925–£1,655 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Wanchese
- Champs ChickenChicken · 0.1 km from the centre
- Hot Stuff PizzaPizza · 1.2 km from the centre
- O'Neal's Sea HarvestSeafood · 1.5 km from the centre
- Etheridge SeafoodSeafood · 1.6 km from the centre
- Fisherman's Wharf RestaurantSeafood · 1.7 km from the centre
- Dockside1.6 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
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