Masonborough Island, United States
Also within 20 km of Wrightsville Beach
- Columbia St. Surf spot · 0.4 km from Wrightsville Beach
- Mercer Pier Surf spot · 1 km from Wrightsville Beach
- Crystal Pier Surf spot · 1.9 km from Wrightsville Beach
- Shell Island Surf spot · 2.1 km from Wrightsville Beach
- South End Surf spot · 3.1 km from Wrightsville Beach
- Figure 8 Surf spot · 8.7 km from Wrightsville Beach
Watch this spot We email you when Masonborough Island is worth the trip.
About Masonborough Island
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces E (106°), so it takes swell from the E. The wind blows offshore from the W (286°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 3–11 ft of swell. The sea is about 12°C in February, its coldest month (4/3 or 5/4, boots and gloves), and 28°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 Wrightsville Beach, 3 km away (about 5 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 4 surf spots.
Water about 24°C: no wetsuit. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
Saved: this link opens the same trip
The link holds the trip itself: nothing about you is kept. Check the forecast again before you book.
Book the trip
From Chicago: about 4 h 45 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to ILM, direct.
See flights ORD → ILM · Skyscanner from about £135 returnAdGetting there. 35 min from the airport to Masonborough Island.
Accommodation.
Stay in Wrightsville 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 Wrightsville Beach (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Wrightsville Beach 5 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 15 places to stay · where Masonborough Island stays
Places to stay in Wrightsville Beach · Booking.com AdCarolina Beach 32 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 62 places to stay
Places to stay in Carolina Beach · Booking.com AdKure Beach 40 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 31 places to stay
Places to stay in Kure Beach · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Wrightsville Beach · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Wrightsville Beach · GetYourGuideAd
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Where it is
Masonborough Island 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 | 25, poor | 3 ft9 s | 153kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 15 knots | 19°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 37, fair | 5 ft8 s | 301kJ | wind from the north, 11 knots | 19°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 37, fair | 3 ft8 s | 124kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 10 knots | 21°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 37, fair | 3 ft5 s | 39kJ | wind from the north, 7 knots | 20°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 29, too small | 2 ft9 s | 56kJ | wind from the north, 7 knots | 19°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 14, too small | 2 ft4 s | 17kJ | wind from the north-east, 9 knots | 20°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 13, too small | 3 ft6 s | 48kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 13 knots | 20°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 21, poor | 3 ft7 s | 91kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 14 knots | 21°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 52, good | 4 ft7 s | 138kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 9 knots | 22°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 0, too big | 7 ft9 s | 680kJ | wind from the north, 7 knots | 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 ORD to ILM, then 35 min by road. About 4h 45 door to door
- Tue 20 OctSurf Mercer Pier
Best 08:00 to 11:00 local time: 3 ft at 8 s, offshore wind.
- Wed 21 OctSurf Masonborough Island
Best 14:00 to 17:00 local time: 3 ft at 5 s, wind 7 kn (14 km/h).
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 28 of 80.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Direct flight ORD to ILM, then 35 min by road. About 4h 45 door to door
The plan picks the best of 7 spots near Wrightsville Beach each day: Columbia St., Crystal Pier, Figure 8, Masonborough Island, Mercer Pier, Shell Island, South End.
Rough cost
About £835–£1,510 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 ORD to ILM, estimated from distance and season, 2 airlines on the route, with a hold bag | £135–£285 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Taxi | airport and back, shared | £20–£35 |
| 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 | £835–£1,510 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Wrightsville Beach
- Tower 7 Baja Mexican GrillMexican · in the centre
- Vito's PizzeriaPizza · in the centre
- King Neptune Restaurant & Pirate BarSeafood · 0.1 km from the centre
- Red DogsBar and grill · 0.1 km from the centre
- Trolly StopHot dog · 0.1 km from the centre
- Twenty-two NorthSeafood · 0.1 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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