Pickleweed Point, United States
Also within 20 km of Del Mar
- Del Mar Surf spot · 0 km from Del Mar
- 15th St. Surf spot · 0.4 km from Del Mar
- Del Mar Kite spot · 0.5 km from Del Mar
- Cherry Hill Surf spot · 2.6 km from Del Mar
- North Torrey Pines Surf spot · 2.6 km from Del Mar
- Torrey Pines State Beach Surf spot · 3.2 km from Del Mar
- Fletchers Cove Surf spot · 3.6 km from Del Mar
- Tabletops Playgrounds Surf spot · 4.4 km from Del Mar
Watch this spot We email you when Pickleweed Point is worth the trip.

About Pickleweed Point
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces W (259°), so it takes swell from the W. The wind blows offshore from the E (79°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 2–8 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves gently: 10 m deep about 600 m out (1 in 58). On a typical 5 ft, 11 s swell the waves here would spill softly. The sea is about 15°C in February, its coldest month (4/3 wetsuit and boots), and 22°C in August, its warmest (2 mm shorty). For intermediate surfers the best months are usually January, March, April and May, with about 3 good days in 7; in August, about 1. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Del Mar, 1.9 km away (about 5 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 12 surf spots and 1 wind sports spot.
Water about 20°C: 2 mm shorty. 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 6 h 50 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to San Diego International Airport (SAN), direct.
See flights MDW → SAN · Skyscanner from about £215 returnAdGetting there. 50 min from the airport to Pickleweed Point.
Accommodation.
Stay in Del MarAd
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 Del Mar (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Solana Beach 3 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 13 places to stay
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Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Del Mar · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Del Mar · GetYourGuideAd
Where it is
Pickleweed Point 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 | 58, good | 3 ft13 scrumbling | 326kJ | offshorewind from the east, 5 knots, offshore | 27°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 64, good | 4 ft13 scrumbling | 386kJ | offshorewind from the east, 2 knots, offshore | 26°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 60, good | 3 ft12 ssoft | 317kJ | offshorewind from the east, 4 knots, offshore | 25°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 52, good | 3 ft12 ssoft | 251kJ | offshorewind from the east-south-east, 6 knots, offshore | 23°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 40, fair | 3 ft10 ssoft | 132kJ | offshorewind from the north-east, 1 knot, offshore | 20°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 40, fair | 3 ft7 smushy | 67kJ | offshorewind from the east, 6 knots, offshore | 22°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 36, fair | 2 ft12 scrumbling | 133kJ | offshorewind from the east-north-east, 1 knot, offshore | 23°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 26, too small | 2 ft12 scrumbling | 89kJ | offshorewind from the east-north-east, 2 knots, offshore | 25°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 22, too small | 2 ft11 scrumbling | 54kJ | offshorewind from the north-east, 2 knots, offshore | 25°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 37, fair | 3 ft4 smushy | 28kJ | offshorewind from the east-north-east, 3 knots, offshore | 25°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. The word under the swell is the wave's shape, our estimate from the sea floor. 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 MDW to SAN, then 50 min by road. About 6h 50 door to door
- Tue 20 OctSurf Pickleweed Point
Best 08:00 to 11:00 local time: 3 ft at 12 s, offshore wind.
- Wed 21 OctSurf Pickleweed Point
Best 08:00 to 11:00 local time: 3 ft at 12 s, offshore wind.
- Thu 22 OctSurf Pickleweed Point
Best 08:00 to 11:00 local time: 3 ft at 10 s, offshore wind.
- Fri 23 OctSurf Pickleweed Point
Best 08:00 to 11:00 local time: 3 ft at 7 s, offshore wind.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Direct flight MDW to SAN, then 50 min by road. About 6h 50 door to door
The plan picks the best of 6 spots near Del Mar each day: 15th St., Blacks Beach, Del Mar, North Torrey Pines, Pickleweed Point, Torrey Pines State Beach.
Rough cost
About £945–£1,715 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 SAN, estimated from distance and season, 1 airline on the route, with a hold bag | £215–£445 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Taxi | airport and back, shared | £50–£80 |
| 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 | £945–£1,715 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Del Mar
- Craft BurritoMexican · in the centre
- Jimmy O's - Del MarBar and grill · in the centre
- Tasting Room Del MarAmerican · in the centre
- Bully's Del MarSteakhouse · 0.1 km from the centre
- Del Mar Cucina ItalianaItalian · 0.1 km from the centre
- Del Mar PizzaPizza · 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
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.