Usal Beach, United States
Also within 20 km of Westport
Watch this spot We email you when Usal Beach is worth the trip.
About Usal Beach
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces SW (240°), so it takes swell from the SW. The wind blows offshore from the NE (60°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 2–9 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves moderately: 10 m deep about 300 m out (1 in 31). On a typical 5 ft, 11 s swell the waves here would crumble. The sea is about 11°C in February, its coldest month (4/3 or 5/4, boots and gloves), and 13°C in August, its warmest (4/3 wetsuit and boots). For intermediate surfers the best month is usually September, with about 4 good days in 7; in January and February, about 1. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Westport.
Water about 13°C: 4/3 wetsuit and boots. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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From Chicago: about 10 h 30 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to SMF, direct.
See flights MDW → SMF · Skyscanner from about £220 returnAdGetting there. 4 h 20 from the airport to Usal Beach.
Accommodation.
Nearest beds: Westport, 22 km (about 40 min by car)Ad
No town with beds to book is nearer Usal Beach: plan on the drive each day you surf.
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 Westport, 22 km away (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Westport 39 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 6 places to stay · where Usal Beach stays
Places to stay in Westport · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Westport · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Westport · GetYourGuideAd
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Where it is
Usal Beach on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
The score for experts, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for experts | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 19Oct | 44, fair | 6 ft9 ssoft | 524kJ | offshorewind from the north-north-east, 2 knots, offshore | 14°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 57, good | 7 ft9 ssoft | 845kJ | wind from the west-north-west, 3 knots | 15°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 29, too small | 5 ft8 smushy | 235kJ | offshorewind from the east-north-east, 2 knots, offshore | 19°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 18, too small | 3 ft11 scrumbling | 190kJ | wind from the north-west, 4 knots | 16°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 26, too small | 5 ft6 smushy | 218kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 7 knots | 19°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 27, too small | 5 ft7 smushy | 205kJ | offshorewind from the north-east, 5 knots, offshore | 15°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 57, good | 7 ft8 ssoft | 611kJ | wind from the west-south-west, 1 knot | 16°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 28, too small | 5 ft7 smushy | 197kJ | wind from the west-south-west, 0 knots | 19°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 15, too small | 3 ft6 smushy | 63kJ | wind from the south-south-west, 3 knots | 21°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 Tue 20 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for expert surfers. Change dates
- Tue 20 OctTravel out
Direct flight MDW to SMF, then 4h 20 by road. About 10h 30 door to door
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Too small: 5 ft at best.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Too small: 3 ft at best.
- Fri 23 OctSurf Usal Beach
Best 08:00 to 11:00 local time: 5 ft at 6 s, wind 7 kn (13 km/h).
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Too small: 5 ft at best.
- Sun 25 OctSurf Usal Beach
Best 11:00 to 14:00 local time: 7 ft at 8 s, wind 1 kn (2 km/h).
- Mon 26 OctTravel home
Direct flight MDW to SMF, then 4h 20 by road. About 10h 30 door to door
Rough cost
About £1,015–£1,835 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 SMF, estimated from distance and season, 1 airline on the route, with a hold bag | £220–£455 |
| 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 | £1,015–£1,835 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
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