Bay Street
- Freeride, Bodyboard
- Best for
- Beginner
- Skill Level
- Chop, Small waves
- Spot Type
- Busy
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Bay Street is a Santa Monica exposed beach break that can work year-round, with waves generally described as approachable for learning and improving. The sandy beach and easy shore access make it a straightforward place to launch and practice, with surf that can offer both left and right sections for cruising and maneuvers. Surf guidance consistently points to low tide as a good time to go. With favorable northeast winds, conditions are described as more offshore and cleaner, while mid-day onshore winds can make things choppier. Sources also describe the pier area as a place where very nearby winds can become turbulent, so line-up and timing matter. The biggest recurring concern is water quality. Pollution and bacteria in the water—especially after heavy rain—are highlighted as a serious hazard. Local safety notes emphasize avoiding the water for at least 72 hours after significant rainfall, and avoiding surfing if there are open cuts. The area is highly amenity-rich and easy to park, and crowd management is recommended; arriving early helps avoid the heaviest conditions. Lifeguards are noted as present along the stretch (with seasonal staffing mentioned), and there are specific rules around swimming zones and restricted areas near the pier.
- Exposed but reliable year-round surf
- Beginner-friendly beach-break waves over sand
- Low tide guidance for better conditions
- Easy access and large parking lot directly in front of the beach
- Strong safety focus on pollution/bacteria after rainfall
- Reliable exposed beach break with year-round surf
- Beginner-friendly waves with easy access and ample sandy launch area
- Convenient parking and amenities in the immediate area
- Water pollution and bacteria spikes after rainfall
- Crowds can build, especially on good days
- Urban debris and stingray risk are noted hazards
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- NE, NNE
- Offshore directions
- NE
- Wind Range
- 8–15 kts
- Wind Type
- Mixed — Northeast winds are noted as ideal for Bay Street; a diurnal afternoon sea-breeze pattern is also described for the area.
- Reliability
- fairly consistent (7/10)
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts — Described as light-gusts in wind conditions.
- Best Months
- January, February, March, April, November, December
- Shadow Zones
- Santa Monica Pier can create minor turbulence or shadows very close to its south side.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Chop, Small waves
- Beach
- Sand — Sandy bottom.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Huge — One source describes huge waves; another describes typical small to moderate conditions. Behavior with larger swells is noted as closing out.
- Launch
- Small — Launch is described as easy self-launch from shore with a wide sandy beach and ample room for surfers.
- Launch Difficulty
- Easy — Easy self-launch from shore is noted.
Through the year
Highest during summer months and holiday weekends; can also get crowded on good days.
Rainy season typically occurs from December to March; conditions get worse after rainfall.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Increasingly popular for light-wind foiling in Santa Monica Bay; surfers and crowds are the primary focus here.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes — Foil-friendly is explicitly indicated.
- Min Depth
- 1.5 meters
- Wing Sizes
- 5–7 m²
Exposed beach break with reliable surf that can work year-round. Offers beginner-friendly surf with left and right options and cruising opportunities; wave quality varies from good/average depending on conditions.
- Wave Direction
- Left
- Optimal Swell
- W, WSW, SW
- Swell Height
- 2–4 m
- Optimal Tide
- Low — Best around low tide is noted; low tide is also cited as the best tide. One note says it can work with the tide rising.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Open, exposed beach break; not protected from prevailing coastal conditions.
- Wind Effect
- Best with light offshore from northeast; avoid mid-day onshore. Onshore W winds can make conditions choppy.
- Bigger Swell
- Closes out with larger swells; can also handle larger swells but tends to close out or get too fat when waves exceed head-high.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Also described as average; overall rating is better than poor.
- Wave Power
- Soft — Waves are generally described as soft.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Sources describe either peeling or mushy wave shapes; overall surf is beginner-friendly.
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Also described as mushy/smooth with slow to medium peel characteristics depending on source.
- Ride Length
- Short — Breaks can provide longer sections in some conditions.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–100 m
- Ride Length Details
- Breaks for up to about 50 meters; another source notes rides around 50–100 meters depending on tide/conditions.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Bay Street in the full forecast view.
Bay Street wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 1–7 ktsGusts 13 kts
- Direction
- SW218°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 247 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.6–1.0 m12s period
- Temperature
- 14–25 °C
Over the next 7 days, Bay Street is forecast for daytime winds of 1–7 kts, peaking around 7 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 13 kts. The prevailing direction is SW. Waves run 0.6–1.0 m with a period of about 12s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Pollution
- Bacteria in the water after rainfall
- Homeless people nearby
- Heavy crowds
- Stingrays
- Submerged debris
- Urban/Storm debris near the pier
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Lifeguards are described as seasonal; the area is also described as supported by year-round professional lifeguards.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Yes — Rescue availability is noted as yes.
- Emergency Info
- Lifeguard towers are frequently staffed along this stretch; rescue availability is noted as yes.
- Localism / Vibe
- None — Localism level is described as none.
Rules of the spot
No surfing in designated swimming zones; follow standard surfing etiquette. Avoid restricted zones near the pier when applicable (e.g., black ball flags may restrict surfing during peak summer hours in specific zones).
- No surfing within 100 feet of the pier (as noted).
- Avoid designated swimming zones.
- Come early morning (about 6:30 AM–10 AM) to avoid crowds.
- Check surf report and tides before going, especially after rainfall.
- Avoid the water for at least 72 hours after significant rainfall due to high bacteria levels.
- If you have open cuts, avoid surfing due to bacteria in the water.
- Shuffle your feet when entering the water to reduce stingray risk.
- Bring quarters for people nearby.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Santa Monica
- Nearest Town
- Santa Monica
- Parking
- Large parking lot directly in front of the beach; also large paid parking lots near the end of Bay Street and at the Santa Monica Pier.
- Access
- Easy instant access; take Pico Blvd until it ends on Main St, then head south of the Santa Monica Pier. Direct access via Bay Street and the Pacific Coast Highway. Accessible via the beach bike path.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Numerous hotels in Santa Monica ranging from hostels to luxury beachfront resorts.
- Food & Drink
- High concentration of restaurants, cafes, and bars on Ocean Avenue and at the Santa Monica Pier.
- Equipment Rental:
- Available at local surf schools and shops in the immediate vicinity.
- Gear Storage
- Limited public storage; most facilities are private club-based or associated with specific schools.
- Gear Repair
- Local surf shops in Santa Monica offer board repair services; multiple repair services are described in the wider area.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Bay Street?
The best overall months at Bay Street are January, February, December. The best wind months are January, February, March, April, November, December.
Which wind directions work at Bay Street?
Bay Street works with NE, NNE winds. Offshore directions are NE.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Bay Street?
Recommended equipment sizes at Bay Street: Wingfoiling: 5–7 m². The typical wind range is 8–15 kts.
What skill level is Bay Street suitable for?
Bay Street suits these riding levels: Wingfoiling: Intermediate · Surfing: Beginner.