Thirteenth Street (Cocoa Beach)
- Shortboard, Longboard
- Best for
- Beginner
- Skill Level
- Ocean
- Spot Type
- Moderate
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
This spot is a classic Cocoa Beach sandbar environment with beach-break surf and exposed conditions. West winds are typically the most favorable for offshore grooming, while East winds can create heavier chop. For surfing, a mid-tide window is commonly recommended to reduce the chance of waves dumping on the shore, and ride lengths are usually short off the shifting sandbars. Safety is a key consideration: rocks and submerged hazards can be hidden under the surface depending on tide and sand movement, and rip currents are a known risk near sandbars. Lifeguards are seasonal and rescue is limited on-site, so it’s important to follow etiquette, keep distance from swimmers, and use required board safety gear (leash).
- East swell + West offshore wind combo for cleaner, better-shaped waves
- Sandbar-driven beach-break that can handle larger (hurricane) swell events, though it may close out on the biggest conditions
- Nearby parking access at the end of the street; pay-to-park unless you hold a yearlong local pass
- Easy access and an easy launch with a sandy bottom
- Reliable sandbar peaks for surfing, especially with offshore West winds
- Works across a range of tide conditions; mid-tide is often preferred
- Rocks can be hidden just under the surface depending on tide and sand movement
- Rip currents and submerged hazards can occur near sandbars
- Waves are often small and soft, especially outside the strongest swell windows
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- W
- Offshore directions
- W
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Mixed — Local winds are influenced by thermal sea breezes with some winter frontal influence; spot sessions often align with the afternoon sea-breeze window.
- Reliability
- moderate
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts
- Best Months
- October, November, March, April
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 10–14 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean
- Beach
- Sand
- Beach Size
- Tidal
- Waves
- Small — Typically small surf; often weak to around 0–1 ft depending on conditions.
- Launch
- Medium — Wide sandy beach depending on tide.
- Launch Difficulty
- Easy
Through the year
Can be crowded on weekends and during summer holidays.
June to November is hurricane season.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Possible but less common than more northern Cocoa Beach spots; best on North-East or South-East winds.
- Kite Sizes
- 10–14 m²
Suitable for foiling when the swell is small and tide is high enough to clear the sandbars.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes
- Min Depth
- 1.0m
- Wing Sizes
- 5–6 m²
Sandbar beach-break with a typically soft wave profile that can work from small surf up to larger hurricane swell on the sand.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- E, ENE
- Swell Height
- 0.5–1.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — Incoming mid-tide helps reduce the risk of the wave dumping on the shore.
- Shelter
- Exposed
- Wind Effect
- West winds provide cleaner, offshore conditions; East winds create heavier chop; offshore-from-west tends to groom the wave.
- Bigger Swell
- Can close out on very large swells, but tends to hold better than farther-north beach reaches.
- Wave Quality
- Average
- Wave Power
- Soft
- Wave Shape
- Peeling
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Fast, peaky sandbar rights and lefts.
- Ride Length
- Short
- Typical Ride Length
- 30–50 m
- Ride Length Details
- Fast, peaky rights and lefts off shifting sandbars; typical sessions are short rides compared to some other nearby breaks.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Thirteenth Street (Cocoa Beach) in the full forecast view.
Thirteenth Street (Cocoa Beach) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 9–18 ktsGusts 32 kts
- Direction
- NE39°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2518 kts
- Windy days
- 7/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.9–2.0 m9s period
- Temperature
- 21–27 °C
Over the next 7 days, Thirteenth Street (Cocoa Beach) is forecast for daytime winds of 9–18 kts, peaking around 18 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 32 kts. The prevailing direction is NE. Waves run 0.9–2.0 m with a period of about 9s. 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
- Rocks (can be hidden just under the surface depending on tide and sand)
- Rip currents
- Sharks
- Jellyfish
- Submerged rocks (occasionally present depending on sand movement)
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue is limited on-site and supplemented by coastal patrols.
- Emergency Info
- For emergencies dial 911. Nearest major facility reported as Cape Canaveral Hospital; Brevard Health Alliance (Orlando) or Palm Bay Hospital (about 20 minutes away).
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Localism is described as mild; one note also indicates sometimes-crowded conditions with locals who may have yearlong parking passes.
Rules of the spot
Standard surfing etiquette applies; keep a safe distance from other swimmers.
- Leash required for surfboards
- Best on an incoming mid-tide to prevent the wave from dumping on the shore.
- Watch carefully for rocks under the surface, which can shift with tide and sand.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Orlando
- Nearest Town
- Cocoa Beach
- Nearest Airport
- Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB) (~20 miles south) and Orlando International Airport (MCO) (~50 miles west).
- Parking
- Pay-to-park parking at the end of most streets where they meet the beach; limited street parking with pay-by-plate or permit often required.
- Public Transport
- Space Coast Area Transit (SCAT) bus system serves the coastal corridor; a car is recommended for transporting gear.
- Access
- Public beach access path at the end of 13th Street South. Parking is available at the end of Thirteenth Street where it meets the beach; pay-to-park unless you have a yearlong local parking pass.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Near — Numerous hotels and vacation rentals within walking distance in Cocoa Beach.
- Food & Drink
- Various restaurants and cafes located along Highway A1A.
- Equipment Rental:
- Several surf shops on A1A offer daily rentals; extensive rental options available for surfing, SUP, and kiteboarding through major surf shops and local kite schools.
- Gear Repair
- Local surf shops provide fiberglass and epoxy repair services.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
Pair beach sessions with major Space Coast attractions and plan around the Atlantic rainy/storm season (June–November), which overlaps hurricane-risk months.
A major NASA facility offering exhibits on space exploration and live rocket launch viewings.
A historic wooden pier featuring restaurants, bars, and views tied to the local surfing scene.
Nighttime kayaking tours in the nearby Indian River Lagoon to see glowing plankton.
A popular local hangout known for live music and a beachside atmosphere.
An obstacle course and zipline park suitable for families.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Thirteenth Street (Cocoa Beach)?
The best overall months at Thirteenth Street (Cocoa Beach) are October, November, March, April.
Which wind directions work at Thirteenth Street (Cocoa Beach)?
Thirteenth Street (Cocoa Beach) works with W winds. Offshore directions are W.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Thirteenth Street (Cocoa Beach)?
Recommended equipment sizes at Thirteenth Street (Cocoa Beach): Kitesurfing: 10–14 m² · Wingfoiling: 5–6 m². The typical wind range is 10–20 kts.
What skill level is Thirteenth Street (Cocoa Beach) suitable for?
Thirteenth Street (Cocoa Beach) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Intermediate · Surfing: Beginner.