Tybee South End (Tybee Island)
- Freeride, Longboard
- Best for
- Beginner to Advanced
- Skill Level
- Flat, Shallow, Mixed
- Spot Type
- Quiet
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Tybee South End (south tip / 19th Street area) is a dynamic, sandbar-driven zone on Tybee Island where wind sports are supported by a reliable afternoon sea-breeze in warmer months, and surfing is mainly about getting the right swell plus the right tide. The beach is wide at low tide, but it can shrink dramatically toward high tide, so launching/timing matters. For kitesurfing, it’s described as the island’s most popular kiteboarding area, with broad workable wind directions (NE through SW) and year-round riding. Summer sessions are commonly powered by afternoon breeze, while other seasons can bring heavier winds. Conditions can vary from relatively flatter water near the sandbars/low tide to chop and waves on the ocean side. Surfing is an exposed sandbar break and is generally swell- and tide-dependent. Guidance emphasizes that it does not work very often, yet when it does, it can produce longer, mellow, rolling waves—suited especially to longboards and funboards. Working windows are typically tied to NE–SE swell directions, with low-to-mid tide often favored, and with offshore west winds helping to keep surf cleaner. Safety is a key theme for this exact south-tip launch area: strong tidal currents and rip currents are repeatedly highlighted, and man-made hazards (including stakes and wooden groynes/jetties, plus occasional buoys/debris) can be present. In summer, stingrays are also noted; lifeguards are seasonal and rescue availability is limited, so understanding tide/current timing and staying aware of designated swimming zones is essential.
- Afternoon sea-breeze wind support in spring and summer
- Wide beach at low tide for launching; beach can nearly disappear at high tide
- Surf is long and mellow when it’s working, but reliability can be low
- Strong currents/rips near the south tip require careful timing and planning
- Wide sandy beach with ample low-tide launching space
- Strong afternoon sea-breeze/thermal support in spring through summer
- Long, mellow sandbar waves available when swell and tide line up
- Rarely crowded for surfing even when waves exist (when it’s working)
- Very strong tidal/rip currents near the south tip and inlet area
- Sandbars and conditions shift frequently, making timing important
- Surfing can be unreliable and swell-dependent
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- NE, E, SE, S, SW
- Offshore directions
- W, WNW
- Wind Range
- 12–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Thermal — Afternoon summer sea-breeze/thermal pattern; sea breezes common late spring through summer, with consistency varying by season.
- Reliability
- Year-round season with consistent afternoon summer breeze; heavier winds in fall/early spring. Summer relies more on sea breezes.
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Reported as moderate gusting.
- Best Months
- May, June, July, August
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 9–14 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Flat, Shallow, Mixed
- Beach
- Sand — Fine sand with sandbars that shift.
- Beach Size
- Big
- Waves
- Flat — Surf is described as flat in some conditions; workable surf is typically tied to arriving swells (often 2–4 ft for the strongest sandbar sessions).
- Chop Level
- Light chop — Kite sessions can be flat-water near sandbars/low tide, but ocean-side can become chop/waves depending on tide.
- Launch
- Big — Wide beach at the southern tip; enough space for launching at low tide, but size varies significantly with tide.
Through the year
Extremely crowded with tourists from June to August; quiet and local during winter; surfing described as rarely crowded when waves exist.
Hurricane season runs from June through November; higher tropical activity probability in August and September can produce substantial groundswells.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Wide South End beach is Tybee Island’s primary kiteboarding area, offering a mix of flatter water near sandbars/low tide and chop/waves on the ocean side. Year-round riding is described, with afternoon sea-breeze support in warmer months. Lay-of-the-land allows kiting across multiple wind directions (NE to SW).
- Kite Sizes
- 9–14 m²
Suitable for freeriding and bump-and-jump, particularly in North-East winds.
- Sail Sizes
- 5.5–7.5 m²
Foil-friendly due to deeper channels, but riders must be wary of strong tidal currents and shallow sandbars.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes — Reported as foil-friendly.
- Min Depth
- 1.5 meters depending on tide
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
Exposed sandbar break that only works some of the time. Best when a 2–4 ft (0.6–1.2 m) swell arrives from the NE–SE and the tide and wind align; paddle-out is substantial and currents/rips are a major factor.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- NE, SE, E
- Swell Height
- 2–4 m
- Optimal Tide
- Low — Best at low to mid tide; also described as mid tide in some guidance.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed sandbar with limited wind/swell protection.
- Wind Effect
- West winds provide cleaner, more offshore conditions; conditions are swell- and tide-dependent.
- Bigger Swell
- Above about 4 ft it tends to close out; can also close out on very large swells. Below about 2 ft the swell can go flat.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Also described as average; works out to long, mellow rolling walls suited to longboards and funboards when conditions align.
- Wave Power
- Powerful — Reported as powerful when it’s working; another provider notes moderate power and average overall quality depending on conditions.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Also described as mushy in some conditions.
- Peel Speed
- Medium
- Ride Length
- Long — Also described as medium with shorter typical distances (conditions-dependent).
- Typical Ride Length
- 150–300 m
- Ride Length Details
- Long mellow rolling walls; sources give estimates ranging from ~40–80 m up to ~150–300 m depending on alignment.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Tybee South End (Tybee Island) in the full forecast view.
Tybee South End (Tybee Island) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 11–22 ktsGusts 29 kts
- Direction
- NE40°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2522 kts
- Windy days
- 7/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.2–0.5 m6s period
- Temperature
- 15–23 °C
Over the next 7 days, Tybee South End (Tybee Island) is forecast for daytime winds of 11–22 kts, peaking around 22 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 29 kts. The prevailing direction is NE. Waves run 0.2–0.5 m with a period of about 6s. 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
- Strong tidal currents
- Rip currents
- Sharks
- Stingrays
- Pollution
- Man-made obstacles (buoys)
- Wooden groynes (jetties)
- Stakes
- Moles
- Submerged stakes
- Sea creatures
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Lifeguards are seasonal (commonly May to September).
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue availability is limited.
- Emergency Info
- Dial 911 for emergencies. Nearest comprehensive medical facility is in Savannah. Rescue availability is limited and lifeguards are seasonal.
- Localism / Vibe
- None — Localism described as none.
Rules of the spot
Respect designated swimming areas during the summer season; no kiting in swim zones during peak hours. Use tide awareness and current/rip-current understanding before entering the water.
- No kiting in swim zones during peak hours (summer).
- Check the tide chart; the current at the south end can be overpowering during peak ebb or flood.
- Shuffle your feet in the sand to avoid stingrays in the summer.
- Launching is easiest with a wide low-tide beach; the beach can almost disappear at high tide.
- A good understanding of tides and rip currents is critical; consider crossing on a neutral tide to avoid being sucked out to sea.
- Parking fills quickly in summer—arrive early.
- Kayak/boat access is recommended for the sandbars between Tybee and Little Tybee due to strong channel flow.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Tybee Island, Georgia
- Nearest Town
- Savannah, Georgia
- Nearest Airport
- Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV)
- Parking
- Metered parking everywhere; limited on weekends. Summer parking fills quickly—arrive early.
- Public Transport
- Limited public bus service between Savannah and Tybee Island; island transport is primarily by bicycle or golf cart.
- Access
- Drive east on Highway 80 from Savannah until it ends at Tybee Island; follow Highway 80 to the south tip to reach 19th Street (or park near 17th Street Boardwalk for the beach/pier area).
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Numerous vacation rentals, hotels, and motels are within walking distance of the south end.
- Food & Drink
- Multiple bars and restaurants along Butler Avenue and near the pier area.
- Equipment Rental:
- Available through local schools and shops at the south end.
- Gear Storage
- Private gear storage is limited; some options may exist for short-term lesson staging.
- Gear Repair
- Basic repair for boards/gear is available via local shops; specialized kite/wing repairs may require shipping.
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 Tybee South End (Tybee Island)?
The best overall months at Tybee South End (Tybee Island) are August, September, October. The best wind months are May, June, July, August.
Which wind directions work at Tybee South End (Tybee Island)?
Tybee South End (Tybee Island) works with NE, E, SE, S, SW winds. Offshore directions are W, WNW.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Tybee South End (Tybee Island)?
Recommended equipment sizes at Tybee South End (Tybee Island): Kitesurfing: 9–14 m² · Windsurfing: 5.5–7.5 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 12–25 kts.
What skill level is Tybee South End (Tybee Island) suitable for?
Tybee South End (Tybee Island) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Beginner to Intermediate · Windsurfing: Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Intermediate · Surfing: Beginner.