The Sunshine State is a great place to explore with its beautiful beaches and warm weather. It’s a popular place to visit in the U.S. and is the third most populous state.
Not only would it make a great vacation spot, but it’s also an ideal place to surf whether you’re new or experienced in that department.
The beautiful state of Florida should definitely be added to your bucket list of destinations, and below you’ll find a list of the best surf towns in Florida.
Initially attracting people to Florida is the year-round warm weather and the beautiful coastline. However, its exceptional surfing conditions have remained underrated, which has kept large crowds out of the water and has allowed surfing lovers worldwide to enjoy the quality and consistent waves.
A surfers paradise, if you can find the right waves.
The 10 Best Surf Towns in Florida
Below is a list of 10 of the best surf tows in Florida. They’re known for their consistent, quality waves and surf culture.
People from all over the globe visit year-round to test out the waves for themselves. Keep reading to learn a bit about each location and what makes it great.
1. Saint Augustine
St. Augustine is an excellent place for surfing, and it’s one of the most popular surf destinations in Florida.
Some of the best surfing spots in the city are near Anastasia State Park.
There are a wide variety of waves here, and the beaches are fantastic. The Blow Hole has some of the biggest waves in the city and giant breaks, and The Middles is an excellent place for all surf levels.
Some other surfing locations include The Entrance, Vilano, and Crescent Beach. Saint Augustine is surfable year-round, but the best time of year is in the winter months.
In general, St. Augustine is great for surfers of levels because there is a wide variety of waves at your disposal. There are also many surf schools if you’re new to the sport.
It is also the oldest city in America and full of bars, restaurants, and great things to keep you entertained when you are not surfing.
2. Jacksonville
Jacksonville has some of the most prominent surf cultures in the entire state.
Huguenot Memorial Park is one of the best beaches for surfing in Jacksonville.
You can even drive on the sand here, so there is no need to worry about lugging your board. Mayport Poles and Atlantic Beach are two other great surfing destinations in Jacksonville.
It’s also an excellent place for beginners because the ocean floor has soft sand, which helps if you fall.
The summer is the best time to visit for beginners.
Jacksonville Beach is also one of the most popular surfing spots in the city, but it can get very congested at times, especially in the winter, when the premier waves occur.
The Annual Wave Masters Contest is held in Jacksonville, as well as the Super Grom Surf Festival for kids.
3. New Smyrna Beach
This city in Florida has some fantastic beaches, and the waves are considered the most consistent on the entire East Coast. You can always count on NSB to provide you with some tremendous year-round waves.
They might not be the biggest waves you’ll find throughout Florida, but the consistency makes up for the lack of height.
New Smyrna Beach has previously been named one of the top 20 surf towns in the world by National Geographic and the 9th best surf town by Surfer Magazine.
In addition, the American Professional Surfing Association holds one of its surfing contests here every summer.
So consider visiting this famous surf city on your next trip to Florida. The miles of sandy beach make it easy to find the perfect spot to surf, and you can even drive your car right up on the sand, meaning there is no excuse not to get out there.
4. Cocoa Beach
The waves on Cocoa Beach are easy to ride, which makes it an excellent place for all surf levels. It’s also the home of Kelly Slater, one of the best surfers in the world, who is an 11-time ASP World Tour Champion.
The original Ron Jon surf shop is located in Cocoa Beach and the Florida Surf Museum. Surfers love to visit this city to show their appreciation for surfing.
Various surfing festivals take place here throughout the year, including the Easter Surf Fest, Beach’ N Boards Fest, and the National Kidney Foundation charity surf fest.
Even if you’re not a surfer, this is a great place to watch and appreciate the water sport.
5. Jupiter
Some of the best surfing spots in Jupiter include Juno Beach Pier, Jupiter Inlet, Ocean Reef Park, and Pump House, but there are many other great spots throughout the city.
Right along the 990-foot pier at Juno Beach is a great surfing spot, and it looks cool, too, with the pier in view. On top of that, there are many bars and restaurants to fill your time when you eventually take a break from surfing.
The Jupiter Inlet is also a great spot near the Jupiter Inlet lighthouse and has less wind than other locations.
Jupiter is a great city in Florida to surf while simultaneously enjoying the views on the water. It’s also much less crowded than other cities in Florida, so if that’s up your alley, this is the perfect place.
6. Flagler Beach
It might be a small town with a population of only 5,000 people, but it’s mighty. It’s a renowned surfing destination that people from all over the world visit each year.
It has the third-largest waves in Florida, so it’s perfect for catching good breaks. There are tons of rental and lesson options in Flagler Beach for newbies or those traveling without their boards.
The following events are also held here, including the Tommy Tant Memorial Surf Competition, MayDay Memorial Surf Classic, and Surfers for Autism.
The area to the north and south of the main pier can get crowded with surfers, but if you head down in either direction, you can find the open sea and excellent conditions. Flagler Beach is an unreal place for your Florida surfing adventure.
7. Daytona Beach
Daytona is a huge city in Florida known for the Daytona 500, bike week, and it’s a popular place for spring break.
It’s best to avoid springtime in Daytona if the focus of your trip is surfing. Other than that, it’s one of the top places to surf in Florida, according to Coastal Living.
The favorite spots include Main Street and Sunglow Piers. Here, the ocean floor has a soft, sandy bottom, making it great for all surf levels.
Winter is the best time to visit Daytona, and you should avoid February and March unless you want to get caught up in the crowds. Otherwise, it’s a fantastic place to surf.
8. Boynton Beach
Also known as America’s Gateway to the Gulf stream, Boynton Beach is one of the best surf towns in Florida. It’s a less crowded surf cities, making it very appealing.
In addition, about a quarter-mile off the coast is a sandbar that helps create long waves. The city has excellent waves, but it’s much quieter than many other places in Florida, so if you’re looking for some enjoyable surfing but also solace and space out on the water, Boynton Beach is the place to be.
9. Pensacola
Pensacola Beach is an excellent winter surfing location. Although it’s possible to surf here year-round, it has fantastic winter conditions.
Hurricane Season brings above bar surfing conditions to the city of Pensacola Beach by way of large swells providing some of the best waves in Florida. However, Pensacola provides consistent surf throughout the year.
10. Palm Beach
Palm Beach, Florida, has some of the best surfing in the world. You’ll find very consistent breaks here, so you never have to wait long between rides.
The wonderful weather and the crystal clear waters make it a fantastic place to surf. One of the most famous surfing spots in Florida is known as Reef Road in Palm Beach.
The waves here are huge and can reach 15 feet. Palm Beach has some of the largest waves in all of Florida.
Why Surf in Florida
Florida is one of the premier surf destinations on the East Coast because it provides consistent year-round waves. When thinking about U.S. surfing destinations, Florida is often overlooked for California, but the underrated state is a world-class surfing destination.
Florida offers high-quality, consistent, year-round waves to surfers from all over the world. It’s a great place to learn how to surf and the perfect place to visit to try out the breaks and swells.
Surfing is an excellent sport for both the body and mind. It requires stamina, strength, and patience to get up on the board.
Not only is it an exercise that doesn’t feel like one, but it’s also a ton of fun. The thrill of getting up on a wave is undeniable, and once you’ve got the surf bug, it’s hard to let go of it.
Surfing is a great sport to partake in, and it’s never too late to start. If you’re new to surfing, there are tons of surf camps where you can take lessons and rent gear.
Advanced surfers will also love trying out all the different beaches in the area.
When is the Best Time to Surf in Florida
Surfing is a year-round activity in Florida with its constant warm weather. However, the best months are the winter months because the waves are larger and more consistent.
The giant swells occur from August to spring, with November through March bringing the best of the best waves.
If you’re an experienced rider, consider surfing during Hurricane Season, which occurs from June to September because the waves can get pretty gnarly.
The negative about winter surfing is that you’ll most likely need a wet suit, whereas, in the summer months, the ocean is warm enough to surf with just a bathing suit.
As you’ve seen, Florida is a great surfing destination. True surfers know the quality and consistency of the waves in the Sunshine State.
If you haven’t tried surfing here you must when you get the chance! There are tons of great spots all over the coast, but the ten cities on the list above make a great place to start.
So enjoy what’s out there and hang ten!
Are you a surfer that loves hitting the waves in Florida? Have a favorite surf town in Florida that isn’t mentioned on this list? Say so in the comments below.
