Florence South Jetty surf guide

Florence South Jetty is a wide and flat beach, facing due west, stretching for miles to the south. It's a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to surf conditions. The jetty sticks out into the ocean, causing most of the waves to break to the right. Expect pretty rough currents here, so it’s usually rideable only when it’s small and clean. The area has a cool low-tide left breaking just inside the harbor entrance, perfect for those days when conditions are right.

For surfing, this spot handles swells from 4 to 7 feet (about 1.2 to 2.1 meters), mainly from the South, SouthWest, and West directions. The waves can be beach breaks or jetty breaks, with the preferred directions being right and left. The left inside the river is best during low tide, while the South Jetty area works well at high tide. Paddling out is pretty manageable, and the wave types can cater to different skill levels, from beginners to experts. Ideal wind directions are from the NorthEast, EastNorthEast, East, or EastSouthEast. If you hit it right, you can find some fun waves, but don’t expect epic days all the time.

To get there, take the brown-signed South Jetty Dune and Beach access road. You’ll encounter a kiosk about half a mile down where you’ll need to pay a $3 entrance fee. The drive to the jetty is about six miles through the dunes, with the last stretch being on an unpaved road that's full of rocks, so drive carefully. The crowd situation is more chill by the jetty compared to the left, which can get overcrowded quickly with only a handful of guys. Just be aware of the local vibe—it’s not always super welcoming.