Huntington State Beach is a great spot for surfers looking for a less crowded vibe compared to other areas in Huntington. This beach is known for its two miles of beachbreak, and it tends to have better surf conditions than some nearby spots. Access is easy from the various pay parking lots along the beach or metered parking on the highway. While it does have its fair share of surfers, it usually isn’t as packed as the pier area, which can close out pretty fast.
The surf here works well with smaller, peaky swells and handles sizes starting from 1ft (about 0.3 meters). The best waves come when there are swells coming from the SouthWest, but you can also catch some action with swells from the South and NorthWest. Since it’s a beach break, the waves can break both left and right over a sandy bottom. Ideal wind direction is from the NorthEast, and you can find good waves regardless of the tide, although it seems to do best at low, mid, and high tide.
This beach is beginner-friendly, making it a good spot if you're just getting into surfing. Remember that all Huntington beaches tend to blow out by 11 am, so getting in early might give you a better chance for solid waves before the wind picks up and makes things choppy.