Mission Beach surf guide

Mission Beach is a popular surf spot located in central San Diego, stretching for about a mile from Santa Rita Place to the Mission Bay entrance channel. This area is known for its consistent surf, attracting both locals and tourists. The beach is lined with a mix of mismatched condos and has a paved promenade that runs alongside it. It's a year-round spot that can get decent waves in various conditions, although some days can be a bit underwhelming.

The surf here generally ranges from waist-high (about 1 meter) to several feet overhead (up to about 2.5 meters), with double overhead waves at the south end, especially near the South Mission Jetty. The beach can handle swells from the West, Northwest, and South, and it's best surfed on a medium tide with swells between 3 to 8 feet (about 0.9 to 2.4 meters). Although the wave shape can be mediocre to good, it varies with the tide and changing sandbars, making it prone to closeouts on larger days. The breaks are peaky, with both left and right waves available, and spring and summer often provide the best inside sandbars that work well at high tide.

Access to Mission Beach is pretty easy, but parking and traffic can be challenging during the summer months. Crowds are typically light on the main beachbreak, but it can feel like a zoo around the jetty. Local vibes are usually friendly, but be prepared for a more competitive atmosphere at the South Mission Jetty. Paddling can be average most days but may require extra effort when the waves are pumping. Overall, you can catch some fun sessions here with the right conditions, and it caters to a variety of board types, including shortboards, fish, funboards, longboards, bodyboards, and even for skimming and bodysurfing.