Surfing
Surfing
7 top surf spots in Georgia
The state is home to 100 miles of coastline and 80-mile of continental shelf with plenty of spots to catch a swell.
When it comes to catching waves in America, places like California and Hawaii always top the list of best places to surf. That’s great for west coasters, but if you’re on the east coast, you might be looking for something a little more local.
That’s when discovering a hidden surfing gem like Georgia can really come in handy. Georgia may not have any record breaking waves, but the state is home to 100 miles of coastline and 80-mile of continental shelf with plenty of spots to catch a swell.
This area also offers some unique advantages that other east coast surfing spots can’t. For example, you can surf year-round comfortably without the frigid water temperatures that you might encounter surfing in New York or Maine. There are also tons of cool little islands and stunning wildlife in this part of the country.
© Photo by Matt Hardy
7 Top Surf Spots in Georgia
Sounds pretty good, right? Check out this list of the top 7 surf spots in Georgia.
01
Tybee Island
Tybee Island is probably the best, most consistent surfing spot in Georgia to check out. Both Tybee Pier and Little Tybee offer waves. One and two-foot waves are common here, especially when the tide’s coming in. There is also great longboarding between Tybee and Little Tybee, where there are a series of offshore sandbar breaks. The island is also home to some fun restaurants and the famous local pizza joint, Huc-A-Poos.
- Location: On the coast of Georgia near Savannah, past McQueen’s Island.
- Best Time to Surf: Any time of year. Winter is often actually the best time, as weather patterns lead to bigger waves up and down the state’s coast. It’s usually not too cold, either.
02
North Jetty
North Jetty is appealing because it’s typically not crowded, even when waves are available. This makes it a good spot for beginners in the area who want to check out surfing. Like most of Georgia’s coast, you’ll find the most success when you surf by tracking the weather and trying to anticipate bigger waves. North Jetty can be hit or miss at times, but waves break near the jetty, and along the beach, so you’ll have plenty of options when they do.
- Location: St Marys' Entrance is the best spot at North Jetty.
- Best Time to Surf: Year-round, but winter is the most reliable.
03
St. Simons Island
St. Simons Island, a barrier island that’s roughly the size of Manhattan—only 22 square miles or so—offers an exposed beach break for surfers. Beach breaks can be a little unreliable, but if a big storm is in the area or off the coast, have your board ready to ride some long, smooth waves.
- Location: A few hours down the coast from Tybee Island; it’s also only an hour from Jacksonville, FL.
- Best Time to Surf: Winter offers the best surfing here once again, as the wind patterns during the colder season tend to create the biggest waves.
04
Wolf Island
Wolf Island offers decent swells in the summer and early fall. This area gets lots of cross-shore winds that lead to lots of rights. Notably, you’ll be standing on a Holocene island (meaning it formed after the last major ice age 11,700 years ago) when you aren’t in the water on Wolf Island. This area is a National Refuge at the base of the Altamaha River, and people travel from all over to observe shorebirds. Keep an eye out along the coast while you surf.
Wolf Island is also a great place for fishing, crabbing, and boating. At least you know if the waves aren’t there on the day you visit, you can partake in a number of other cool ocean activities.
- Location: East of Darien and the Brunswick airport, next to Little Egg Island.
- Best Time to Surf: Summer and early fall, although you can catch waves all year if the weather is right.
05
Wassaw Island
Wassaw Island is quieter and has some very remote sections, even though it’s fairly small. There’s a steady dose of 1 and 2-foot waves most days, sometimes bigger when the weather’s right. A surfboard with good buoyancy will help you here to make up for the lack of big waves.
Wassaw is home to another National Wildlife refuge. In this case, you’ll be surfing near a 10,500-acre salt marsh that’s largely been untouched by humans. Biking is a popular activity on the island and there are loads of trails leading to and around the beaches.
- Location: On the north end of Wassaw Island is one of the Sea Islands (an unincorporated community) outside of Savannah. It’s easy to get here from Savannah or Tybee Island by boat.
- Best Time to Surf: Any time of year.
06
Jekyll Island
Jekyll Island used to be a private retreat for the wealthy. Now it's very well known and welcoming to all, with ten miles of breathtaking coastline and a state park. Surfing can be challenging here because there are offshore sandbars, but swells come over the bars when there are weather systems. If you want to catch one of those strong northeasterly wind swells, try the north end of the island.
- Location: Just south of St Simons Island
- Best Time to Surf: Winter
07
St. Catherines
St. Catherines is one long stretch of beach with several inland sections. Surfing is best on the north and south sections of the beach on the eastern side of the island. 1 to 2 footers are common here as well. St. Catherines is also close to some truly stunning natural areas like Barbour Island.
- Location: Next to Walburg and Moss Island, south of Savannah.
- Best Time to Surf: All year round.
As a surfer, there’s something to be said for exploring new places simply because you have the opportunity to. But there are some solid spots to surf on some gorgeous remote islands (many of which are only accessible by boat). Suffice it to say, you’re not going to regret any trip you make to surf in Georgia. And if you head one state south, you can check out the best surfing spots in Florida.
