New England Surf
Information:
Rhode Island,
Massachusetts,
New Hampshire
& Maine
New England is definitely one of the coolest, most
unique surfing regions in
the US. It's loaded with
history, natural beauty, quality surf
spots and unique
festivals, events and fun. New England
provides
traveling surfers with a unique setup,
away from the tropical surf that is
way overdone.
New England surf spots can be characterized by
state.
-
New Hampshire is home to many point breaks.
-
Rhode Island is characterized
by reefs and cobblestone bottom breaks.
-
Massachusetts is basically one giant,
shifting sandbar.
-
Maine offers a little bit of everything.
During the summer months, New England beach towns become a microcosm for travel
and fun. The surf can be rideable this time of year, but don’t bank on it.
Once the crowds have all gone home and the kids are back in school, New England
surfing comes to life with the late summer/fall hurricane season. The southeast
swells sent into this region light up the many points, reefs, sandbars and
beach breaks that fill the New England surf region.
During this time of year,
surfers are fine wearing a 3/2 wetsuit; however, cold weather progresses
fast in the New England states, and surfers are quickly reaching for their
4/3 by the end of October or early November. Winter surfing here makes New Jersey
seem like a tropical paradise. It’s not uncommon to walk through a snow-covered
beach into the water, or to spot floating pieces of ice that move through
the lineup. Like we said, New England is a unique surfing destination.
Find a surf school in Rhode Island.
Find a surf school in Massachusetts.
Find a surf school in New Hampshire.
Find a surf school in Maine.
New England Surf Breaks
Below is a list of New England surf spots from Rhode Island to Maine, and
all points (literally) in between.
East Matunuck State Beach – Matunuck, Rhode Island |
| Surf Location |
Matunuck |
| Best Swell Direction |
South to Southeast |
| Best Tide |
Incoming high tide push |
| Best Wind Direction |
West to Northwest |
| Best Surf Season |
Late summer/fall for hurricane season |
| Wave Quality |
One of the top longboarding spots in Rhode Island. Lefts and rights break on rock/reef bottom, peeling perfect for longboard carves and noseriding. Once a big swell, these usually slow waves turn into speedy walls great for carving. |
| The Surfers |
Always crowded with longboarders. Not a great spot for beginners. |
| Boards |
Funboard, longboard, stand-up paddle board |
| Paddle Out |
Moderate |
| Skill Level |
intermediate to Advanced |
| Bottom |
Rock reef |
| Watch Out For… |
Frostbite and hypothermia |
| Water Condition |
Clean and cold |
Point Judith – Rhode Island |
| Surf Location |
Southern Rhode Island |
| Best Swell Direction |
Southeast |
| Best Tide |
High tide push |
| Best Wind Direction |
West to Northwest |
| Best Surf Season |
Late summer/fall for hurricane season |
| Wave Quality |
Rocky right-hand point break. It’s a series of rights that break in sections. It takes a big swell to make them line up. |
| The Surfers |
Slways crowded, especially in summer. Lots of good surfers. |
| Boards |
Shortboard, fish, funboard, longboard |
| Paddle Out |
Moderate to difficult |
| Skill Level |
Advanced. Strong currents, impossible sections and rocky entry/exit. |
| Bottom |
Sand |
| Watch Out For… |
The rocks: they are covered with barnacles |
| Water Condition |
Clean |
Point Judith, Rhode Island - Surf Video
Narragansett Beach – Rhode Island |
| Surf Location |
in the town of Narragansett, just north of the Narragansett Pier |
| Best Swell Direction |
Southeast |
| Best Tide |
Incoming high tide push |
| Best Wind Direction |
West to Northwest |
| Best Surf Season |
Late summer/fall for hurricane season |
| Wave Quality |
Very consistent and fun beachbreak waves that are good for beginners. Find a peak to yourself and enjoy. |
| The Surfers |
Very busy beach, but plenty of room to spread out. Mellow vibes. |
| Boards |
Shortboard, fish, funboard, longboard |
| Paddle Out |
Easy to difficult |
| Skill Level |
Total Beginner to Advanced |
| Bottom |
Sand |
| Watch Out For… |
Frostbite and hypothermia |
| Water Condition |
Clean |
Ruggles – Newport, Rhode Island |
| Surf Location |
In the town of Newport |
| Best Swell Direction |
South to Southeast |
| Best Tide |
Incoming high tide push |
| Best Wind Direction |
West to Northwest |
| Best Surf Season |
Late summer/fall for hurricane season |
| Wave Quality |
One of the best waves on the East Coast. A right-hand rock reef that wraps into the bay. Ruggles needs a big swell to break - it is a true big wave spot. So come prepared for some size. |
| The Surfers |
Lots of surfers, both locals and travelers |
| Boards |
Shortboard, big wave gun, tow board |
| Paddle Out |
Difficult |
| Skill Level |
Advanced to Expert surfers only |
| Bottom |
Reef, rocks |
| Watch Out For… |
Cleanup sets, jet skis |
| Water Condition |
Clean |
Ruggles, Newport, Rhode Island - Surf Video
First and Second Beach – Newport, Rhode Island |
| Surf Location |
In the town of Newport
|
| Best Swell Direction |
South to Southeast |
| Best Tide |
Incoming high tide |
| Best Wind Direction |
West to Northwest |
| Best Surf Season |
Late summer/fall for hurricane season |
| Wave Quality |
Fun beachbreak waves, good for all ability levels |
| The Surfers |
Lots of local surfers, plus all the summer vacationers. Mellow vibe. |
| Boards |
Shortboard, fish, funboard, longboard |
| Paddle Out |
Moderate |
| Skill Level |
Total beginner to Advanced - gets crowded |
| Bottom |
Sand |
| Watch Out For… |
Frostbite and hypothermia |
| Water Condition |
Clean |
Cape Cod National Seashore – Massachusetts |
| Surf Location |
Cape Cod National Seashore stretches from Eastham to Wellfleet |
| Best Swell Direction |
Northeast to Southeast |
| Best Tide |
Any |
| Best Wind Direction |
West |
| Best Surf Season |
Late summer/fall for hurricane season |
| Wave Quality |
Numerous sandbar peaks that can be really fun. Big storms will move and shift the sandbars up and down the beach. |
| The Surfers |
Mellow vibe, plenty of room to spread out |
| Boards |
Shortboard, fish, funboard, longboard |
| Paddle Out |
Moderate to difficult depending on the swell size |
| Skill Level |
All: Total Beginner to Advanced |
| Bottom |
Sand |
| Watch Out For… |
Sharks |
| Water Condition |
Clean |
Seabrook Beach – New Hampshire |
| Surf Location |
The first coastal town as you enter New Hampshire from Massachusetts |
| Best Swell Direction |
Northeast to Southeast |
| Best Tide |
High and Low |
| Best Wind Direction |
West |
| Best Surf Season |
lLate summer/fall for hurricane season |
| Wave Quality |
Fun beach break that can handle a big swell. Plenty of peaks up and down the beach. |
| The Surfers |
Not overly crowded, mellow vibe |
| Boards |
Shortboard, fish, funboard, longboard |
| Paddle Out |
Moderate, but can be tough with a big swell |
| Skill Level |
Beginner to Advanced |
| Bottom |
Sand |
| Watch Out For… |
Fishermen |
| Water Condition |
Clean and cold |
The Wall – New Hampshire |
| Surf Location |
In Hampton, New Hampshire |
| Best Swell Direction |
Northeast to Southeast |
| Best Tide |
Low incoming tide |
| Best Wind Direction |
West to Northwest |
| Best Surf Season |
Late summer/fall for hurricane season |
| Wave Quality |
Fun beachbreak waves that wall up and close out when the swell gets bigger than 5 feet. Most consistent surf spot in New Hampshire. |
| The Surfers |
Lots of them, and they charge all year round. Mellow vibe. |
| Boards |
Shortboard, fish, funboard, longboard |
| Paddle Out |
Moderate |
| Skill Level |
Beginner to Advanced |
| Bottom |
Sand |
| Watch Out For… |
Closeouts |
| Water Condition |
Clean |
Fox Hill – New Hampshire |
| Surf Location |
Across from Cinnamon Rainbows Surf Shop, at the south end of the bay |
| Best Swell Direction |
North to Northeast, East |
| Best Tide |
Low tide coming in |
| Best Wind Direction |
West |
| Best Surf Season |
Late summer/fall for hurricane season |
| Wave Quality |
Arguably the best wave in New England, and one of the best waves on the East Coast. Perfect peeling, right-hand point break that can handle any size swell. Tight takeoff spot. |
| The Surfers |
Tough group of locals that have this break wired |
| Boards |
Shortboard, fish, funboard, longboard; big wave gun when it's huge |
| Paddle Out |
Moderate |
| Skill Level |
Beginner to Advanced |
| Bottom |
Rock |
| Watch Out For… |
The locals, hitting the rock slab at the takeoff |
| Water Condition |
Clean |
Rye on the Rocks – New Hampshire |
| Surf Location |
Across from Cinnamon Rainbows Surf Shop, at the north end of the bay |
| Best Swell Direction |
Northeast to Southeast |
| Best Tide |
Mid |
| Best Wind Direction |
West |
| Best Surf Season |
Late summer/fall for hurricane season |
| Wave Quality |
Another great New Hampshire point break. Left-hand point break that breaks way offshore. Steep, speedy walls are perfect for carving turns. Handles a large swell. One of the best waves on the East Coast. |
| The Surfers |
Tough group of locals that are committed to surfing this spot |
| Boards |
Shortboard, fish, funboard, longboard |
| Paddle Out |
Easy but long |
| Skill Level |
Intermediate to Advanced |
| Bottom |
Cobblestones |
| Watch Out For… |
The locals |
| Water Condition |
Clean |
Long Sands – Maine |
| Surf Location |
In York |
| Best Swell Direction |
Southeast |
| Best Tide |
Incoming high tide |
| Best Wind Direction |
Northwest |
| Best Surf Season |
Late summer/fall for hurricane season |
| Wave Quality |
Sloppy beachbreak wave that is perfect for beginners or longboarders. Long rides can be had here, but the wave is hardly epic. |
| The Surfers |
Crowded during summer, but manageable in the water. Mellow vibe. |
| Boards |
Shortboard, fish, funboard, longboard |
| Paddle Out |
Easy |
| Skill Level |
Total Beginner to Advanced |
| Bottom |
Sand |
| Watch Out For… |
Tourists; frostbite and hypothermia |
| Water Condition |
Clean and cold |
Higgins Beach – Maine |
| Surf Location |
In Scarborough |
| Best Swell Direction |
Southeast to East |
| Best Tide |
Low |
| Best Wind Direction |
Northwest |
| Best Surf Season |
Late summer/fall for hurricane season; needs a nice long-period groundswell from the southeast to really come alive |
| Wave Quality |
Fun beachbreak setup that gets really good with larger hurricane and winter swells. Can handle plenty of size. |
| The Surfers |
Can get pretty crowded with locals. Mellow vibe. |
| Boards |
Shortboard, fish, funboard, longboard |
| Paddle Out |
Moderate to difficult depending on the swell |
| Skill Level |
Beginner to Advanced |
| Bottom |
Sand |
| Watch Out For… |
Sneaker sets; frostbite and hypothermia |
| Water Condition |
Clean and cold |
Ogunquit Rivermouth – Maine |
| Surf Location |
Ogunquit Rivermouth at Lobster Point |
| Best Swell Direction |
East |
| Best Tide |
Low |
| Best Wind Direction |
West |
| Best Surf Season |
Late summer/fall for hurricane season |
| Wave Quality |
Super fun Maine beach break. Long, carveable rights and short lefts break off of Lobster Point and peel down the beach. Maine’s most famous wave. |
| The Surfers |
Committed group of local surfers |
| Boards |
Shortboard, fish, funboard, longboard |
| Paddle Out |
Easy but long |
| Skill Level |
Intermediate to Advanced |
| Bottom |
Sand |
| Watch Out For… |
Frostbite and hypothermia |
| Water Condition |
Clean and cold |
Trueman’s – Maine |
| Surf Location |
South of the Saco River |
| Best Swell Direction |
Southeast to Northeast |
| Best Tide |
Mid tide |
| Best Wind Direction |
Northwest |
| Best Surf Season |
Late summer/fall for hurricane season |
| Wave Quality |
Fun left point break that needs a larger swell to break. Can have speedy, fun walls. |
| The Surfers |
Can get competitive since the takeoff zone is small. But generally this is a pretty mellow spot. |
| Boards |
Shortboard, fish, funboard, longboard |
| Paddle Out |
Easy |
| Skill Level |
Beginner to Advanced |
| Bottom |
Sand |
| Watch Out For… |
Frostbite and hypothermia |
| Water Condition |
Clean and cold |
Wells Beach Jetty – Maine |
| Surf Location |
South of Drakes Island |
| Best Swell Direction |
Southeast |
| Best Tide |
Mid tide |
| Best Wind Direction |
Northwest |
| Best Surf Season |
Late summer/fall for hurricane season |
| Wave Quality |
Beach break with long rides off the jetty. Can get epic. Handles a big swell. |
| The Surfers |
Can get crowded, but plenty of room to spread out |
| Boards |
Shortboard, fish, funboard, longboard |
| Paddle Out |
Moderate, can be difficult |
| Skill Level |
Beginner to Advanced |
| Bottom |
Sand |
| Watch Out For… |
Frostbite and hypothermia |
| Water Condition |
Clean and cold |
Kennebunk Beach – Maine |
| Surf Location |
Main beach in the town of Kennebunk |
| Best Swell Direction |
South to Southeast |
| Best Tide |
Mid tide |
| Best Wind Direction |
North |
| Best Surf Season |
Late summer/fall for hurricane season |
| Wave Quality |
Fun beachbreak lefts and rights. Popular spot during summer with tourists. Thankfully, this place breaks best during hurricane and winter swells. |
| The Surfers |
Plenty of room to spread out during a swell. Summer is very crowded. |
| Boards |
Shortboard, fish, funboard, longboard |
| Paddle Out |
Moderate |
| Skill Level |
Beginner to Advanced |
| Bottom |
Sand |
| Watch Out For… |
Frostbite and hypothermia |
| Water Condition |
Clean and cold |
Reid State Park Rivermouth – Maine |
| Surf Location |
In the south end of Reid State Park |
| Best Swell Direction |
Northeast to Southeast |
| Best Tide |
Mid tide |
| Best Wind Direction |
West |
| Best Surf Season |
Late summer/fall for hurricane season |
| Wave Quality |
Classic rivermouth setup with fun rights and lefts breaking over a sandbar. Fast, hollow waves with good tube rides. |
| The Surfers |
Can get crowded, but the walk out to the break tends to keep the numbers down just a bit. |
| Boards |
Shortboard, fish, funboard, longboard |
| Paddle Out |
Moderate |
| Skill Level |
Intermediate to Advanced |
| Bottom |
Sand |
| Watch Out For… |
Frostbite and hypothermia |
| Water Condition |
Clean and cold |
Popham Beach – Maine |
| Surf Location |
North of Portland |
| Best Swell Direction |
Northeast to Southeast |
| Best Tide |
Mid tide |
| Best Wind Direction |
Northwest |
| Best Surf Season |
Late summer/fall for hurricane season |
| Wave Quality |
Really fun waves. At high tide, waves are fast and hollow, breaking over the inside sandbar with good tube sections. At low tide, the outside sandbar produces nice, long walls perfect for carving. |
| The Surfers |
There is a good local crew, but plenty of room to spread out |
| Boards |
Shortboard, fish, funboard, longboard |
| Paddle Out |
Moderate to easy |
| Skill Level |
Beginner to Advanced |
| Bottom |
Sand |
| Watch Out For… |
Frostbite and hypothermia |
| Water Condition |
Clean and cold |
