Santa Barbara County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Campus Point, Santa Barbara County, California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sun, May 10: 1–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with moderate SW wind around 7mph.
Mon, May 11: 1–2ft, 17s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with barely a breath of wind.
Tue, May 12: 0–1ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with calm winds.
Wed, May 13: 0–1ft, 15s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with light winds out of the ESE.
Thu, May 14: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with light winds out of the NNW. Expect the wind to bump up to around 13mph by PM.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Campus Point is a classic west-facing point break that wraps around the UCSB campus area, offering long, peeling waves that peel across sandy bottoms. The break works best with westerly swells and easterly offshore winds, creating smooth, well-organized waves ideal for intermediate surfers looking to practice their turns. The point's orientation and proximity to kelp beds adds character to this scenic Santa Barbara County break that captures swell during fall and winter months.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Campus Point is 1-2ft with a 17.55s swell period. Wind is SW at 7mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Campus Point is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.3ft WSW primary swell at 9s, a 0.5ft SW secondary swell at 16s, a 0.5ft W tertiary swell at 12s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Campus Point is Thursday from 5 PM to 8 PM with 2ft waves, a 5.25s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Campus Point works best with a W swell and E winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Campus Point. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Campus Point is a point with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Campus Point is a classic west-facing point break that wraps around the UCSB campus area, offering long, peeling waves that peel across sandy bottoms. The break works best with westerly swells and easterly offshore winds, creating smooth, well-organized waves ideal for intermediate surfers looking to practice their turns. The point's orientation and proximity to kelp beds adds character to this scenic Santa Barbara County break that captures swell during fall and winter months.
The prime season at Campus Point is fall, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Campus Point include kelp, occasional localism, rocky point sections. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Campus Point forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable. Extended forecasts show general trends. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
