New Jersey
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Island Beach State Park, New Jersey. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sun, May 10: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 2-3ft and poor - fair with moderate ESE wind around 12mph.
Mon, May 11: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. The sweet spot is around midday — 2-3ft waves, 14mph out of the N, poor - fair conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Tue, May 12: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with 14mph N winds.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with 9mph from the SSW. Afternoon breeze fills in to 16mph.
Thu, May 14: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with moderate WSW wind around 8mph. Afternoon breeze fills in to 15mph.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Island Beach State Park is a pristine stretch of protected barrier island coastline in New Jersey, offering uncrowded beach breaks along one of the few undeveloped shorelines on the Jersey Shore. The east-facing exposure makes it well-suited to Atlantic groundswells, which can produce punchy, hollow peaks along the sandbar-lined beach, especially during fall hurricane season. The park's protected status limits crowds significantly compared to nearby developed beach towns, making it a treasured escape for surfers seeking quality waves and open lineups.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Island Beach State Park is 2-3ft with a 8.1s swell period. Wind is ESE at 11mph and conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Island Beach State Park is 2-3ft, produced by a 0.3ft ESE primary swell at 13s, a 0.2ft ESE secondary swell at 16s, a 4.1ft SE wind swell swell at 8s. 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 Island Beach State Park is Friday from 1 PM to 4 PM with 2ft waves, a 6.3s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Island Beach State Park works best with a E swell and W 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 Island Beach State Park. 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.
Island Beach State Park is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Island Beach State Park is a pristine stretch of protected barrier island coastline in New Jersey, offering uncrowded beach breaks along one of the few undeveloped shorelines on the Jersey Shore. The east-facing exposure makes it well-suited to Atlantic groundswells, which can produce punchy, hollow peaks along the sandbar-lined beach, especially during fall hurricane season. The park's protected status limits crowds significantly compared to nearby developed beach towns, making it a treasured escape for surfers seeking quality waves and open lineups.
The prime season at Island Beach State Park 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 Island Beach State Park include strong rip currents, shifting sandbars, cold water in winter, jellyfish in summer, limited access points. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Island Beach State Park 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.
