New Jersey
The sweet spot is around midday — 2-3ft waves, 10mph SW winds, fair conditions.
The sweet spot is around midday — 2-3ft waves, 10mph SW winds, fair conditions.
Best window·Thursday 2PM–5PM·2-3ft·Fair - Good
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.
Thu, Sep 3: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Fair. Consistent 2-3ft surf through the day on E swell at 5s with moderate SW wind around 9mph.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on SE swell at 8s and 16mph W winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Aim for the middle of the day — 1-2ft on N swell at 4s with moderate NNW wind around 12mph. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.
Sun, Sep 6: 3–4ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. 2-3ft waves to start the day on NE swell at 4s.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3+ft, 10s period, rated Fair. Skip the dawn patrol — 2-3+ft and fair early on. Afternoon shapes up better with 1-2ft and poor conditions.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
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Check Island Beach State Park from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 5.9s swell period. Wind is SW at 9mph. Conditions are rated 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 2.2ft E wind swell swell at 6s, a 1.6ft SE secondary swell at 9s. 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 Thursday from 2 PM to 5 PM with 3ft waves, a 5.9s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. 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. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
