More Details

Best Tide:
Low incoming
Best Swell Direction:
SE or NE
Best Size:
Chest-high to well overhead
Best Wind:
W, SW
Perfect-O-Meter:
5 (1=Lake Erie; 10=Jeffreys Bay)
Bottom:
Sand
Ability Level:
Beginner to intermediate
Bring Your:
Fish, shortboard, longboard
Best Season:
Fall
Access:
Easy
Crowd Factor:
Packed
Local Vibe:
Minimal
Bicep Burn:
2 (1=1ft Waikiki; 10=15ft Ocean Beach)
Poo Patrol:
4 (1=clean; 10=turds in the lineup)
Shark Danger:
2 (1=none; 10=bring an iron cage)
Hazards:
Avoid getting mowed down by the army's amphibious vehicle.
Surf spot travel photo of Camp Pendleton

About Camp Pendleton   Go to Camp Pendleton report »

At the south end of Croatan, Camp Pendleton boasts a rarity in local surfing -- ample parking. With a large lot and a wide surfing area, it can and does handle huge summer crowds. It isn't an aggressive crowd, so competent surfers can still have their pick of the sets. Aside from a handful of residents, most of the crowd is transient, often commuting from inland cities.

Pendleton backs up an Army Reserve Base, hence the name. From the lineup, you'll often hear explosions from the neighboring firing range and witness soldiers hanging from hovering helicopters. It gives an otherwise average session a G.I. Joe adventure feel.

Despite the crowds, Pendleton offers a pleasant reprieve from the 1st Street mayhem. The vibe is mellower, and there is more room to breathe. The wave breaks on an outer sandbar, normally dissipating over a trench near shore. It actually gets hollow on larger swells and can handle more size than 1st Street or Croatan.