Carpinteria (Tar Pits)
Tarpits · Carpinteria State Beach
Now
Thu Nov 5 · 12–3 PM forecast
3–4 ftwaist to chest
Best tomorrow · Fri 6
Compare bothNothing good left today.
Best tomorrow · Fri 6, 6:15 to 9:15 AM Pacific.
then the wind turns onshore
1–2 ft · knee to thigh
Small waves, more fun on a longboard, and barely any wind keeps them smooth.
Show on chart ↓
Onshore (from the side): wind blows sideways and toward land. It can add chop. Gusts 9 mph: short bursts above the usual wind.
Rising tide: the water level is going up; 1.5–4.0 ft is this spot’s best range.
Water temperature is in °F; a swimsuit is enough for warmer water, depending on how cold you feel. This is the latest water reading, not a forecast for the session.
Carpinteria (Tar Pits) surf guide
Peaky beach break at Carpinteria State Beach, fun at any level · 2 things to watch
Carpinteria (Tar Pits) guide
Peaky beach break at Carpinteria State Beach, fun at any level.
- Good for
- All levels; mellower than nearby Rincon.
- The wave
- Short lefts and rights over sand and reef.
- Watch for
- Beach tar; bring oil for your feet.
- Rocks under some peaks.
- Best when
- Best on a W to WNW swell (260°–290°) with NNE offshore wind, at mid tide (about 1.5–4 ft).
MoreLess about Carpinteria (Tar Pits)
Longboards at 1.5–4 ft, shortboards at 3–6 ft. Most consistent in fall and winter.
The Channel Islands block most swell from the south, so it needs a strong west or northwest swell, or a southwest angle that slips through the gaps. Summer is often small.
The tar comes up through natural seeps, and the Chumash used it to seal their plank canoes. Beyond the oil pier, the beach belongs to a seal rookery and people have to stay out.
- Local tip
- Paid parking is in the small lot past the last campground at the south end; free street spots are near the end of Calle Ocho, across the railroad.
GOOD TIDE TODAY9:20–11:35 AM3:00–5:27 PM
Guide updated October 2026
Spot research: OpenStreetMap, Surf-Forecast, California Beaches, WannaSurf, The Surf Atlas, Yeeew, California State Parks, Deepswell and Wikipedia.
Send a spot correctionNo cam for this spot yet.
Live buoy Harvest
- WAVES
- 9.1 ft
- PERIOD
- 11s
- FROM
- WNW 293°
- WATER
- 70°
Observed 1:30 PM · 52 min old
7-day surf
LB longboard · SB shortboard
Thu 12 PM · now
3–4 ft · waist to chest ·
7 mph, gusts 9, cross-onshore · tide 1.2 ft falling
Swell near the beach: 3.3 ft every 11 s from SW
| Time | Surf | Rating | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 12 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Fair, dark hours | 4 mph onshore | 0.8 ft and falling |
| Thu 3 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Good | 1 mph glassy | 2.6 ft and rising |
| Thu 6 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good | 5 mph cross-offshore | 5.5 ft and rising |
| Thu 9 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good | 1 mph, gusts 3, glassy | 4.3 ft and falling |
| Thu 12 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Fair | 7 mph, gusts 9, cross-onshore | 1.2 ft and falling |
| Thu 3 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair | 3 mph, gusts 8, onshore | 1.5 ft and rising |
| Thu 6 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor–Fair, dark hours | 7 mph cross-offshore | 4.1 ft and rising |
| Thu 9 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Poor–Fair, dark hours | 2 mph glassy | 3.6 ft and falling |
| Fri 12 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Poor–Fair, dark hours | 3 mph offshore | 1.3 ft and falling |
| Fri 3 AM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor | 1 mph, gusts 2, glassy | 2.4 ft and rising |
| Fri 6 AM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor | 3 mph, gusts 4, cross | 5.5 ft and rising |
| Fri 9 AM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor | 2 mph glassy | 5.0 ft and falling |
| Fri 12 PM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor | 6 mph cross-onshore | 1.3 ft and falling |
| Fri 3 PM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Poor–Fair, shortboard Poor | 6 mph, gusts 7, cross-onshore | 0.5 ft and rising |
| Fri 6 PM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor, dark hours | 3 mph offshore | 3.3 ft and rising |
| Fri 9 PM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor, dark hours | 2 mph, gusts 3, glassy | 4.1 ft and falling |
| Sat 12 AM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor, dark hours | 2 mph, gusts 4, glassy | 1.9 ft and falling |
| Sat 3 AM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor | 2 mph glassy | 2.3 ft and rising |
| Sat 6 AM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor | 4 mph offshore | 5.4 ft and rising |
| Sat 9 AM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor | 2 mph, gusts 3, glassy | 5.6 ft and falling |
| Sat 12 PM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor | 4 mph, gusts 5, onshore | 1.8 ft and falling |
| Sat 3 PM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Poor–Fair, shortboard Poor | 7 mph cross-onshore | −0.1 ft and rising |
| Sat 6 PM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor, dark hours | 4 mph, gusts 5, offshore | 2.3 ft and rising |
| Sat 9 PM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor, dark hours | 6 mph offshore | 4.1 ft and falling |
| Sun 12 AM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor, dark hours | 5 mph, gusts 6, offshore | 2.5 ft and falling |
| Sun 3 AM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor | 6 mph offshore | 2.3 ft and rising |
| Sun 6 AM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor | 6 mph offshore | 5.1 ft and rising |
| Sun 9 AM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor | 2 mph glassy | 6.0 ft and falling |
| Sun 12 PM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor | 3 mph, gusts 5, onshore | 2.4 ft and falling |
| Sun 3 PM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Poor–Fair, shortboard Poor | 4 mph cross-onshore | −0.3 ft and falling |
| Sun 6 PM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor, dark hours | 4 mph cross-offshore | 1.4 ft and rising |
| Sun 9 PM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor, dark hours | 5 mph offshore | 3.9 ft and rising |
| Mon 12 AM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor–Fair, dark hours | 4 mph, gusts 5, offshore | 3.0 ft and falling |
| Mon 3 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Poor–Fair | 5 mph offshore | 2.4 ft and rising |
| Mon 6 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair | 5 mph offshore | 4.8 ft and rising |
| Mon 9 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor–Fair | 2 mph glassy | 6.1 ft and falling |
| Mon 12 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor–Fair | 4 mph onshore | 3.1 ft and falling |
| Mon 3 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor–Fair | 3 mph cross-onshore | −0.2 ft and falling |
| Mon 6 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair, dark hours | 3 mph, gusts 5, offshore | 0.7 ft and rising |
| Mon 9 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair, dark hours | 4 mph, gusts 5, offshore | 3.4 ft and rising |
| Tue 12 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair, dark hours | 5 mph, gusts 6, offshore | 3.4 ft and falling |
| Tue 3 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Poor–Fair, dark hours | 5 mph, gusts 7, offshore | 2.6 ft and rising |
| Tue 6 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Poor–Fair | 6 mph, gusts 7, offshore | 4.5 ft and rising |
| Tue 9 AM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor | 1 mph, gusts 3, glassy | 6.1 ft and falling |
| Tue 12 PM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor | 3 mph, gusts 4, onshore | 3.8 ft and falling |
| Tue 3 PM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Poor–Fair, shortboard Poor | 3 mph, gusts 4, onshore | 0.2 ft and falling |
| Tue 6 PM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor, dark hours | 2 mph, gusts 4, glassy | 0.2 ft and rising |
| Tue 9 PM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor, dark hours | 3 mph, gusts 5, offshore | 2.7 ft and rising |
| Wed 12 AM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor, dark hours | 4 mph, gusts 5, offshore | 3.5 ft and falling |
| Wed 3 AM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor, dark hours | 4 mph, gusts 5, offshore | 2.8 ft and falling |
| Wed 6 AM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor | 5 mph offshore | 4.1 ft and rising |
| Wed 9 AM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor | 1 mph, gusts 4, glassy | 5.8 ft and rising |
| Wed 12 PM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor | 4 mph onshore | 4.3 ft and falling |
| Wed 3 PM | Waves unavailable | Longboard Unavailable, shortboard Unavailable | 2 mph, gusts 3, glassy | 0.8 ft and falling |
| Wed 6 PM | Waves unavailable | Longboard Unavailable, shortboard Unavailable, dark hours | 3 mph, gusts 4, cross-offshore | 0.0 ft and rising |
| Wed 9 PM | Waves unavailable | Longboard Unavailable, shortboard Unavailable, dark hours | 4 mph offshore | 2.0 ft and rising |
Today’s tide
GOOD 9:20–11:35 AM3:00–5:27 PM
Rincon Island · feet above low water
Swell
Primary ·
W273°
Secondary ·
S169°
Wind swell ·
WSW253°
Primary is the main displayed swell by wave energy; another swell can affect this spot more because of its direction.
Period: seconds between waves; longer gaps usually mean more powerful waves, depending on size and direction.
Secondary is another swell in the water; it can add waves from a different direction.
Period: seconds between waves; longer gaps usually mean more powerful waves, depending on size and direction.
Wind swell has closely spaced waves, usually made by nearby wind; local conditions decide how it breaks here.
Short period means closely spaced waves; they usually have less push than a similar-size swell with longer gaps.
Near-the-beach wave forecast from CDIP.
Updated 2:03 PM · CDIP/Scripps, Open-Meteo and NOAA.
Common questions
Is Carpinteria (Tar Pits) good for beginners?
Yes when it’s small; bigger days suit surfers with some experience.
What tide is best at Carpinteria (Tar Pits)?
It’s best at mid tide (about 1.5–4 ft).
What swell works at Carpinteria (Tar Pits)?
A W to WNW swell (260°–290°) is best, with NNE offshore wind. It picks up swell from SSE to WNW (150°–290°). Most consistent in fall and winter.
What board should I ride at Carpinteria (Tar Pits)?
Either works: longboards at 1.5–4 ft, shortboards at 3–6 ft.
What should I watch out for at Carpinteria (Tar Pits)?
Beach tar, so bring oil for your feet; and rocks under some peaks.