Is it worth the trip?
56Fair out of 100 for your dates
Best on Sat 7: 3 ft swell at 8 s
Tue 3 · 43 out of 100
- Swell
- 3 ft5 s
- Energy
- 48kJ
- Wind
- NE 9 kn
- Temp
- 22°C
Wed 4 · 53 out of 100
- Swell
- 3 ft6 s
- Energy
- 59kJ
- Wind
- ENE 7 kn
- Temp
- 22°C
Thu 5 · 64 out of 100
- Swell
- 3 ft6 s
- Energy
- 73kJ
- Wind
- E 3 kn
- Temp
- 22°C
Fri 6 · 52 out of 100
- Swell
- 4 ft7 s
- Energy
- 121kJ
- Wind
- S 6 kn
- Temp
- 22°C
Sat 7 · 71 out of 100
- Swell
- 3 ft8 s
- Energy
- 136kJ
- Wind
- WNW 5 kn
- Temp
- 22°C
Sun 8 · 49 out of 100
- Swell
- 3 ft7 s
- Energy
- 88kJ
- Wind
- NNE 5 kn
- Temp
- 20°C
Mon 9 · 25 out of 100
- Swell
- 2 ft7 s
- Energy
- 48kJ
- Wind
- ESE 7 kn
- Temp
- 21°C
Tap a day for waves, wind and the temperature. Full forecast
Forecast: next 9 days
Full forecast- Mon 235, too small
- Tue 343, poor
- Wed 453, fair
- Thu 564, good
- Fri 652, fair
- Sat 771, good
- Sun 849, fair
- Mon 925, too small
- Tue 1036, too small
The spot in five facts
- Faces SEtakes swell from the SE
- Offshore: NWwind from the land
- Intermediate +who it suits
- Works 2–9 ftof swell
- Water 20 °C2 mm shorty
Full forecast
every day, every number
The score doesn't know rips, currents, rocks or your skill.
| Day | Score for intermediates | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 2Nov | 35, too small | 3 ft5 s | 44kJ | wind from the north-east, 9 knots | 21°C |
| Tue 3Nov | 43, poor | 3 ft5 s | 48kJ | wind from the north-east, 9 knots | 22°C |
| Wed 4Nov | 53, fair | 3 ft6 s | 59kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 7 knots | 22°C |
| Thu 5Nov | 64, good | 3 ft6 s | 73kJ | wind from the east, 3 knots | 22°C |
| Fri 6Nov | 52, fair | 4 ft7 s | 121kJ | wind from the south, 6 knots | 22°C |
| Sat 7Nov | 71, good | 3 ft8 s | 136kJ | offshorewind from the west-north-west, 5 knots, offshore | 22°C |
| Sun 8Nov | 49, fair | 3 ft7 s | 88kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 5 knots | 20°C |
| Mon 9Nov | 25, too small | 2 ft7 s | 48kJ | wind from the east-south-east, 7 knots | 21°C |
| Tue 10Nov | 36, too small | 2 ft6 s | 43kJ | offshorewind from the west-north-west, 6 knots, offshore | 20°C |
Energy is the swell's power, in kJ per metre of wave. Wind is in knots, the arrow where it blows to; green is offshore. More
Forecast updated . It refreshes every three hours. Forecast data: ECMWF, DWD, Météo-France and NOAA, served by Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0). Changed by us. Generated using E.U. Copernicus Marine Service Information.
Map
the spot and its town
Topsail Surf Spot on Google Maps · Directions
Each place wears its best day on these dates, a surf spot for intermediates: green good, amber fair, pale red poor, as the key says.
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About
the place in full, sources, credits
About Topsail Surf Spot
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated.
The spot faces SE (148°), so it takes swell from the SE. The wind blows offshore from the NW (328°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 2–9 ft of swell. The sea is about 13°C in February, its coldest month (4/3 wetsuit and boots), and 28°C in July, its warmest (no wetsuit). The town to stay in is North Topsail Beach, 1 km away (about 5 min by car).
Water about 20°C: 2 mm shorty. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
The score is the conditions only: the journey, the price and the partners never change it (how we score, how we earn).
Rough cost (estimate): about US$1,110–US$1,970 each
about US$1,110–US$1,970 each · 6 nights, 2 sharing: flights, hire car, stay, food, board and wetsuit.
Our estimate from typical public prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book (where they come from). Prices are about, in US Dollar (USD): our pound figures at the European Central Bank's rate of 30 October 2026.
How we worked it out
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return ORD to ILM, estimated from distance and season, 2 airlines on the route, with a hold bag | about US$161–US$335 |
| Hire car | 6 days, shared | about US$154–US$255 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | about US$301–US$502 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | about US$342–US$636 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about US$114 to fly your own | about US$147–US$241 |
| Total | about US$1,110–US$1,970 |
For 2 people sharing a room. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra. Prices from public sources, checked in 2026.
Where to stay: North Topsail Beach
about 5 min by car · 3 places to stay
about US$114/nightcountry average
About North Topsail Beach its beds, food and every spot near it
About US$114 a night is our estimate of the country's average 2-star double room that month: not each town's price, and not a quote. Drives are estimates. Prices are about, in US Dollar (USD): our pound figures at the European Central Bank's rate of 30 October 2026.
Getting there: about 5h 25m
About 5h 25m door to door from Chicago
Fly ORD → ILM, direct, then 1h 10m by road
Flights ORD → ILM on your dates · Skyscanner
An estimate, one way; the journey never changes the score.