California Surf Museum
California Surf Museum
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Founded in 1986, the California Surf Museum mission is to preserve surfing heritage. The museum hosts a variety of cultural events from book signings to lectures, to movie nights to concerts. But the museum is most known for the wonderful rotating exhibits about surf and skateboard culture, art, and history. The whole family is welcome and you don't have to surf or skateboard to enjoy the museum.The California Surf Museum has been featured in Smithsonian Magazine, National Geographic, the BBC, the American Pickers "California Dreamin'", Hawaiian Airlines commercial, PBS "Getting Away Together" and many more. Don't miss the outdoor Secret Spot and Bethany Hamilton's surfboard while you are here. Also, shop the Museum Store for unique gifts and souvenirs. Joining as a member is a great way to get involved in volunteer opportunities and to support the museum on an annual basis. Hope to see you soon!
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The area
Address
How to get there
  • Oceanside Transit Center • 6 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles192 reviews
Excellent
122
Very good
52
Average
16
Poor
2
Terrible
0

Steve K
Hyde Park, NY72 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023
As a lifetime surfer, I found the museum to be excellent! I believe anyone with even a casual interest in surfing will find the nominal entrance fee ($7 for adults, $5 for seniors) worthwhile. There is an incredible selection of surfboards, some dating back to the virtual start of the sport, with redwood boards that look more like ironing boards :) One of the more amazing things is the actual surfboard that Bethany Hamilton was riding when she was attacked by a tiger shark in Hawaii in 2003; you think it must be an artist's version of what a board would look like if a shark bit it, but it is the real deal! The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable, and apparently, if you are there at the right time, a surfing "celebrity" might happen by. If you are in Oceanside, it is certainly worth a visit. I drove up from San Diego and found it worthwhile!
Written 10 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Seltzerpower
96 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2022 • Couples
Mind you I am not a surfer from land locked Indiana, but we visited our Orange County friend who has surfed his whole life. We learned so much about surfing and types of boards that we had to see the museum, I also had to buy an 'evolution of surf boards' tee from their gift shop. They had an excellent-thorough tribute to Donald Takayama: Shaping Boards and Lives. They had Bethany Hamilton's Tiger shark bitten board where she lost her arm in Hawaii yet was back in the water three weeks later! The history of surf boards was interesting too. It is not expensive and the tour does not take long. We found it worth the time and money.
Written 24 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

bigtyke
Greeley, CO7,741 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021
I am embarrased to say that I have been vacationing in the area for years, used to surf there, and it was only this year that I visited this excellent museum. A nice, small museum with a great many surfboardds from all eras. One was a wooden one probably owned by Duke Kahanamoku.

A highlight is the Bethany Hamilton exhibit. She is the young surfer who lost an arm to a shark attack while surfing in Hawaii. The actual chomped surfboard is exhibited as well as her swim suit. A video shows her surfing after the incident. An amazing young woman.

Very friendly staff. Decent price. surf music playing in the background.
Written 23 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jeff C
Phoenix, AZ37 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2021 • Friends
Came through downtown Oceanside and checked out the history of surfing. Really a worthwhile stop for people who are in the area interested in learning more about surfing. Thanks to Tom for the stories about surfing on the visit.
Written 26 February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Judy C
77 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2021 • Couples
We stop by the California Surf Museum when we are in town, enjoy saying hi to Gabe who is one of the workers there. Like the little shop area also, love buying in this little shop. If you have not been you must go, it is a great place to visit and revisit like we do.
Written 5 February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Patti W
Renton, WA672 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
I thought no better time to actually learn something about surfing since I'd been enjoying watching surfers at nearby beach. This museum is just a few blocks from the Oceanside pier. Senior entrance free is only $3. Its a small museum space that is well laid out with interesting exhibits of showing progression of surf boards from the traditional to boards to those fitted for any style of traveling on or through a wave. There is a wonderful video and visual display of NON traditional surfers, Very interesting exhibit about data collection along CA coast of sea conditions, showing how wind, temperature and tides contribute to predicting best time to hit the surf. I learned so much. The docents are very enthusiastic about sharing their knowledge.
Written 23 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

David
Minneapolis, MN2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
Well worth seeing. History of boards, surfing, and surfers. There was also a nice exhibit featuring Bethany Hamilton, the inspirational surfer who survived a shark attack and kept surfing.

And they play cool surf music!

The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. They are eager to answer questions and provide information.

Fun gift shop, too.
Written 20 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

101BikeGuy
Oceanside, CA53 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
Evert time I visit this Museum I am impressed by how well the exhibits tell a story, often untold. Worth the effort if your in the area.
Written 7 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ann S
Baltimore, MD14 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2019
We really enjoyed learning about the history of surfing and especially, enjoyed learning about adaptive surfing- everyone can surf. What a great inclusive message. We also liked the Vintage Hawaiian Shirts, what a clever idea. The price is right and it can take 30 minutes to an hour. Great organization!
Written 1 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Dave
9 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2019 • Solo
I happen to be walking from the pier and happened to find this really cool surfing mueseum.They guy that ran the place was a long time surfer and was doing a tour of the mueseum for some special need kids.The tour was far more interesting then I thought and learn a lot.The exhibit with Brittany Hamilton was very informative..the girl who lost her arm by a shark and went onto win the surfing championship 3 years later.They even had her board with a section missing from the attack and her bathing suit.The self guide tour isn't very long ..check it out!!!
Written 14 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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CALIFORNIA SURF MUSEUM: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about California Surf Museum

California Surf Museum is open:
  • Thu - Thu 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
  • Fri - Wed 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM