Crowd & Localism
About as uncrowded as East Coast surfing gets. The effort of the crossing keeps the masses away, and there is no local contingent to navigate. Give the place the respect that kind of solitude deserves and leave no trace.
Georgia, Georgia, United States
Little Tybee Island
31.967, -80.870
Edited by Tom Jackson
Verified May 2026
Editor-verifiedCross-checked against Surfline
At a glance
- Little Tybee Island is a a-frame over beach, shifting sandbar beach peaks, rights and lefts.
- Beginner to advanced ability, working 2-6 ft.
- Peak February, March, April, August, September, October, water 14-29°C.
A-frame · BeachBeginner → Advanced2–6 ftFeb – Oct
A shifting sandbar setup south of Tybee Island, Georgia, Little Tybee picks up more swell than its mainland neighbor and rewards the effort of getting there. ESE and ENE hurricane swells are the primary drivers, with the bars best read at mid to high tide on W or NW winds. Size runs knee to head high on a good day, nothing intimidating on its own, but the channel crossing demands respect: strong tidal currents can sweep you out to sea if you paddle across on the wrong tide. This is open to everyone from beginners to advanced riders, with zero crowd pressure, but the isolation is a double-edged sword. Bottom: sand. Season: late summer, early fall, early spring. Consistency: moderate, swell-dependent. Paddle across on a neutral tide and tell someone your plan before you leave the beach.
Wave fit
Skill suited
Beginner → Advanced
BegIntAdv
Best months
Feb – Oct
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Character
Shifting sandbar beach peaks, rights and lefts.
Conditions
When it worksHazards
Strong currents and miscellaneous sea creatures. No one around to help you if you injure yourself so take precaution.
Trip planning
Quick facts
Water temp
14° to 29°C
Wetsuit
Boardies to 3/2
What to bring
- Longboard or funboard for the typical small surf
- Fish or shortboard when hurricane swell pushes head high
- SUP for the channel crossing on flat days
Lineup
Mellow lineup
Where it sits
Location
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About this break
What it's actually like
Access & Facilities
Reach Little Tybee by kayak, boat, or a half-mile paddle across the channel from Tybee Island. Time the crossing to a neutral tide to avoid being swept by tidal flow. There are zero facilities: no water, no food, no first aid. Pack everything you need and treat any injury as a serious logistical problem. Strong currents and miscellaneous sea creatures round out the hazard list.
Nearby Alternatives
Tybee Island itself breaks on similar ESE and ENE swells and is far more accessible if conditions are marginal or the channel looks sketchy. Further up the Georgia and South Carolina coast, other beach breaks catch hurricane groundswell during the same late-summer window.
10-day swell, wind and tide
Little Tybee Island surf forecast
Loading forecast...
Forecast by Windy.app
Stay nearby
Camps within boat range
Browse all United States surf camps
No vetted camps within boat range of Little Tybee Island yet.
More breaks in Georgia
If this isn't your wave
Wolf Island
mellow shifting sand beach peaks · A-frame · Beach
Beginner → Advanced
Sugar Shack
shifting sand-point peaks, lefts and rights · A-frame · Beach
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North Jetty
jetty-refracted left peeling off inlet tip · Left · Mixed
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18th St. Jetty
jetty-influenced beach break lefts with current · A-frame · Beach
Beginner → Advanced
St. Catherines Island
storm-driven sand-bottom beachbreak peaks · Varies · Beach
Beginner → Intermediate
South Tybee Sandbars
mellow offshore sandbar peaks, long rolling walls · A-frame · Beach
Beginner → Advanced
Wassaw Island/South End
mellow beach peaks, rights and lefts · A-frame · Beach
Beginner → Advanced
Harbor Marker Buoys
grinding open-water sandbar peaks, rights and lefts · A-frame · Beach
Intermediate → Advanced
Sea Island
short-ride beach peaks, rights and lefts · A-frame · Beach
Beginner → Advanced
Cumberland Island
mellow short-section beach peaks · A-frame · Beach
Beginner → Advanced
Cabretta Island
sandspit left point and beachbreak peaks · A-frame · Beach
Beginner → Advanced
Blackbeard Island
mellow sand-bottom beach peaks, lefts and rights · A-frame · Beach
Beginner → Advanced
Plan a trip
Build a trip around Little Tybee Island
Tell us your dates, skill, and crew. We match camps within boat range and forward inquiries.
Frequently asked
What you need to know before paddling out at Little Tybee Island
What skill level is Little Tybee Island suited for?
Little Tybee Island is a beach bottom, shifting sandbar beach peaks, rights and lefts, break suited for beginner through advanced surfers. Beginners can give it a go on the smaller end of the size range.
What size does Little Tybee Island work best at?
Working size is 2 to 6 ft. Below 2 ft the swell goes flat. Above 6 ft it tends to close out.
When is the best season to surf Little Tybee Island?
Little Tybee Island fires from February, March, April, August, September, October. Outside that window the swell window narrows and the lineup goes quiet.
What swell direction does Little Tybee Island need?
Little Tybee Island switches on with swells out of the NE to SE (45 to 135 degrees).
What are the main hazards at Little Tybee Island?
Main hazards at Little Tybee Island: Strong currents and miscellaneous sea creatures. No one around to help you if you injure yourself so take precaution..
What type of wave is Little Tybee Island?
Little Tybee Island is a a-frame-breaking wave over beach. Shifting sandbar beach peaks, rights and lefts.
Sources
- Surfline
Little Tybee Island
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