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California Surf Museum
Photo: California Surf Museum via Google
Budget-friendlyMuseums & Learning · Indoor

California Surf Museum

Oceanside, CA

~$10 adult, $8 seniors/students; kids free

Get directionsOfficial site →
Simir Shah

By Simir Shah

★★★★★4.8(448 Google reviews)

What parents say

AI summary of 4 Google reviews — not a first-hand visit. How we write these

Small. Reviewers describe one main room packed with boards, so treat it as a short stop rather than an outing. Several say it holds up even for people who do not surf, and staff talk visitors through the exhibits. The shark-bitten board on display is the piece people remember. There is a gift shop.

Small museum tracing surfing history, founded in 1986 and settled in its current Oceanside pier-adjacent home since 1991. Vintage boards and memorabilia trace the sport's evolution, including a display on Bethany Hamilton, the pro surfer who lost an arm in a shark attack and returned to competition.

Good for

  • Ages 10+

Happening near here

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312 Pier View Wy, Oceanside, CA 92054, USA

(760) 721-6876

Closed nowToday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Hours via Google — confirm before a special trip.

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What visitors say

  • Jorge Martinez★★★★★

    Small but packed with boards — a real treasure for surf lovers. Highlights include the famous board bitten by the shark that belonged to Bethany Hamilton, which is incredible to see up close. The staff were super friendly and shared lots of local stories along with great details about the exhibits. Definitely worth a visit!

    5 months ago

  • Richard S★★★★★

    I am not a surfer, but my son is. We paid him a visit on the west coast, and decided to stop in here when we were exploring. Pleasant surprise!! Amazing exhibits, informative staff, and cool gift shop! Loved it. If you're a surfer, and even if you're not, it's well worth the visit to check out some of the memorabilia and cool stories behind them.

    4 months ago

Showing 2 of 5 Google reviews · Read them all on Google Maps

Nearby places

Oceanside PierOceanside · Beaches & Coast<1 miCarlsbad Historical Society at the Magee HouseCarlsbad · Arts & Culture3 miCarlsbad VillageCarlsbad · Shopping & Treats3 miGeorgina Cole LibraryCarlsbad · Museums & Learning3 miThe Shoppes at CarlsbadCarlsbad · Shopping & Treats3 miCarlsbad State Beach (Tamarack)Carlsbad · Beaches & Coast4 mi

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