Onslow Beach

📍 Local Knowledge

Onslow Beach (Camp Lejeune) is an exposed beach-break on the Marine Corps base that reliably offers surf when windswell and groundswells converge. Currently, waves are knee-to-thigh high in the morning, building into waist-high by the afternoon thanks to a fresh windswell driven by northeast winds. This spot performs best in fall—especially September through November—when longer-period southeast and northeast swells arrive, often groomed by offshore winds from the west. The shifting sandbars create peaky lefts and rights, best surfed around low to mid tide. Access remains restricted to military personnel and their guests, resulting in lighter crowds. Surfers should stay mindful of rip currents and undertow, which can intensify during larger swells.