It sits 12 miles south of downtown Charleston, about 25 minutes by car, and locals call it the Edge of America without a trace of irony.

This guide covers the pier, the surf, Center Street, the Morris Island Lighthouse walk, and the parking and beach rules that get more visitors ticketed here than anywhere else in the county.

Quick Summary

Best For	Surfing, pier fishing, walkable beach town, sunrise photography, groups
Top Highlights	Edwin S. Taylor Folly Beach Fishing Pier, the Washout, Center Street, Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve, Morris Island Lighthouse
Time Needed	A full day, or an evening if you are here for dinner and the pier
Best Time to Visit	September and October for warm water, small crowds, and the best surf
Getting Around	Car to get here, then walk. Center Street to the pier is a five-minute stroll
Parking Alert	All four tires must be off the pavement. Fines start at $25 and city ordinance fines run as high as $1,092
Rules Alert	No alcohol on the beach, no glass, no smoking, and it is enforced

Table of Contents

1. Where Is Folly Beach and How Do You Get There?
2. The Folly Beach Pier
3. Surfing at Folly Beach and the Washout
4. Morris Island Lighthouse and Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve
5. Center Street: Where to Eat and Drink
6. Parking at Folly Beach Without Getting a Ticket
7. Folly Beach Rules You Will Actually Get Fined For
8. Bringing a Dog to Folly Beach
9. When to Visit Folly Beach
10. Frequently Asked Questions

Where Is Folly Beach and How Do You Get There?

Folly Beach is the closest beach to downtown Charleston, about 12 miles south and roughly 25 minutes by car straight down Folly Road. It is a six-mile barrier island, and unlike every other beach in the area it has a real town attached: a main street with restaurants, surf shops, and bars, all within walking distance of the sand.

That combination is what makes Folly different. It is the only beach near Charleston where you can park once and spend the entire day and evening on foot. On Sullivan's Island you will hunt for a legal spot. On Kiawah you will be turned away at 10 a.m. On Folly you can eat breakfast, surf, nap, shower, and be at a bar with live music by seven without moving your car.

The main drag is Center Street, which runs perpendicular to the ocean and dead-ends at the pier. Almost everything worth doing sits on it or one block off it. East Ashley Avenue runs northeast toward the Washout and the lighthouse preserve, and West Ashley Avenue runs the other way toward the county park.

The Folly Beach Pier

The Edwin S. Taylor Folly Beach Fishing Pier is the centerpiece of the island and the second-longest pier on the East Coast. It runs 1,049 feet into the Atlantic, is 25 feet wide, and sits about 22 feet above sea level, resting on 228 concrete pilings. You will find it at 101 East Arctic Avenue, at the foot of Center Street. The current structure is newer than most visitors realize. The rebuilt pier reopened on December 26, 2022, replacing the previous wooden one, and it was engineered for a service life of 65 years or more. At the far end sits a diamond-shaped platform of roughly 7,500 square feet, which is where everyone ends up standing.

Anglers work the railings for king mackerel, red drum, bluefish, and whiting. A South Carolina fishing license is required, and the pier sells them on site along with bait and tackle. Covered sections with benches give you shade when the afternoon turns serious. Dolphins are a regular sight from both railings. Pier hours run 8 a.m. to sunset daily, though they shift seasonally, so check ahead if you're planning around a specific time. Pier 101 operates a restaurant and open-air bar at the base.

The event worth planning around is the Moonlight Mixer, a shag dance held on the pier on select Friday nights through the summer, with DJs playing beach music. It is a genuinely Carolina thing, it is open to everyone, and it is far more fun than a description of it can convey. Check the Charleston County Parks schedule for current dates and tickets.

Local Tip: Get to the pier right at opening, 8 a.m., rather than showing up at sunset. Sunset is the crowded shift. At opening you get the diamond platform close to empty, the light on the water is better for photographs, and the fishing is livelier before the heat sets in. Then walk back down Center Street for breakfast before the town wakes up.

Surfing at Folly Beach and the Washout

Folly Beach has the most consistent surf in South Carolina, and it is the reason the island has a surf culture that is genuine rather than decorative. Boards outnumber umbrellas on a good morning in October.

The best-known break is the Washout, a stretch along East Ashley Avenue where Hurricane Hugo removed an entire block of beachfront homes in 1989 and never gave it back. What the storm left is a flat, open shoreline with nothing to block the wind, and it has been the island's signature surf spot ever since. The area around the pier also breaks reliably.

If you have never surfed, Folly is where you would learn. Several surf schools and shops operate on and around Center Street, renting boards and running lessons for beginners.

The rules matter here and they are specific:

• Surfing without a leash is prohibited, at all times, everywhere.
• From May 15 to September 15, surfing is prohibited between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. in the designated swimming zone, which runs from 2nd Street East to 3rd Street West.
• From September 16 to May 14, surfing is allowed anywhere on the beach, except that it is always prohibited within 200 feet of the fishing pier.

That summer restriction is why serious local surfers treat autumn as the real season. The water is still warm into October, the crowds thin out after Labor Day, and the entire beach opens back up.

Rip currents at Folly are strong and common. Charleston County Parks provides lifeguards at the West End County Park and along the beachfront from 2nd Street East to 3rd Street West from May through Labor Day, which leaves most of the six miles unguarded. If you get caught in a rip, do not swim against it. Swim parallel to the shore until the pull releases, then angle back in. If you cannot escape it, float and tread water rather than exhausting yourself.

Morris Island Lighthouse and Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve

At the northeastern tip of the island stands the Morris Island Lighthouse, a 161-foot tower that now sits several hundred yards offshore, completely surrounded by water. It was not built that way. The land around it eroded, largely as a consequence of the jetty system built to keep Charleston Harbor navigable, and the ocean simply moved in around it.

You reach the viewing point through Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve at the end of East Ashley Avenue. A paved path of roughly half a mile leads toward the shore, then a short sandy track through the dunes opens onto the beach with the lighthouse straight ahead. The preserve opens at 7 a.m.

This end of the island feels nothing like the main beach. Driftwood, wide open sand, marsh and tidal creek on one side, and almost nobody around at dawn. The Post and Courier's photographers named it the best sunrise spot in Charleston, and having stood out there at 6:45 in November with frost on the boardwalk and no one else in sight, I would not argue with them.

Do not swim here. The currents in the inlet are strong, the beach is unguarded, and the water between you and the lighthouse is deceptive.

The tower is no longer operational and cannot be entered. A nonprofit called Save The Light has been working to stabilize the foundation and shore up the structure against further erosion. Guided boat tours from area marinas can bring you closer to it from the water.

Local Tip: Bring shoes you can walk a half-mile in and check the tide before you go. At high tide the beach at the preserve narrows considerably, and the photograph everyone wants, with the lighthouse framed by open sand, is a low-tide shot. Tide charts are free from NOAA and will make or break the trip.

Center Street: Where to Eat and Drink

Center Street is the whole town: a few blocks of restaurants, bars, surf shops, and boutiques running from the main road down to the pier. You can walk the length of it in ten minutes and eat well the entire way.

Lost Dog CaféLost Dog Café at 106 West Huron Avenue is the local breakfast institution, serving coffee and all-day breakfast, which means you can sleep in and still get eggs. The eggs Benedict comes topped with fried green tomatoes.

Chico Feo is the island's open-air, order-at-the-window spot, and Taco Boy sits just off the main strip with a courtyard that fills up fast on weekend evenings. Pier 101, at the base of the pier, puts you over the sand with a drink in hand, and drinks are permitted on the pier even though they are banned on the beach.

The Tides Folly Beach at 1 Center Street is the island's oceanfront hotel and the only real hotel on Folly, with a rooftop bar that is the best sunset seat in town if you do not want to fight for space on the pier.

Beyond restaurants, Center Street holds several surf shops, a scattering of vintage and gift stores, and the Folly Beach History Museum, which is small, free, and worth twenty minutes if the afternoon turns hot.

Hours shift seasonally on Folly, more so than on the mainland. Call ahead in winter.

Parking at Folly Beach Without Getting a Ticket

Folly Beach writes more parking tickets than any other beach in the Charleston area, and it is not because the rules are unfair. It is because visitors do not read them.

The rules, straight from the city:

• No parking on the roadway. All four tires must be completely off the pavement. If white lines are painted, your tires must be outside the white line.
• Park with the flow of traffic. No parking facing oncoming traffic, which is the violation people commit most often without realizing it.
• No parking in a crosswalk, and no parking within 20 feet of an intersection.

Parking fines start at $25 and escalate from there, reaching as high as $1,000 for parking in a handicapped space. City of Folly Beach ordinance fines more broadly run up to $1,092. Enforcement is active and year-round, and the city runs a dedicated parking website at parkfollybeach.org. For paid options, Folly Beach County Park at the west end has 225 spaces at $15 on weekdays and $25 on weekends and holidays in summer, and it is covered free by a Charleston County Parks Gold Pass. It typically fills by 10:30 a.m. on summer weekends. The city also operates lots on West Ashley Avenue, which Charleston County Parks specifically directs overflow toward when the county lot fills.

Local Tip: If the county park lot is full, do not sit in the turn lane hoping. Go directly to the city lots on West Ashley Avenue. Almost nobody checks them first, they are a short walk from the sand, and you will be on the beach twenty minutes before the people still queuing.

Folly Beach Rules You Will Actually Get Fined For

Folly is relaxed about almost everything and strict about a specific list. Ordinance fines run up to $1,092, so it is worth knowing which is which.

• No alcohol on the beach, possession or consumption. This surprises people who assume a surf town would be casual about it. Beach patrol enforces it. Drinks are allowed on the pier.
• No smoking on the beach, the accesses, the walkovers, or the paid beach-access parking areas. This explicitly includes both sides of East Ashley Avenue at the Washout.
• No glass anywhere on the beach.
• No plastic bags, balloons, or styrofoam.
• No open fires, grilling, or fireworks, at any time.
• No camping on the beach or anywhere on Folly Island.
• Lights out during loggerhead nesting season. Nesting runs May 1 to October 31, and lights that illuminate the front beach are prohibited between 10 p.m. and dawn. Do not use flashlights or phone lights on the sand at night in season.
• Fill in any hole you dig and take your trash to the containers at the beach accesses.

The turtle rule is the one worth taking personally rather than legally. A hatchling navigates toward the brightest horizon, which should be the moon on the water. A phone screen is enough to send it inland instead.

Bringing a Dog to Folly Beach

Dogs are not allowed on Folly Beach at all between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. from May 1 through September 30. Outside those hours and outside those months, leashed dogs are welcome and there is no permit requirement for visitors, which makes Folly considerably easier than Sullivan's Island next door.

Three things to know:

• Dogs must be leashed and under control at all times when they are permitted on the beach.
• Dogs are never allowed on the pier, in any season.
• Cleaning up after your dog is required by ordinance, and the fine for violating the beach hours can run into the hundreds.

The practical version: from October through April, Folly is one of the easiest dog beaches in the Lowcountry. From May through September, it is a dawn or evening proposition only.

Charleston.com is a local destination guide for Charleston and the South Carolina Lowcountry, publishing first-hand coverage of the region's beaches, restaurants, events, and neighborhoods.

When to Visit Folly Beach

The best time to visit Folly Beach is September and October. The water stays warm well past Labor Day, the summer crowds leave, the surfing restrictions in the swimming zone lift on September 16, and parking stops being a competitive sport.

Season	What it is like
March to May	Cool water, mild air, small crowds. Good for the lighthouse walk and Center Street. Dog rules relax until May 1
June to August	Peak everything. Warmest water, biggest crowds, tightest parking, surfing restricted in the swim zone midday
September to October	The local favorite. Warm water, thin crowds, full beach open to surfers, best light for photography
November to February	Quiet, cold, and beautiful. Empty beaches, off-season restaurant hours, the best sunrise conditions of the year

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Folly Beach worth visiting?

Yes. Folly Beach is the closest beach to downtown Charleston at about 12 miles, and it is the only one in the area with a walkable town attached. It has the best surf in South Carolina, a 1,049-foot fishing pier, and the Morris Island Lighthouse at its northeastern end.

How far is Folly Beach from Charleston?

Folly Beach is about 12 miles south of downtown Charleston, roughly 25 minutes by car straight down Folly Road. It is the closest ocean beach to the Charleston peninsula.

Can you drink alcohol on Folly Beach?

No. Possession and consumption of alcohol are prohibited on Folly Beach and the rule is actively enforced by beach patrol. Alcohol is permitted at the bar on the Folly Beach Pier and at restaurants on Center Street.

How much is parking at Folly Beach?

Folly Beach County Park charges $15 on weekdays and $25 on weekends and holidays in summer, and it is free with a Charleston County Parks Gold Pass. Street parking is free but strictly regulated: all four tires must be off the pavement, and fines start at $25.

Can you bring dogs to Folly Beach?

Yes, but not between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. from May 1 through September 30. At all other times leashed dogs are welcome, no permit is required for visitors, and dogs are never allowed on the pier at any time of year.

Can you surf at Folly Beach?

Yes, and Folly has the most consistent surf in South Carolina. Surfing without a leash is prohibited year-round. From May 15 to September 15, surfing is not permitted between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. in the swimming zone from 2nd Street East to 3rd Street West, and it is always prohibited within 200 feet of the pier.

Can you visit the Morris Island Lighthouse?

Not directly. The lighthouse now stands several hundred yards offshore and cannot be entered. You can view it from the beach at Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve at the end of East Ashley Avenue, reached by a paved path of about half a mile, or get closer on a guided boat tour from an area marina.

What is the Washout at Folly Beach?

The Washout is a stretch of shoreline along East Ashley Avenue where Hurricane Hugo destroyed a block of beachfront homes in 1989. The open, unobstructed coastline it left behind became Folly Beach's best-known surf break.

Related Guides

• Things to do in Charleston, SC, the full guide to attractions, tours, and activities across the Lowcountry
• The Folly Beach area guide, for where to stay and what is on the island
• Areas of Charleston, neighborhood and island guides for the whole region
• Where to eat and drink in Charleston, including the beach town restaurants worth planning around
• The Weekend Buzz, updated weekly with events across Charleston and the beaches

About the Author

Robert Smith is the owner of Charleston.com and the founder of The Chart Group, a Johns Island media company that has spent years producing photography, video, and web work for Lowcountry businesses. He writes from first-hand experience: the restaurants he has eaten at, the shows he has seen, and the trips he has actually taken. He has walked the Lighthouse Inlet path at dawn more times than is reasonable for a man who does not surf.

Plan the Rest of Your Trip

Folly is one of six beaches worth knowing around Charleston, and each one suits a different kind of day. For attractions, tours, and everything else worth building a day around, start with our full guide to things to do in Charleston, SC.