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Charleston County, South Carolina

Folly Beach, SC: The Complete Visitor’s Guide

WHERE TO STAY

Most visitors stay in a beach house or condo. Start with the kind of place you want, then check dates and prices on each page.

Boardwalk to an oceanfront beach house on Folly Beach

Oceanfront homes

Step off the deck onto the sand.

Oceanfront rentals
Pool and patio at a Folly Beach vacation home

Homes with pools

Private and shared pools near the beach.

Rentals with pools
Folly Beach vacation home with a lawn and palm trees

Pet-friendly homes

Bring the dog, plus the beach rules.

Pet-friendly rentals
Raised Folly Beach beach house with wraparound decks

Large homes

Houses that sleep 10 or more.

Large homes
Oceanfront condo building with balconies on Folly Beach

Condos

Oceanfront villas near the pier.

Condo rentals
Tides Folly Beach hotel overlooking the beach and ocean

Hotels & inns

Tides, boutique inns and cottages.

Compare hotels
See all Folly Beach vacation rentals

Places to see

Folly Beach Points of Interest

From the pier at the center of town to the lighthouse off the north end, these are the Folly Beach landmarks worth planning a day around.

  • Folly Beach Pier stretching into the Atlantic

    Folly Beach Pier

    The 1,049-foot pier at 101 E. Arctic Ave. is free to walk, with day fishing passes from $7.

    Hours, fees & fishing
  • Morris Island Lighthouse standing offshore near Folly Beach

    Morris Island Lighthouse

    The 161-foot tower, finished in 1876, now stands in the ocean just north of Folly at the mouth of Charleston Harbor.

    History & where to see it
  • Surfer riding a wave at Folly Beach

    The Washout & Surf Spots

    The Washout is Folly’s best-known break, with some of the best waves on the South Carolina coast. Not for beginners.

    Where to paddle out
  • Beach and dunes at Folly Beach County Park

    Folly Beach County Park

    A wide, quieter beach at the island’s far west end, with dunes, marsh views and chair and umbrella rentals.

    Park guide
  • Fossil shark teeth found on Folly Beach

    Shark Tooth Hunting

    Search the wet sand along the shell line at low tide. Early mornings and the days after a storm are best.

    Where & when to look
  • Loggerhead sea turtle on Folly Beach

    Sea Turtle Nesting

    Loggerheads nest on Folly from May 1 to October 31. Keep the beach dark at night so hatchlings find the ocean.

    Nesting season guide

Welcome to Folly

About Folly Beach

Twenty minutes from downtown Charleston, Folly Beach is a six-mile barrier island with a personality all its own.

Days here follow the rhythm of the ocean: check the Folly Beach tide chart and today’s weather to time a low-tide walk for shells and shark teeth, stroll the 1,049-foot Folly Beach Pier as anglers cast for the day’s catch, or paddle out at the Washout, the island’s favorite surf break. Just off the north end, the Morris Island Lighthouse rises from the water, a 19th-century landmark and a favorite with photographers.

Back in town, Center Street’s mix of seafood spots, beach bars, and live music keeps things lively long after sunset, so browse Folly Beach restaurants and the events calendar to plan your evenings. When you’re ready to stay a while, find your place among Folly’s vacation rentals and hotels and inns, and brush up on parking and beach rules before you arrive.

Featured Stories

UPCOMING FOLLY BEACH EVENTS

Festivals, parades and island traditions coming up next. See the Folly Beach events calendar for the rest of the year.

WHERE TO EAT ON FOLLY BEACH

From oceanfront seafood and oysters to breakfast, tacos, pizza and late-night bites, compare menus, prices and hours in our Folly Beach restaurant guide.

See all restaurants

FOLLY HISTORY

Know before you go

Folly Beach Safety & Beach Tips

What to know about the ocean, wildlife and the beach itself before you set up for the day. For dogs, alcohol, parking and other local rules, see the Folly Beach rules.