7-Day Folly Beach Tide Table
Showing: Ocean side (Folly Island outer coast). Heights are in feet above mean lower low water (see below).
Tide predictions: NOAA Tides & Currents (Folly Island outer coast, TEC3127; Folly River Bridge, 8666652). Predictions don’t account for wind or storms, which can push water higher or lower.
King Tide Dates for the Next 12 Months
These are the highest predicted tides on the ocean side over the next year, often called king tides. Expect a narrow beach at high tide and possible flooding on low-lying roads, especially with an onshore wind.
- Oct 26–29, 2026: highest 6.7 ft on Tuesday, Oct 27 at 8:58 a.m.
- Nov 24–26, 2026: highest 6.6 ft on Tuesday, Nov 24 at 6:51 a.m.
- Jul 4, 2027: highest 6.5 ft on Sunday, Jul 4 at 9:01 p.m.
- Aug 1–2, 2027: highest 6.6 ft on Monday, Aug 2 at 8:44 p.m.
- Aug 30–31, 2027: highest 6.6 ft on Monday, Aug 30 at 7:31 p.m.
- Sep 29–Oct 2, 2027: highest 6.8 ft on Friday, Oct 1 at 9:23 a.m.
Folly Beach Tide Tips
Folly Beach has two high tides and two low tides a day, about six hours apart, and the times shift about 50 minutes later each day. Here’s how to use them:
- Shelling and shark teeth: Go in the hour or two around low tide, when the most sand is exposed. The lowest tides of the month (look for heights near or below 0 ft in the table) are the best. See our guides to finding shark teeth and shelling on Folly.
- Walking to the lighthouse: The walk from the east end of the island toward the Morris Island Lighthouse view is easiest around low tide, when there’s more beach to walk on. Keep an eye on the incoming tide so you’re not cut off on the way back.
- Fishing: Many anglers prefer moving water, a few hours on either side of high or low tide. Fishing the Folly River or the marsh? Switch the chart above to Folly River times. Planning to fish from the pier? See our Folly Beach Pier guide.
- Kayaking and boating: Use the Folly River times, and plan to paddle with the current when you can. High tide opens up more of the creeks and marsh. See exploring Folly’s waterways by kayak.
- Surfing: The tide changes how waves break at each spot, so check the tide along with the surf height on our Folly Beach weather page and our list of top surf spots.
- Beach setups: At high tide, especially during king tides, the beach can get very narrow. Set up well above the high tide line and check the rip current risk before you swim. Learn how to spot a rip current.
How to Read the Tide Chart
Tide heights are measured in feet above mean lower low water (MLLW), the average of each day’s lowest tide. A low tide of 0.2 ft is a little lower than normal, a negative number is an extra-low tide, and a high tide of 6 ft or more is higher than usual. A typical high tide on Folly runs 5 to 6 feet, and the highest tides of the year, called king tides, can flood low-lying roads, especially with an onshore wind.
Times and heights come from NOAA’s predictions for the ocean side of Folly Island and the Folly River bridge, shown in local time. Predictions are based on the moon and sun, so strong winds, storms and heavy rain can make the actual water level higher or lower. For today’s forecast, water temperature and rip current risk, see Folly Beach weather.
Planning a beach day or a longer trip? See our picks for Folly Beach hotels and vacation rentals, things to do and the beach rules.