Folly Beach, South Carolina
All the information you need to plan a trip to beautiful Folly Beach, SC, for a vacation or a day. Enjoy the sandy beach, find a hotel or beach house, great restaurants, area attractions, and more. Located just 20 minutes from Downtown Charleston, a stay on Folly Beach offers something for just about everyone!
Locals refer to the island as the “Edge of America.” The island is known for its laid-back feel and friendly residents. Several restaurants offer outdoor dining with views of the Atlantic Ocean. Shop along Center St. for souvenirs, beachwear, island gifts, and memorabilia. Most of the island’s restaurants, bars, and shopping are downtown around Center St.
The newly renovated Pier reopened on December 26th, 2022. If you plan to fish while you are at Folly, be sure to buy a South Carolina fishing license.
Find out about Folly Beach Parking Regulations. Best Charleston Beaches For Families to Visit.
Folly Beach Hotels
Find a hotel on Folly Beach, South Carolina. There are several hotels on the Island where you can stay while visiting. These hotels are located on the beach or just a short walk away. Luckily, anywhere you stay is just a few blocks from the beach! If you prefer other accommodations, there are many incredible Oceanfront beach houses on Folly’s long, beautiful white sand beach for rent. Use the Booking.com search box to find your perfect vacation rental.
Folly Beach Restaurants
Folly Beach restaurants range from casual beachfront bars and seafood shacks to rooftop dining and longtime local favorites along Center Street. Many visitors spend the day surfing, fishing, or relaxing on the beach before heading into town for fresh seafood, tacos, burgers, oysters, and live music. Popular Folly Beach restaurants include Lost Dog Cafe, Rita’s Seaside Grille, Taco Boy, Chico Feo, Snapper Jacks, and Pier 101 Restaurant and Bar near the fishing pier.
The restaurant scene on Folly Beach is known for its laid-back atmosphere and strong local character. Outdoor patios, waterfront views, and live music are common throughout the island, especially during spring and summer weekends. Dinner crowds can become heavy during peak beach season, particularly near sunset and on weekends, so earlier dining times are often easier for parking and shorter waits.
Current Folly Beach Restaurant Crowd Levels
Estimated based on typical dining activity, time of day, day of week, and seasonal beach traffic.
FB County Park
FB County Park is located at 1100 W. Ashley Avenue. The County Park offers easy beach access, a boardwalk, dressing rooms, showers, umbrellas, chair rentals, parking, and more! The Pelican Watch Shelter is an excellent beachside venue that is available to rent for events.
Also, Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve is located on the island's North end and is a must-see. The Preserve is a hidden gem. It offers a beautiful stretch of beach and an incredible view of the Morris Island Lighthouse, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Inlet. There is also a small "boneyard" beach.
Find weather and tide information for Folly. Shark Teeth Near Charleston, SC
The Washout and Surfing Information
The "Washout" is a popular surfing destination for locals and visitors. Although you can surf all along the island, the Washout offers a consistent break that surfers of all experience levels can enjoy. The Washout begins on the 1400 block of E. Ashley Avenue. Watch a live Folly Beach surf camera or learn the current surf conditions. If you are visiting the island and want to surf, check out the Washout!
See the Folly Beach alcohol rules.
Charleston Attractions and Tours
Charleston is just a short drive from Folly Beach and offers many attractions and tours. Try a Ghost Tour, Walking Tour, Harbor Cruise, visit a beautiful plantation, and more. Use the Charleston Tour Pass to get the best deals on admission and skip the lines! Using a Tour Pass is easy. Up to a 40% discount on regular admission prices.
Although there is no Folly Beach Lighthouse, the Morris Island Lighthouse is located just off the North end of the island.
Use our guide to discover more Charleston beaches open to the public.
More Charleston Beaches Guide
Easily find out about any one of the beautiful Charleston area beaches:
Isle of Palms Beach Guide
Sullivan’s Island Beach Guide
Folly Beach Guide
Edisto Beach Guide
Find out more about visiting another popular vacation destination, The Isle of Palms, SC.
Find out about golf near Folly Beach or how to rent a stand-up paddleboard to explore the creeks and rivers.
Visit one of the Edisto Beaches on Edisto Island. Located only about an hour's drive away. Check out this lovely beach and town if you have the chance. Find the best restaurants on Edisto Island, SC.
Try dining on Shem Creek located in Mt. Pleasant, SC. Shem Creek restaurants offer an incredible waterfront dining experience.
Isle of Palms restaurants on the water, shopping on IOP Front Beach, churches on IOP, Wild Dunes Resort golf courses, and more.