Best Beaches in the Southeast USA: Folly Beach County Park – Charleston, South Carolina

ByLisa Dworkin Hours

Beach Personality: Pristine Public Beach

The two most popular beaches in Folly Beach provide very different experiences. The beaches themselves are physically the same – a long stretch of Atlantic shoreline fronted by soft, yet walkable, powdery, taupe sand and clean water warmed by the Gulf Stream – but their character isn’t. Folly Beach County Park is the quieter, less crowded, dog friendly,  more nature oriented of the two. If this is the type of beach you like, you will definitely enjoy Folly Beach County Park. I know I did!

For more information on Folly Beach County Park, visit the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission’s Folly Beach web pages at http://www.ccprc.com/index.aspx?NID=61.

Beach Activities:

  • Lounging
  • Swimming
  • Boogie boarding
  • Paddle boarding
  • Walking on the beach
  • Skim boarding
  • Kite flying
  • Bird watching
  • Surf fishing (license required)

Beach Amenities:

  • Public bathrooms – Yes.
  • Showers – Yes.
  • Parking – Yes, for a fee.
  • Food – Yes, a snack bar is open seasonally (see lifeguard schedule below and Charleston County Schools’ spring break).
  • Lifeguard – Yes, Memorial Day to mid-August. Weekends only in May and mid-August to the end of September.
  • Dogs allowed on the beach – Yes, leashed only with hours varying by season. See http://www.ccprc.com/index.aspx?NID=61 for details.

Beach Rentals:

Chairs and umbrellas are available for rent at the beach seasonally (see lifeguard schedule above and Charleston County Schools’ spring break).

Summer Rental LLC (843-724-9822) rents chairs, umbrellas, sun shades, coolers, surfboards, boogie boards, baby joggers, baby strollers, and tents.

Directions:

Folly Beach County Park is a convenient drive, about 25 minutes, from Charleston South Carolina. Its address is 1100 West Ashley Avenue, Folly Beach, SC 29439. From Charleston take Lockwood Boulevard/James Island Expressway (Route 30). Turn left at Folly Road/Folly Beach Road/Center Street (State Highway 171). Turn left at West Ashley Avenue. Continue to Folly Beach County Park.

To many joyful beach experiences!

— Lisa Dworkin

Photos courtesy of Lisa Dworkin

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