Fantastic surfing beach. Very laid back. Not at all crowded. Even on a Sunday parking is not a problem especially if you drive further in away from the central area with the long boardwalk, restaurants and shopping. Only gripe being it's still cold and one of the days we were there it was super windy. read more

Folly Beach - Beaches Near Me

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Really love this old style beach town. Friendly people. Slow cadence. Great sunsets and sunrises. Peir to fish and walk. Surfers on small waves. read more

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Wonderful location - 4 West offers paid parking ($5/2 hrs), but find a spot on the street for free. No shower or bathroom, but wonderful spot that allows wind shade. Not crouded even during busy July and August. We stayed at Marriott in Charleston and drove 15 mins to beach. We packed a lunch, drinks and had a chill ass time. You don't have to stay on the beach. read more

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Love this beach year-round! The downfall is there's only one way in and one way out so be prepared for traffic during peak season. They do allow dogs here, September through May all day and unleashed in the mornings and evenings. You are not allowed to bring any alcohol on the beach, which is the downside. I'd also love to have a bonfire on the beach which you cannot do unless permitted. They have free yoga on 6th Ave., West on Sunday mornings at 10 AM so I love to go there and then stay for a great beach day. Parking is along the street but make sure all four tires are off the road and you are facing the flow of traffic. read more

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A popular beach with the locals and tourists alike, Folly Beach is a treat. The sun was scorching when Ive visited, so do yourself a favor and bring your umbrella (or at least a hat and sunscreen). If you're like me and brought none of these, there's an array of useful little shops and beach rental services that you can utilize. The sand is super soft and clean-- loved that. The tide was low upon my last visit so I had to walk out pretty far to get to a good water level. Those waves are nice and the eater itself was cool, salty and full of good vibes. Perfect for after a hot, sunny day of sightseeing and shopping at the market There are bars near the beach/boardwalk but there are designated drink areas (the bar) that you will have to stay in. Just don't expect to buy and drink on the sand. Smoking is not permitted on the beach. There are a number of hotels, bars and mom n pop restaurants in the vicinity. The parking situation is very specific so try to plan ahead. read more

Folly Beach - Beaches Near Me

It was my first time visiting Charleston and all of the locals kept recommending Folly Beach. After little convincing, I decided to spend the day out there. What a lovely beach! It was packed of course but there was a lot of room to spread out. I ended up renting a chair and umbrella and kicking my feet up to watch the waves. This beach has a bathroom so you can change in peace. Finding food is not an issue at all! There are a few restaurants right on the beach and 2 min you're on the strip where there are endless restaurants and souvenir shops. read more

Folly Beach - Beaches Near Me

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Somewhat crowded beach. The fishing pier closes at sunset, as well as some of the gift shops. Plenty of restaurants to eat at nearby, but most everything is paid parking. 2024 #12 read more

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Love Folly Beach! My family goes here every summer to enjoy the cool vibes. Folly Beach is Charleston's laid-back beach which attracts locals, surfers, and tourists. Love it better in the early morning before the crowd gets there in the afternoon. The sand and swimming are great although there are warnings for riptides. Great place to watch sunrise! Paid parking is on street by using an app or you can find free parking along the side streets. read more

Folly Beach - Folly Beach - Beaches Near Me

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This review is about Parking and tickets. Be Very Aware that if you park on any free parking spot that all 4 tires of your vehicle are OFF the road, Even a small infraction will get you a $60 ticket! I am a 70 year old Grandmother from Pennsylvania, we have been to many beaches and never heard of this rule. There are no signs anywhere that we saw that warned visitors of this rule AND WE RODE AROUND TO LOOK AFTER. We were visiting Charleston, my son wanted to go for coffee and a bagel. I suggested we go to Folly Beach because I love the ocean, we could only be there for a half hour. There was no one there, off season, a quiet side street, a very small part of the tire was on the road. We were not blocking anything. $60 ticket! That's Last time I give Folly Beach my business! I read they sometimes give a warning - Not for us this time. THIS IS NOT THE WAY TO PROMOTE TOURISM. read more

Really pretty beach in SC. It's longgg so you could get a nice walk in. There's also a recently renovated pier with shops and a restaurant. Parking in the residential area and it's a quick walk to the actual beach. Came during the winter and was still beautiful to see. Would love to swim here in the summer. read more

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I have been here a few times. The pier is good, fishing there is ok. You pay their pier fee and no license is needed. The parking can be HORRIBLE in the area. If you go during summer or spring break expect to save up for the parking fee alone. If the cheaper lot is filled up by the gift shop, expect to pay $50 for about 2-3 hours, $80 for all day. The beach itself is nice, crowded during the mentioned times. My last trip here took a hour and half to get into the town, parking was all pretty much full. Turned around and went home. read more

Really 3.5 stars, when living in Charleston SC and working at MUSC. Folks I'd meet in the area would always say go to Folly Beach, it's the natives favorite beach. Well honestly, I am from Oregon (coast) a native, and my first thought was it's so flat, and my God people are neck and neck. It was known for its, young wild and free beach parties! Haha, we have all been there, and yes they get out of hand. Some call it the family beach. All I know is water has always called me, and to walk a beach and get lost in the sounds, vision of waves, seabirds, and to pick up shells. It was my mental release. Haha I have a huge fish bowl of shells. Yes, off times less folks. Fun shops, good food! Dog friendly. read more

Folly Beach - A co-worker from MUSC, I'd entertain many of the travelers, her and I became good friends. And her 2 boys! - Beaches Near Me

Love it here. Nothing beats watching the waves and the Folly Air Forece aka a row of pelicans soaring through the air.

A fine yellow-grey sand beach with little in the way of rocks or shells to pick, a lot of people go here for the pier or for the family friendly nature of the sand and even slope ot the water. Parking is expensive ($20-25 close to the pier) and they still wanted to charge me on a very rainy day so I'm not particularly excited about that. Smaller lots periodically along the beach road along East Arctic Rd (ironic naming?) that were still full despite the rainy day. Also leaving the area was a nightmare in terms of traffic. Not a fan of the exit traffic, they need to put up some all way stop signs or lights. Lots of small shops and food trucks in different areas. read more

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Beautiful beach along the South Carolina coastline, another of the Carolina barrier islands. It's stunning and a fabulous spot for sunshine. Compared to other beaches I've visited this week between Myrtle Beach and Beaufort, the sand is a little less firm and the water gets deeper sooner here compared to elsewhere. There wasn't much of a riptide today with a bunch of people walking along the beach. Of course, if you're this far down onto the coast, don't miss the walk to the Morris Island Lighthouse! [Review 19466 overall - 1039 in South Carolina - 436 of 2023.] read more

Folly Beach - Folly Beach, SC - Beaches Near Me

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I like Folly Beach. I like its name. It's my least favorite of the 3 beaches in the area with Sullivan's Island being my favorite and Isle of Palms next, and FB coming in 3rd. FB, to me, is the most commercialized of the 3 beaches. It's a pretty beach, and clean, as all 3 are! I just prefer the more holey feel of Sullivan's Island. As others mentioned, do abide by the poster rules, which the authorities are good about making signs abundantly noticeable. And most of all enjoy yourself! read more

I vacationed here around 20 years ago with all my college roommates and high school friends one summer and we stayed in a large old beach house to save money bc we couldn't afford to actually stay in Charleston. Yesterday my husband and I, now staying in Charleston thank goodness, drove back bc he had never been. It's funny, it looks exactly the same as it did 20 years ago. There is a single large hotel and some restaurants and shops on the Center street area. Mostly cheap beach stores with touristy items - there are a few coffee shops and restaurants worth trying. The best part for me was the lighthouse inlet at the tip of the island which we visited this time and walked for an hour or so. Folly isn't really my type of beach. read more

Decent beach on the East coast. Went in late May, wasn't too crowded, weather was warm but still had chilly winds from the sea. Lots of paid parking but limited free two hour street parking. They have a really nice pier that stretches pretty far into the ocean. They offer plenty of covered and uncovered seating, dining and fishing on the pier. read more

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The folly pier renovation just finished so you can enjoy strolls on the pier. However the day I went there was a county park attendant of some sort that stopped my friend and I from going because the "sun just set" so was confused over that despite seeing many others enjoying the pier. Oh well, walked on the beach instead. The parking I found years ago was ample as long as you arrived early and made sure the tires didn't touch the pavement. read more

Folly Beach - Dusk picture - Beaches Near Me

https://youtu.be/EPDdvn34Nfg?si=m9am4S095qF7fTOa Real pretty but the water is kind of brown now read more

February at Folly Beach: It was 85 degrees out, sunny and my kids played in the water! The beach was open. Plenty of space to run and play. Plenty of parking and it was all done through parking apps- easy! Clean beach. Water up to our ankles for a while. Beautiful rippled sand under the water. Bathroom available (think upscale porta-potties.) Cute little beachy area. I come from the Ocean state so I know how these town are. Wish it had a little more to offer. We actually left town to get dessert. Glad we took the kids to the beach in February! read more

Folly Beach - Rippled sand - Beaches Near Me

I took my first trip by myself from California to South Carolina. The beach was beautiful and a long one which is great if you love walking. The restaurant that sits on the piece has some seriously good fish and chips. Also if you are new to the area check out Sullivan's island. Cite town and beautiful coast. read more

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Just a beach. Nothing special. The pier is free and closes at sunset. Small restrooms but clean. read more

Folly Beach - Beaches Near Me

Folly Beach is a nice relaxing sandy family beach. It's good for fun in the sun seakers of all ages. read more

Nice quiet in mid october. Dog friendly in the morning and families in the afternoon. Clean beach and facilities. It just has a wonderful low key vibe. read more

Folly Beach - Morning beach view - Beaches Near Me

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We are visiting Charleston from Charlotte, NC and thought this would be a nice place to walk around with our dog. WRONG. This is NOT a dog-loving town. They were having an outdoor festival with music, food and vendors. Was our dog welcome? NO! And while you can walk your dog on the beach, they are NOT welcome on the pier. I've never been to a place LESS friendly to dogs. They probably eat them. So don't bring your precious angels here to spend your good money. Go to where they are welcome. read more

My wife and I live in North Charleston and enjoy the vibe of the downtown area and eateries. We also really love walking the beach. Easy to access. read more

One of the best beaches in the country! The beach itself is clean and very family experience! Kids playing and a great place for surf fishing! Great walk on the beach ! Very peaceful and clean! Parking can be a challenge but is available for free! examen des cols bleus:x read more

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I've heard so much about this beach, I thought it's about damn time I go and check it out. Well, went on a wrong day... Given that I went on a Labor Day weekend, it was a zoo! Parking was near impossible as all lots were full, and they charge you $30! Since I came only to check out the beach (not to sunbathe, per say!), I actually just swung in and out very quickly, and avoided paying the high parking fee. Basically I risked getting my car towed by walking to the beach to check out the scene...if only for a moment! Well, the beach scene was much more expansive...lotsa colorful rental umbrellas...and overall, much nicer than the one at Edisto Beach, and maybe even Myrtle Beach. Think I remember liking the Hilton Head Beach more though. Luckily, the sand here seemed a bit smoother, lighter in color as well...but I did see some patchy, shelly areas. The worst part was that the place was PACKED!!! I couldn't have stayed another minute...as there were WAY too many people! I couldn't wait to drive out of there as fast as possible. Still, am thinking I'll return (with my family next time?) on a normal, non-holiday beach day...and hopefully, I'll like the beach better then? read more

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My family and I had a great time at this beach in the morning. Surprise! Parking at the pier is $10, but across the street is $20-25. So weird. The pier is really pretty, although when we were there they were doing construction so we couldn't walk on it. There are weird changing stations under the pier that are pitch black and showers, but bathrooms are all the way upstairs. lol. We rented chairs and umbrellas for 4 for $100- I forget the name of the company. Steep price, but worth it for those with fair skin who would fry in the sun. Also worth it to not have to drag all that stuff to the beach, not that it's a super far walk. A man looked like he was seizing but I think it was diabetes- related. The lifeguards jumped to action right away and handled it well while awaiting the ambulance. No idiots were taking pics or anything which was nice to see. This was a nice beach, not spectacular water but hey it's SC, what can you do? Us Floridians are spoiled. :) read more

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Very clean beaches and lots of space. Parking took a while to find but thats to be expected. Highly recommend stopping at the shops before the beach. read more

I love this beach! It is perfect for bringing the family to for the day. The beach is always clean and the streets are well maintained. The town has a couple of cute restaurants and shops down the Main Street when you need a break from the sun. I love that Folly still has small town beach vibes. The only negative I have is that traffic gets really bad during peak times since there is only one way on and off the island. But if you go early before 9 you can avoid a lot of the traffic. Definitely worth a trip if you're looking for a small beach vacation! read more

Folly Beach - Beaches Near Me

This is a cool beach with nice people and the right waves. Parking was not an issue as we were able to find a spot where we were in walking distance. We set up on the sand to chill while jumping in the water from time to time. The locals at the beach are friendly so striking up conversation was very easy and natural. Be careful with beverages. They will give a citation if you consume alcohol openly. Just make sure they are covered or not in the open and you'll be good to go. We saw some people get in trouble for that. Obviously a buzz kill when you're trying to have a good time. read more

Folly Beach - Beaches Near Me

Folly Beach is by far the best beach I have been to! It's very family oriented and not as touristy as other beaches I have visited. I love the natural sea grass break before you get to the houses it has a beach on one side of the island and a marsh on the other side. It has mostly houses for rent, which gives privacy not afforded in a hotel/condo. An added bonus is that it is less than 30 minutes from Charleston, and who doesn't love Charleston! It's a little, quiet paradise! read more

Folly Beach - Beaches Near Me

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Fun and exciting beach ,lots of shopping and eating as well. The pier is really nice with really nice bathrooms and changing areas. Kept clean as well! read more

Beautiful beach. Not too crowded. As usual, parking is a challenge. Love the beach, especially pier 101. read more

Folly Beach is my favorite place to be. I have been living in Charleston, SC for over 20 years. I have found that Folly Beach is my zen zone. It is so incredibly peaceful out here. I love hearing the waves crash along the shore. I love the taste of salt in the air. I love the feeling of the sand beneath my toes. I love the smell of sun tan lotion. I love seeing the clear horizon where the sea meets the sky. I mostly come out here to tan these days. I also go for walks sometimes. I meditate out here too. I take lots of naps on Folly Beach. It's also a great place to swim. Watch out for the currents though. Do not swim out by the lighthouse. That area has bad rip currents. The closer you get to the pier, the closer you are to everything else. You will be closer to all the businesses. You will also be closer to a larger crowd of people. I personally like to park far away from the pier to get away from the majority of the people. I park somewhere between 5th street and the lighthouse, away from everything. I always venture to the East side of Folly Beach. I have tried out the West side but I find parking is more difficult over there. I usually only go that way if I'm headed to the park, and that is very rare. Folly Beach was closed for a while during the Coronavirus pandemic. It is open again now and has been for the past couple of months. I don't notice much of a change due to COVID. If you go into a business on Folly Beach, be prepared to wear a mask to enter. If you're out on the sand, no need for a mask. Everything seems somewhat normal when I'm laying on the sand at Folly Beach. We all know 2020 is not normal however. This has been one crazy year. I am thankful that I have had Folly Beach to go to this summer. I was so worried at the beginning of summer that they would be closed all year! Thankfully, that was not the case. I have been able to come out to Folly Beach about twice a week for the majority of the summer. For that, I am grateful. read more

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Parking is limited on this island, which is only a half hour by car from Charleston's downtown. It's even more limited during corona-time, so I was quite surprised to find ample spots available on a beautiful summer evening. You have to pay, and it says enforced until 10; there's not a lot of ways around it unless you have property here, but the cost was modest and it was well worth it. Driving on the island is somewhat infuriating due to the prevalence of golf carts which insist on driving on the main roads at half the speed limit and pedestrians who seem utterly oblivious to the surrounding world; the infrastructure could really use some separate paths for the various modes of transit (and surely all those parking fees would pay for it). The main beach had a mix of dark and light sand, with the wind blowing one across the other in dizzying patterns. At the north end of the beach there is an outlook where one can see the lighthouse, which it turns out is on its own little perch nowhere near the shore. The estuary was remarkably lively when I visited, with dolphins jumping out of the water only fifty feet or less from the shore. It must be a steep drop off. Even though I got kind of a lousy sunset, the quality of landscape and wildlife, being so accessible to a mid-sized city, is something quite uncommon and quite impressive. read more

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The peace and serenity I needed before heading back to snow in Buffalo at the end of April. The temp was high 70s/low 80s when we went and it was absolutely perfect. So perfect that I didn't even realize my knees were sizzling, haha. There are beach chairs and umbrellas sprinkled about the beach that you can snag which is really nice. The sand is soft and smooth. The range of the tide is massive (at least it was for me! It's not like that in Western New York's beaches), so a good quarter of the beach is packed down sand from when the tide is high. We went hunting for shells to bring home and found lots of fun treasures, including dried coral which we thought was cool! A handful of jellyfish washed ashore as well. We went on a Monday and it wasn't crazy crowded, but full. HUGEEEE warning though: we did not rent a car for our long weekend and that is my biggest Charleston trip regret. As of right now, they have limited Uber and Lyft drivers and it was a serious challenge for us to get back into the Historic district after our day at the beach. We literally walked along a highway for a good 45 minutes before finally catching a Lyft driver for over $50. Parking isn't great over there either, but I'd rather have a car than just my feet for getting around. Truly, truly, cannot wait to come back, next time with my boys who are going to love it! read more

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Winter time and the living is easy! Folly Beach IS the quintessential beach town and a whole lotta laid back fun for the whole family. Unlike many beaches, Folly isn't over developed or over crowded. It's actually mainly residential, with a lot of the homes available for rent. Our big ol fam of 14 got to rent a great beach house and soak it all in. Coffee on the porch watching the surfers hit the washout. Oyster roasts and bbqs underneath on the deck. Cocktails at sunset. Absolutely perfect. There are a lot of great local bars and restaurants restaurants too. Depending where you are you might be able to walk, but golf carts are the preferred mode of transportation. If you've never been to Folly, make a plan! read more

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