Folly Beach County Park

Located on Folly Island, Folly Beach County Park borders both the Atlantic Ocean and Folly River and boasts gorgeous long beaches running along a serene and expansive shoreline. The beach can get a little crowded in summer but it’s truly one of the best recreational seashore areas in southeastern Charleston County and one of the most visited county parks in the Lowcountry region.

The park is equipped with all the necessary amenities. If you don’t have your own beach gear, don’t worry – you can rent it on site. Take your kids, take your pets, pack your favorite picnic food, and delight yourself with a family holiday in the bosom of nature!

Location and Access

Located at 1100 West Ashley Avenue, Folly Beach County Park is easy to access. You need only take route 171 across the Folly River and then head southwest along West Ashley Avenue (the main road) until you reach an unpaved stretch of hard-packed dirt and sand adjacent to the park borders.

There is ample parking (mostly $7 per day; $10 on summer weekends; free in January and February), which is only sometimes limited on busy summer days. Credit cards are accepted. The parking fee covers beach access for everyone in the car. The parking spaces are all along Folly Beach County Road, very close to the ocean.

The park has seasonal hours of operation: from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. from May to Labor Day, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the spring and fall months, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in winter.

Amenities

Folly Beach County Park offers handicapped-accessible restrooms, outdoor showers, lifeguarded swimming areas, beach chair and umbrella rentals (about $10 per item per day), a full snack bar, and a retail area.

If you bring your own food, you can use one of the picnic areas with grills in the park. The restrooms and picnic areas are accessible all year round while the other services are available daily from July to August and on weekends from Memorial Day to mid-September.

Beach

The beach is wide, with a flat bottom that is so good for splashing, wading, and boogie boarding. Cormorants, pelicans, and other sea birds are frequent visitors here. Even during the high tide in the height of summer, the beach still offers plenty of room.

If you are looking for a less crowded beach area, take a short walk south. The most secluded areas are located far southwest from the park’s entrance. The sand is comfortable for walking, jogging, and biking. There are some nice shells to collect. The water is warm.

Dog Policies

You can bring your dog to the park anytime from October through May and from 6 p.m. until 10 a.m. throughout the rest of the year. All dogs must be leashed.

Driving Time

• 20 minutes from Downtown Charleston, SC
• 2 hours 5 minutes from Savannah, GA
• 2 hours 15 minutes from Myrtle Beach, SC

Hotels and rentals

If you're considering staying for one or even a few nights, there are plenty of options available near the beach. Chose your preferred accomodation type and your favourite room provider:

• Nearby rentals from VRBO.
• Nearby rooms and properties from Booking.com.

Beaches nearby

Additionally, there's a number of beaches near Folly Beach County Park which you can visit:

• Folly Beach Pier (2 miles)
• Folly Beach (3 miles)
• Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve Beach (6 miles)
• Morris Island Beach (6 miles)
• Kiawah Island Beach (10 miles)