Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve Beach

Sandy beach
M4P7+94 Folly Beach, SC, USA
7 miles from Charleston, SC
Water Quality
Unknown (read more)

Beach amenities

  • ParkingCar parking nearby
  • CrabbingPublic crabbing sites
👉 Download a FREE PDF map

About this beach

Warnings and hazards

Beware of the snakes.

No restrooms.

No showers.

Limited parking.

Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve Beach is a serene wild beach in the northeastern part of Folly Island. It is known for having a gorgeous view of the Morris Island Lighthouse and a road covered with graffiti paintings. There are also some objects on the beach that are covered with graffiti.

Location and Access

To find the beach, go till the very end of Ashley Ave, and you’ll see the beach with large stones on the sand. The walk from the entrance to the beach is about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile. The preserve is open from sunrise to sunset.

Parking is very limited. It is prohibited to leave your car near the preserve entrance. You can either leave your car at the nearest parking lot which is the Summer Place Parking Lot or find a free place somewhere in the street.

Driving Time

  • 30 minutes from Downtown Charleston, SC
  • 2 hours 20 minutes from Columbia, SC
  • 2 hours 30 minutes from Florence, 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:

Beaches nearby

Additionally, there's a number of beaches near Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve Beach which you can visit:

Beach reviewed by:
Mariam
Photos from Google Maps
Graffitti on Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve BeachGraffitti road leading to Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve BeachDriftwood on Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve BeachLighthouse Inlet Heritage PreserveLighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve information shieldDriftwood and lighthouseLighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve BeachLighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve
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Visitor questions:

Question: Hi, Mariam! Can you tell me how this area of the beach looks at high tide? I have a couple who wants to get married about an hour and a half before "high tide" next weekend. I told them there might not be enough uncovered beach to stand on if we do it at that time, but I thought I would check with the expert :) Thank you! Lynsey
Asked by Lynsey about 2 years ago
Answer: Dear Lynsey, you are absolutely right - at high tide, almost the whole beach gets covered with water. Marrying there an hour and a half before high tide is risky. What if bride and groom arrive later than expected? Unexpected delays often happen on wedding days. If so, the girl's beautiful white dress will get wet. Also, the current is pretty strong during high tide. The best time to visit this beach is during low tide. Best wishes to the happy couple!
Question: Is this a friendly area to visit?
Asked by Carlisle over 1 year ago
Answer: Yes, it is! Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve Beach is very friendly to its visitors.
Question: Is that part of Folly Beach open now??? What hours is that part of Folly Beach open??? How is parking set up????
Asked by Kimba Giles over 1 year ago
Answer: According to the latest news, this part of the beach was supposed to reopen after renovation in February 2023 and to be accessible from sunrise till sunset, yet to be on the safe side, please ask the Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve administration at +18437954386. The nearest parking lot is the Summer Place Parking Lot (check its location on the map: https://goo.gl/maps/1YKWyTq8x7YnGSyu9). Have a nice beach day!
Question: What kind of beach is this? Hours?
Asked by Deborah over 1 year ago
Answer: This is a wild beach that has no amenities. There are no fixed opening hours: the beach is open from sunrise to sunset.
Question: How is it? Does not sound like it is worth coming to...
Asked by Marc White over 1 year ago
Answer: Despite lack of amenities, Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve Beach is well worth visiting! You can admire the view of the historic Lighthouse, walk along the unique graffiti road, and sunbathe on the beach. Sounds like a good plan for a summer weekend, doesn't it? 😉
Question: Hey Mariam! I was wondering, is kayaking allowed from Inlet Heritage Preserve? Meaning, would it be allowed for me to bring my kayak and just launch from the beach there? I know its not a boat ramp or anything, but I was unsure of the rules here (or in the surrounding area) about where launching a kayak is allowed. Thank you!
Asked by Alanna over 1 year ago
Answer: Yes, kayaking is allowed here. You can launch from any place on the beach that is convenient for you. Some tourists even dare to take a kayak trip to the historic lighthouse!
Question: It says beware of snakes, what kind, are there many and how do you look out for them?
Asked by Ken Roberts about 1 year ago
Answer: There are about 40 snake species in South Carolina because of plentiful marshy areas, while only six of them are venomous. The most commonly seen snakes are black racers, rat snakes, and nonvenomous water snakes. On the beach, you can see the snakes mostly during their breeding period when they lay eggs into the sand. Remember that all snakes are nonaggressive when left alone. Never place your hands, arms, feet or legs where you can’t see them (e.g. in a hole). Wear closed shoes and long pants when walking through the woods near the beach. Walk around logs instead of stepping over them. If you happen to visit this beach at night, use a flashlight. No need to fear, just be careful and attentive!
Question: Is there still a nude section here?
Asked by Jordan 13 days ago
Answer: No, it's no longer present. Sorry about that!

Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve Beach videos

Morris Island Lighthouse
A fantastic drone made video of the lighthouse
Lighthouse on the “Edge of America”
A perfect video of the beach, the lighthouse, and the graffiti road

Weather conditions

Current weather at the beach and 3 day forecast

Best times to visit

Average temperature (°F)
Beach map and directions
The beach is located in Folly Beach, South Carolina M4P7+94 Folly Beach, SC, USA (Open on Google Maps)
Drag and zoom the map to view lodging options near the beach.
Other beaches nearby
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