Folly Beach, SC at a glance
- Island and county
- Folly Island, Charleston County
- From downtown Charleston
- About 11 miles, via James Island on Folly Road
- Morris Island Lighthouse view
- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve, east end of East Ashley Ave
- Alcohol
- Not allowed on the beach or public property
- Folly Beach Pier
- About 1,049 ft; reopened December 2022
Getting There
Folly Beach is a small city on Folly Island, about 11 miles south of downtown Charleston. You drive across James Island on Folly Road (SC 171), over the Folly River and straight onto Center Street. Locals call it "the Edge of America". It is the closest beach to downtown and the most casual of Charleston's beach towns; for the city itself, see the Charleston guide.
Center Street and the Pier
Center Street is the town's main street, with bars, restaurants and surf shops running down to the ocean. Just east of its foot is the Folly Beach Pier (officially the Edwin S. Taylor Folly Beach Fishing Pier), run by Charleston County Parks. The old pier closed in 2020 and the rebuilt one, about 1,049 feet long, reopened in December 2022. The pier and the beach around it are the busiest part of the island; the residential streets east and west along Arctic and Ashley Avenues get quieter the farther you go.
Surfing
Folly is the Charleston area's surf beach. The best-known breaks are the Washout, off East Ashley Avenue, 10th Street and the pier. The Washout is the most popular and the most crowded when a swell comes through; watch for rip currents and the remains of old jetties under the water there.
The Two Ends of the Island
The island has a park at each end, and they are easy to mix up.
The west end: Folly Beach County Park (1100 West Ashley Avenue) is the family beach, with lifeguards in season, restrooms and a large paid lot that fills early on summer weekends. Charleston County Parks posts current fees and hours at ccprc.com.
The east end: Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve (1750 East Ashley Avenue) is where you go to see the Morris Island Lighthouse. Park near the end of East Ashley Avenue and follow the sandy path to the beach. The lighthouse, completed in 1876 and decommissioned in 1962, stands a few hundred feet offshore across Lighthouse Inlet because the shoreline has eroded around it. It is not open to visitors and cannot be reached on foot at any tide; enjoy it from the beach. Swimming in the inlet is prohibited, and pets are not allowed in the preserve.
Gershwin on Folly
In the summer of 1934 George Gershwin spent several weeks in a beach cottage on Folly, working on the score of Porgy and Bess with DuBose Heyward, whose novel Porgy the opera is based on. Gershwin's cottage is gone, but the Heywards' house on West Ashley Avenue still stands.
Beach Rules and Safety (as of October 2026)
- No alcohol on the beach, the streets or any public property, and no glass on the beach.
- Dogs are not allowed on the beach from 10 am to 6 pm between May 1 and September 30, must be leashed at other times, and are never allowed on the pier.
- No open fires or fireworks at any time.
- Parking: all four tires must be off the road, and not within 20 feet of an intersection. Tickets are common.
- Turtle season: from May 1 to October 31, no lights shining on the beach between 10 pm and dawn.
- Lifeguards work only at the County Park and on the stretch around the pier, from May through Labor Day. Most of the island is unguarded, rip currents are common, and swimming in the rivers and inlets is prohibited.
Check the City of Folly Beach (cityoffollybeach.com) for current rules.
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Search stays on CielStay →Frequently asked questions
Where do you see the Morris Island Lighthouse?
From the Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve at the east end of Folly Beach, at the end of East Ashley Avenue (1750 E. Ashley Ave). A short path leads to the beach, and the lighthouse stands a few hundred feet offshore across Lighthouse Inlet. It is not open to visitors and cannot be reached on foot at any tide.
Is Folly Beach on James Island?
No. Folly Beach is on Folly Island, about 11 miles south of downtown Charleston. You drive through James Island on Folly Road (SC 171) to get there.
Can you drink alcohol on Folly Beach?
No. The City of Folly Beach prohibits possessing or drinking alcohol on the beach, the streets and other public property, and glass is not allowed on the beach.
Are dogs allowed on Folly Beach?
Dogs are not allowed on the beach from 10 am to 6 pm between May 1 and September 30. At other times they must be on a leash. Dogs are never allowed on the Folly Beach Pier or in the Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve.
Where are the lifeguards on Folly Beach?
Charleston County Parks provides lifeguards at Folly Beach County Park on the west end and on the stretch around the pier, from May through Labor Day. The rest of the island is unguarded, and swimming in the rivers and inlets is prohibited.
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Nearby landmarks & attractions
Key destinations and attractions in the Folly Beach, SC area.
Morris Island Lighthouse ↗ Maps
Lighthouse completed in 1876, now offshore and closed; view it from the east end of Folly.
Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve ↗ Maps
East-end preserve with the best view of the Morris Island Lighthouse; no pets.
Folly Beach Pier ↗ Maps
County-run fishing pier near the foot of Center Street, rebuilt and reopened in December 2022.
This guide was assembled from the local knowledge of hosts with properties throughout Folly Beach, SC, as indexed by CielStay. The descriptions of restaurants, trails, swimming holes, and local tips reflect what hosts share with guests in their listings — not the observations of a travel journalist or guest reviewer. Photos are sourced from host listing images and are credited to their respective listings. Information about permits and trail conditions may change; always verify with official sources before your trip.