Last Updated on June 5, 2025 by PorchLightReading
Family travel guide to visiting Folly Beach South Carolina. Top 10 best things to do plus other tips you’ll want to know before you go.
I have a thing for the beach, but it wasn’t always South Carolina beaches I was looking to dip my toes into. It was New England beaches! Hampton Beach in NH has my heart but being a military family we have the opportunity to explore a bit more than the average family.
Our new home has brought us to South Carolina, and with that we get to play part tourist and part in the know. We are constantly on the go and finding the best spots to share with all of you!
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- Table of content: Folly Beach, South Carolina + Top 10 best things to do
- Beaches on Folly Island and what they offer
- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve + graffiti path
- Morris Island Lighthouse and how to view
- Folly Beach Pier
- Explore Center St. beach attire, restaurants, markets and more!
- Parking and traffic tips
- Beach must haves of the season
When you’re new to the area, or just here on vacation, it can be a bit overwhelming trying to figure out all there is to do. A beach trip sounds like the perfect way to spend a hot summer day, but it can easy become overwhelming once you hit traffic and confusion.
So to keep things family friendly I’m going to break this article down into the different beaches, things to do in the area, parking and traffic tips, and other information I hope you find helpful.
Folly Beach, SC + Top 10 Best Things To Do
Driving over the bridge onto the Folly Island will put you right in the middle of downtown with restaurants, shops, the pier, and public beaches. Its 6 miles of beach lining the coast make this a dream for tourists and locals looking to cool down from the 100 degree summer weather.
So when the heat starts beating down on us starting in April, I’m ready to pack the car, make a picnic, and load up the kids! Because we have a lot of beach days ahead of us and the first things I’m going to tell you is that beach traffic is a nightmare, so let’s learn how to avoid it as much as possible.
*Reminder- Lifeguards are seasonal and located at some locations. Always be aware of your surroundings and swim at own risk.
BEACHES ON FOLLY ISLAND AND WHAT THEY OFFER
Taking a right onto W. Ashley Ave. will bring you a little further away from the hustle and bustle of downtown, and allow you to spread out just a bit more as you come to each public beach access point further away from town. Eventually you’ll reach the end of the island and one of our favorite beach parks.
A left down E. Ashley Ave. brings you to a few more beach access points but this way will bring you to a beach called the Washout. Perfect for surfers or those looking to catch a few waves.
FOLLY BEACH COUNTY PARK
Our first stop is Folly Beach County Park. This is by far our favorite beach to visit being a family with two children. They offer a large parking lot, bathrooms, changing area, small snack shop, and plenty of room to spread out. It does cost a few dollars per vehicle to enter, or you can purchase a Charleston County Park Pass for year round entry.
- Large parking lot
- Bathrooms
- Changing area
- Snack shop
- Price per vehical
Although it does have a large parking lot, it fills up incredibly fast. It’s best to get there before 10:30am on the weekends during peak season otherwise you might be turned around at the gate. If you are turned around, just take your time and find a parking spot along the road.
What I like about this beach- Parking, easy access to the beach, space to spread out, the seashell Christmas tree.
PUBLIC BEACH NEAR THE PIER
Shops line the street on either side as you make your way down Center St. towards the pier. It’s buzzing with people crossing the road, enjoying restaurants, shopping for beachwear, and of course heading to the beach. At the end of the street you’ll come to the very popular pier where you’ll find a small public parking lot, street parking, and beach access points running along the coast.
This area is great for those who want to shop, eat, and enjoy the beach. It can get crowded during peak seasons but some might enjoy the lively atmosphere that creates. Nearby you can rent chairs, umbrellas, surfboards and more!
- Lively atmosphere
- Near restaurants and shops
- Public beach access every couple of streets to include a small parking area.
- Street parking available (follow parking rules)
What I like about this beach- This area can be really lively and is close to everything. Personally, I find it a bit overwhelming during peak season trying to keep a close eye on everyone. But during off peak hours and weekdays this spot can be a lot of fun!
THE WASHOUT
Taking a left onto E. Ashely Ave, you’ll pass residential homes until you finally come to a narrow spot on the island. The ocean will be to your right with a marsh to your left. Along this stretch is called the Washout. One of the best places to surf in South Carolina and the go-to spot for catching a few waves.
Parking spots can be found lining the edge of certain parts of the road (follow parking rules) and stairs lead down to the water every few hundred feet.
PUBLIC BEACH ACCESS AREAS
With 6 miles of beach there is no short of pubic beach access areas. Taking a left at the end of Center St. and you’ll come across about 12 public beach access points with small parking areas. Taking a right off of Center St. and you’ll find about 8 public beach access points with small parking areas.
Along most public beach areas you’ll have to walk up a few stairs and along a boardwalk before making your way down to the beach area. Just something to keep in mind while trying to carrying chairs, umbrellas, coolers, and strollers. The sand starts off incredibly soft so pulling things can be a challenge, but after a bit it does become more compact and easier to roll a cart.
LIGHTHOUSE INLET HERITAGE PRESERVE
Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve is located on the northeast side of the island. Once you make your way to the end of E. Ashely Ave. you’ll find a small parking area with a gated road. To the right side is an information board telling you about the area, rules to follow, and $1 admission fee per person through the honor system and lockbox located there.
Graffiti Path- The graffiti path leading the way is one of the reasons this place is so interesting. Each time we visit we spot something new whether it be a cartoon character, messages, or past lover crossed out with a new name added. This paved path is approximately 0.4 miles long before it turns to soft sand leading to the ocean.
Boneyard Beach- Also in this area is boneyard beach, a forest of dead live oak trees trees, among others, being reclaimed by the ocean. After making your way down the graffiti path you’ll continue up the sandy trail until you hit the ocean. Once the ocean is in front of you, turn left and follow the beach admiring this interesting, dead, forest.
- Graffiti walking path
- Boneyard beach filled with dead live oak trees
- Views of Morris Island Lighthouse
- Small parking area- visit during non peak hours. Early morning or weekdays.
- $1 per person entry fee or free to Gold Pass park members.
- No swimming!
- No pets!
- May see a dolphin or two in the distance.
MORRIS ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE
Constructed in 1876, Morris Island Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse in South Carolina standing at 161 feet tall! It has since been decommissioned and has been sold to Save The Light, Inc. to be preserved, restored, and stabilized.
Although you can’t walk to this lighthouse, you can view it by either talking the graffiti path through the Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve, or by walking the public beach to the end point.
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Guided boat tour- If you’d like to view this lighthouse a little closer, you can always take a boat tour with a local guide. Types of tours will very from dolphin tours, fishing charters, private sunset charters and more. With a quick internet search you’ll see that tours range in price depending on type and season, but one on our bucket list is Flipper Finders Boat and Sea Kayak Tours!
FOLLY BEACH PIER
Back on dry land, the Folly Beach Pier is a popular spot to take a quiet stroll. Grab an ice cream before making your way to the end of this pier that is 22 feet wide and over 1,000 feet long. It’s a great place to enjoy the sunset after a long day at the beach. Be sure to keep your eyes on the water to see if you can spot a dolphin or two.
- 22 foot wide pier that stretches over 1,000 feet.
- Gift shop with ice cream
- Pier 101 restaurant and bar
- Great spot for fishing
EXPLORE CENTER ST. RESTAURANTS, BEACH ATTIRE, AND MORE
Embrace the crowd and head down Center St. with palmetto trees lining the sidewalk. Head into the local shops for beach gear, souvenirs, delicious food, an escape room, dole whip, and more!
If you’re looking for a bite to eat but really wanting to head down to the beach, check out Bert’s Market. They have a full deli and tons of delicious food you can easily take to the beach to have your own picnic by the water.
- Restaurants
- Pizza
- Seafood
- Tacos
- Burgers
- Pineapple Hut
- Bert’s Market
- Surf shops
- Escape room
- Beach attire and gifts
PARKING AND TRAFFIC TIPS
Parking and traffic on Folly Island can be a bit of a challenge during peak season, and that’s saying it lightly. I highly encourage you to plan ahead for the traffic to fully be able to enjoy your day. Warm days on the weekend even before the official summer season starts, will bring beach goers from all over. So don’t be fooled into thinking it won’t be busy on the weekend in early May.
- Tips for traffic
- View the cameras! Curious about traffic? Download the Beach Reach app to see live cameras and traffic!
- Start early. Folly Beach County Park can fill up as early at 10:00am on hot summer days.
- Go during non peak hours. Instead of having a beach morning, a beach later afternoon is equally as fun.
- Explore on the weekdays for a bit of relief from traffic.
- Go slow. Everyone is all trying to do the same thing, enjoy their day at the beach. Let the pedestrians cross the road and wave the family in the minivan through, because we all know someone is already crying.
- Turn on some good music. It’ll help keep you patient while waiting.
They take parking very seriously down on Folly Island, and they should! Be aware of all signage, driveways, and other guideline while trying to park. One rule to be aware of is that all 4 tires need to be off the road completely. This can lead to some very awkward moments in the car while debating if you should park in front of someone’s house. Normally I would find someplace less intrusive but this is a busy beach community. Follow the rules and guidelines and you’ll be fine.
- Parking information to remember
- All four tires must be off the road.
- Must park with the flow of traffic.
- No parking within 20 feet of an intersection and 30 feet from stop signs or traffic lights.
- No blocking driveways!
- No parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
- For a full list of parking rules visit City of Folly Beach-Parking
BEACH MUST HAVES OF THE SEASON
Most everyone has a beach umbrella, as do I, but there is something different in the air here. Everywhere you look you’ll see a fabric canopy shade INSTEAD of a traditional umbrella. This blue canopy flows with the ocean breeze making it priceless during windy beach days. And it’s almost always windy.
- Amazon finds
With each family outing we are learning more and more about his new place we now call home. From exploring the beaches, visiting the plantations, or heading to downtown Charleston, we are always on the move and discovering all the beautiful places the lowcountry has to offer.
We’ll see you on our next adventure.
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