Folly Beach
Folly Beach, SC
A funky, unpretentious barrier island beach just outside Charleston, with a dependable surf break at the Washout and a fishing pier at the county park end.
A dependable surf break at the Washout and an unpretentious vibe, though metered parking fills early and arriving late means walking in from blocks away.
How we score beachesMetered parking fills fast on weekends, so get there before 10am or plan to walk a few blocks from where you park.
Leashed dogs are allowed on Folly Beach anytime October through April, but from May 1 to September 30 they are banned between 10am and 6pm.
Charleston summers are thick with humidity and the water climbs into the 80s by August, comfortable but sticky enough that locals often prefer the shoulder months. Hurricane season runs through November, so a late season trip is worth watching the tropics for.
More Atlantic Coast beaches
Coast Guard Beach
Eastham, MA · Atlantic Coast
A National Seashore beach backed by grassy dunes and a tidal marsh, with clean Atlantic surf and one of the Cape's most scenic approaches on foot from the parking area.
Surfside Beach
Nantucket, MA · Atlantic Coast
Open Atlantic swell and a wide sandy shoreline about three miles from Nantucket town, popular with locals for its bodysurfing waves and quieter, less commercial feel.
Jones Beach State Park
Wantagh, NY · Atlantic Coast
A classic Long Island beach with six and a half miles of shoreline, a landmark water tower, boardwalk, and a large outdoor amphitheater that hosts concerts through the summer.