Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve Beach
Folly Beach, SC
Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve sits at the undeveloped northeast tip of Folly Island, a short walk from the last parking spot on East Ashley Street to the closest public view of the historic Morris Island Lighthouse. The lighthouse itself now stands a few hundred yards offshore, cut off from land by decades of erosion.
The lighthouse view here is genuinely unlike anything else in the Charleston area, though the walk and the tiny lot keep it a deliberate stop rather than a regular beach day.
How we score beachesDo not try to wade out to the lighthouse at low tide, no matter how close it looks. The currents in the inlet channel are genuinely dangerous, and it's a local rule everyone repeats for a reason.
Limited free parking at the end of East Ashley Street. A $1 self-serve kiosk fee covers preserve entry.
A flat, roughly 0.4 mile walk from the trailhead through the preserve to the lighthouse viewing area, mostly packed sand and dune path.
Open daily sunrise to sunset year-round. Charleston's hurricane season, June through November, is the main seasonal factor to plan around.
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