Best beaches in Charleston

Isle of Palms Beach

Vast sweep of sand with outdoor showers & summer lifeguards, plus beach chair & umbrella rentals.

Sullivan's Island Beach

Spacious, sandy beach with a quiet vibe, a wooden boardwalk & a square-shaped lighthouse.

Folly Beach

Barrier island beach six miles from downtown, known for its pier, surf breaks, and unpretentious crowd.

Folly Beach

Six miles of Atlantic shoreline with reliable surf breaks, a fishing pier, and a crowd that skews young and salt-worn.

Station 18 Beach

Quiet residential beach access on Sullivan's Island at Station 18, with free street parking and a short boardwalk over the dunes.

The Beach Club

Private oceanfront club on Kiawah Island's ten-mile stretch of Atlantic beach, open to resort guests and property owners.

Station 29 - - Public Beach Access

Unmarked beach access point at Station 29 on Sullivan's Island, where the Atlantic hits a wide, relatively uncrowded stretch of shore.

Station 22 - Public Beach Access

Unmarked access point through the dunes at Pettigrew Street, where Sullivan's Island locals park free and walk straight to the Atlantic.

Front Beach IOP

Seabrook Island Beach

Wadmalaw Island

Bowen Island

Sullivan's Island

Wide quiet beaches, no high-rises, and a tiny strip of restaurants. Bring beach chairs.

Isle of Palms

Family-friendly beach town with a pier, a county park, and easy parking.

Seabrook Beach

Beyond its wide sandy beach, this island locale features golf courses & tennis courts.

Station 28 Street

Station 22 Street

Folly Beach

Charleston's closest surf town. Six miles of sand, pier fishing, and the iconic Washout break.