Center St. (TRI-064)

Photo by Doug Kerr

Center Street is, as the name suggests, the center of Folly Beach! Here, beachgoers can enjoy access to the main part of town and the Folly Beach Pier. Folly Beach Pier is outfitted with everything you need to have a relaxing, fun time at the beach, and is completely ADA accessible! Changing rooms, showers, trash and recycling bins, and picnic tables are on the first floor, while restrooms, outdoor seating, a gift shop with hand-scooped icecream, and Pier 101, a chill waterfront pub with casual seafood meals and outdoor seating, are on the second floor. Folly Beach Pier is open from 8AM-9PM and has a parking lot with paid hourly parking.

Located on former Bohicket tribal land, Folly Beach is a 6-mile stretch of sandy beach that locals call the “Edge of America.” Once used as a strategic base by the Federal Army for the battle to take Fort Sumter, Folly Beach is now a beautiful, laidback, surfer-friendly beach that is home to 2,400 residents and countless numbers of visitors each year! With ample parking lots and street parking (keep all four tires off the road!), fantastic restaurants, bars, and beach supply shops, Folly has everything you need to have a great time at the beach. Folly Beach is open from 8AM-10PM. Do not to litter, walk on the sand dunes, bring plastic/glass containers, or consume alcohol on the beach. Dogs must be leashed at all times and are not allowed on the beach from 10am-6pm May 1 through September 30. Look out for common wildlife such as brown pelicans, laughing gulls (given the chance they will steal your food!), fish crows, hermit crabs, horseshoe crabs, sand dollars, loggerhead sea turtles, Atlantic dolphins, and much more!

Visit https://www.follybeach.com for more information on regulations and rentals.

If you want more information on the City of Folly Beach and its history, check out https://www.cityoffollybeach.com/about-folly/.

Get directions to this beach

Water Quality

Passed water quality tests at least 95% of the time
Historical Status
This status is based on the latest sample, taken on May 2nd, 2023. Charleston Waterkeeper updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on May 12th, 2023 at 9:26 AM.

For water quality icon legend, click:

Current Weather

15°C

Mostly clear

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Monitoring Frequency

Source Information

Through its Beach Monitoring Program, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) monitors the level of enterococcus bacteria at 122 sites along South Carolina’s coast. Testing is conducted during the beach season from May 15th to October 15th. Monitoring levels of enterococcus bacteria is the best way to determine whether disease-causing pathogens may be present in ocean water.

DHEC monitors 27 sites at our local beaches (Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island, Folly Beach, Kiawah, and Seabrook). Monitoring sites are located near public access points to ensure the public’s safety. DHEC monitors our local beaches twice a month. When sample results are published on the Program’s website, Charleston Waterkeeper updates Swim Guide.

A “Green” site = test result of 103 MPN/100 mL or lower OR a test result between 104 and 500 MPN/100 mL followed by a test result the next day of LESS than 104 MPN/100 mL

A “Red” site = a test result of 500 MPN/100 mL or higher OR a test result between 104 and 500 MPN/100 mL followed by a test result the next day of 104 MPN/100 mL or GREATER

A “Gray” site = no test result

Water Quality Graph