Folly Beach, South Carolina
Folly Beach is a city of 1,267 people in Charleston County, South Carolina, founded in 1938.
Why visit Folly Beach
Townapedia lists 16 museums and landmarks, 7 parks and trails, 27 places to eat and 2 places to stay in and around town.
Highlights include Secessionville Historic District, Fort Pringle, Folly Beach County Park and Sunset Cay Marina.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 88°F; January lows average 44°F.
Weather in Folly Beach
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Folly Beach
Folly Beach is a public city on Folly Island in Charleston County, South Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 census, Folly Beach had a population of 2,078. Folly Beach is within the Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville metropolitan area and the Charleston-North Charleston Urbanized Areas.
From the Wikipedia article Folly Beach, South Carolina (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks16
Secessionville Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.7 mi
Historic district in South Carolina, United States
Fort Pringle
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.4 mi
Fort in South Carolina
Fort Trenholm
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.4 mi
Historic (1864) artillery battery located at Johns Island, Charleston, South Carolina
Morris Island Light
Lighthouse · National Register of Historic Places · 4.8 mi
Lighthouse in South Carolina, United States
Mosquito Beach Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.3 mi
Historic district in James Island, South Carolina, United States
Moving Star Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.9 mi
Community center in Charleston County, South Carolina, USA
Seashore Farmers' Lodge No. 767
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Building in South Carolina, United States
The Progressive Club
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.8 mi
Clubhouse in Charleston County, South Carolina
Battery LeRoy
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.3 mi
Battery No. 1
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.3 mi
Battery No. 5
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.7 mi
Battery Tynes
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.2 mi
4 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds7
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Restaurants and cafes27
Taco Boy
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.5 mi
American-Mexican sit-down Taco restaurant with 2 bars.
106 East Ashley Avenue, Folly Beach
Su-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-01:00
Planet Follywood Beach Bar
Restaurant · Burger, Regional, Sandwich · 1.4 mi
32A Center Street, Folly Beach
Mo,We-Fr 11:00-02:00; Tu 15:00-02:00; Sa,Su 08:00-02:00
The Drop In Bar & Deli
Restaurant · Burger, Sandwich, Sushi · 1.4 mi
32B Center Street, Folly Beach
11:00-02:00
Folly Beach Crab Shack
Restaurant · Seafood · 1.4 mi
26 Center Street, Folly Beach
Mo-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-22:30; Su 11:00-22:00
Lost Dog Cafe
Restaurant · 1.3 mi
106 West Huron Avenue, Folly Beach
Su 06:30-14:00; Mo-Sa 06:30-15:00
Dolce Banana Cafe
Ice cream · Frozen Yogurt · 1.5 mi
Mo-Fr 09:00-20:00; Sa,Su 09:00-22:00
15 more on the map.
Where to stay2
History
The Folly North Site (38CH1213) and Secessionville Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
From the History section of Folly Beach, South Carolina on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship2
Shopping4
Gas and EV charging1
Schools, colleges and libraries12
Charleston Advancement Academy High School
School · 4.4 mi
1484 Camp Road, Charleston
Map of Folly Beach
71 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58°F | 44°F | 2.6 in |
| Feb | 60°F | 46°F | 2.6 in |
| Mar | 66°F | 52°F | 3.0 in |
| Apr | 72°F | 60°F | 3.0 in |
| May | 79°F | 68°F | 2.6 in |
| Jun | 84°F | 74°F | 4.8 in |
| Jul | 88°F | 77°F | 5.1 in |
| Aug | 86°F | 76°F | 6.1 in |
| Sep | 83°F | 72°F | 5.2 in |
| Oct | 76°F | 63°F | 4.1 in |
| Nov | 67°F | 53°F | 2.3 in |
| Dec | 61°F | 47°F | 2.9 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Charleston City Hcn (8 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Charleston County has had 23 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-01-23: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2024-09-26: Hurricane Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-08-05: Hurricane Debby (Tropical Storm)
- 2023-08-31: Hurricane Idalia (Hurricane)
- 2022-11-21: Hurricane Ian (Hurricane)
- 2022-09-29: Hurricane Ian (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Charleston International Airport (CHS) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 17 miles away.
- James Island 5 mi north, about 8 min by car
- Charleston 11 mi north, about 18 min by car
- Mount Pleasant 11 mi northeast, about 18 min by car
- North Charleston 18 mi north, about 29 min by car
- Hanahan 18 mi north, about 29 min by car
- Goose Creek 23 mi north, about 36 min by car
- Edisto Beach 24 mi southwest, about 38 min by car
- Ladson 25 mi north, about 40 min by car
- Summerville 26 mi northwest, about 43 min by car
- Awendaw 27 mi northeast, about 44 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Folly Beach, South Carolina, May 2007, Brian Stansberry at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Airboats at Folly Beach (19902050943), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region, Public domain
- Violas on Folly Beach - panoramio, RJ Matthews, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Greetings from Folly Beach, South Carolina - Large Letter Postcard (9259284707), Steve Shook from Moscow, Idaho, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Sunset On Folly Beach - panoramio, RJ Matthews, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Feral pigeons, Folly Beach, South Carolina - panoramio, RJ Matthews, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Secessionville-obelisk-sc1, Brian Stansberry (photographer), CC BY 3.0
- Seashore Farmers' Lodge No. 767 2, Ammodramus, CC0
- Remains of the progressive club, Cantbeatpie, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Morris island light, The original uploader was Rageousgtx at English Wikipedia ., Public domain
- Charleston County, SC, USA - panoramio - olekinderhook, olekinderhook, CC BY 3.0
- Ravenel Bridge - panoramio, Scott Cameron, CC BY 3.0
- The Painted Boat - panoramio, Scott Cameron, CC BY 3.0
- Century Plant - panoramio, RJ Matthews, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sunset at Sunset Cay Marina - panoramio, RJ Matthews, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sunset - panoramio (298), RJ Matthews, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Mosquito Beach Historic District 2021b, Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mosquito Beach Historic District 2021d, Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mosquito Beach Historic District 2021e, Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mosquito Beach Historic District 2021c, Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mosquito Beach Historic District 2021f, Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mosquito Beach Historic District 2021a, Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Picture in The Lost Dog - panoramio, RJ Matthews, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Lost Dog - panoramio, RJ Matthews, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Cutest Poem Ever - panoramio, RJ Matthews, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Azaleas - panoramio, RJ Matthews, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Palms Silhouette - panoramio, RJ Matthews, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sunset Cay Marina - panoramio, RJ Matthews, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Dolphin Fountain - panoramio, RJ Matthews, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Taco Boy - panoramio, RJ Matthews, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Yellow on the Beach - panoramio, RJ Matthews, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Folly Pier - panoramio, RJ Matthews, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Folly Pier, ProfReader, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Blackbird - panoramio (1), RJ Matthews, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Folly Pier - panoramio (1), RJ Matthews, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Bird under the Pier - panoramio, RJ Matthews, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Staring into the sea, OldLadySalt2020, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Under the Pier - panoramio, RJ Matthews, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Somewhere on Tradd Street - panoramio, RJ Matthews, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Pelicans in Flight - panoramio, RJ Matthews, CC BY-SA 3.0
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