Folly Beach County Park

Charleston County Parks beach park at the west end of Folly Island, between the Atlantic and the Folly River. Hours: 8 a.m. to sunset; gate closes to incoming traffic 30 minutes before the park closes. Gate admission, standard vehicles: Jan-Feb $5; Mar $10; Apr $15; May through Labor Day $15 Mon-Fri and $25 Sat-Sun & holidays; September after Labor Day $15; Oct $10; Nov-Dec $5. RV/campers $40/day; buses and large vehicles $75; walk-ins and bicyclists free; Gold Pass members free year-round. 225 parking spaces; the lot often fills by 10:30 a.m. on weekends and holidays. RV and bus traffic is not accommodated on weekends April 1 through Labor Day (limited turning radius). Rentals: beach chair $15/day, umbrella $25/day, two chairs + one umbrella $45/day, boogie board $15/day plus $25 deposit. Snack bar opens April 1. Lifeguards weekends only through end of September, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Dogs: City of Folly Beach ordinance bars dogs from the public beach between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. from May 1 through September 30; at all other times of year dogs are allowed but must be leashed. No alcohol; no smoking, vaping or tobacco. Skimmer Flats, a brown pelican rookery, sits at the park's western edge. Phone 843-795-4386. Roughly 25 miles / 40-50 minutes from Mount Pleasant via the Ravenel Bridge, James Island Connector and SC-171 (approximate; longer in summer beach traffic).