I have had three months to enjoy the city of Charleston and I think you and I both know that I would be lying if I said that I didn’t spend the majority of my time at the beach.
The ocean is my absolute favorite place to be and after three months in the desert, I couldn’t wait to get back to the coast and indulge in everything coastal.
Downtown Charleston is great, but my favorite things here were the beautiful beaches that the surrounding barrier islands had to offer.
If you are a local resident, or a short-term renter like me, you have the ability to purchase a Charleston County Park pass that allows you entry into all of the paid county parks within the area. This park pass cost about $85 however, I thought that it was a well worth it purchase. Parking on the weekends at the country parks could run you about $20 a day during the summer months.
Insane, but I get it.
Now that we have our park pass, let’s talk about the beaches themselves.
There are six major beaches that are considered to be around the Charleston area. While there aren’t any beaches within Charleston proper, there are plenty of beautiful sandy shores within close proximity to the city itself.
Working our way from north to south there is:
- Isle of Palms
- Sullivans Island
- Folly Beach
- Kiawah Island
- Seabrook Island
- Edisto Beach
While I was in the area, I had the opportunity of visiting 4 out of 6 of these, I absolutely had a favorite but they were all incredible in their own ways.
Isle of Palms is one of the best family beaches in the area and is considered a top resort island. It offers 7 miles of beach access with 57 public beach access paths, it is incredibly accessible. This island also has a world-class golf course that is located right on the ocean. I loved the county park here and frequented it often, with the beautifully kept grounds, plenty of showers, changing stalls and chair and umbrella rentals.
One important thing to note, dogs are allowed on the beaches of IOP, but must remained leashed unless there is a posted sign with times that they can be left off of their leash.
Outside of the beach, I also enjoyed walking and exploring the Breach Inlet where the shelling and wildlife sightings were top tier. Almost every time that I visited, I saw dolphins, this was the cherry on top! It was also located across the street from the Boathouse, which was a restaurant that I came to love with an unbeatable view and great happy hour!
Sullivans Island is a neighboring island to the Isle of Palms and offers 2.5 miles of shoreline. This island is at the tip of the Charleston Harbor and is a great location for sunset walks with unbeatable views of the Ravenel Bridge. The beach was also a favorite of mine for walks following storms, as there were lots of seashells and sand dollars on the shoreline.
Here you can find a handful of local restaurants, my favorite being the Obstinate Daughter. This beach is also family friendly but does not have a country park or facilities for the public to use! Be ready to grab your beach bag and chair to walk along the long Lowcountry boardwalks to get to the shore. The parking here is free but limited. As always, arrive early to ensure that you can grab a parking spot!
Folly Beach is an area favorite that is frequented by surfer’s and lots of tourists. Out of all of the beaches that the area has to offer, this is far, in my opinion, the most crowded and offers the most party-like atmosphere.
There are lots of restaurants, tourist shops, hotels and rentals located on this island. There are over 6 miles of shoreline on this barrier island. Like IOP, there is a county park here that you can use either your park pass to get into, or pay $15 to park here for the day.
The beaches here are well known for their shelling and shark tooth hunting! Be sure to spend some time at low tide exploring the shores, I was pleasantly surprised at how many crabs and starfish I was able to find!
One of my favorite areas on Folly would be on the north end of the island where you can walk to the very end and view the Morris Island Lighthouse. Again, this is another great area to look for shark teeth if that is something that you are interested in!
This is a popular destination, so plan accordingly and be patient!
Kiawah Island is known as one of the country’s most beautiful barrier islands offering 10 miles of coastline. Majority of the beachfront is under private ownership but the public can access the beach at the southern end of the island at Beachwalker Park. Parking here costs from $5 to $15 depending on the season you are visiting. From here you can enjoy all that this island has to offer without being a homeowner.
This island is located 45 minutes from downtown Charleston and you have to pass through John’s Island to get there. Canoeing and kayaking are popular around the Kiawah River and if you are lucky enough, you might just spot some dolphins where the river meets the ocean.
The beach here is best for those that are looking for a more private, relaxing area with plentiful wildlife, then this barrier island should be your destination of choice.
Seabrook Island is another private, residential beachfront community that is home to 4 miles of pristine sandy shores to enjoy and is generally quieter than the neighboring islands in the area. This beach is located about an hour from downtown Charleston, but is absolutely worth the drive if you can make it.
The community is strict about parking on the island, understandable so, so if you are headed to this area be mindful of the public parking areas which are close to the boardwalks and specifically designated areas at the Island House.
All that is to say that if you are looking for a more laid-back beach experience and picnicking by the shore than having surf shops and many restaurants to choose from, then this is the spot for you!
Edisto Island is another barrier island located about an hour outside of downtown Charleston. This was one of my favorite finds in the area, and I am so glad that I did not miss visiting this beach.
Located at the southern tip of the island there is four and a half miles of coastline for the public to join. You can also enjoy the beach from the access at the State Park that costs $8 for the day or at any of the 37 different access points along the island.
This is a very family friendly area that offers some local restaurants and bars but is typically less crowded and peaceful than other islands within the area.
If you don’t mind taking a day trip this is an absolute not miss with its remarkable shelling and uncrowded beach front. Two other locations on the island not to miss are Botany Bay and Jeremy’s Inlet.
Beach lovers, seashell hunters, sun worshipers and wildlife enthusiasts have a plethora of options to choose from when visiting the Charleston area. I can assure you that any of the above discussed beaches are great places to visit.
I could have spent many more weekends exploring the beaches in this area. Fingers crossed that I will be returning and will have the opportunity to do just that!