beach access at dawn - Folly Beach, Sullivan's Island, or Isle of Palms (Charleston: houses)

[OneVoice]

My wife and I will be staying in Charleston for several days in August for our anniversary, and I would like to take my wife to the beach a few times.

We would like to avoid crowds, and especially young crowds, and we're willing to get to the beach at the crack of dawn to do so. (Other advantages of doing so, of course, are watching the sunrise and combing the beach.) But Folly Beach County Park and Isle of Palms County Park don't open until 9:00 a.m. We would actually want to leave by 9:00 or 10:00 a.m. to return to Charleston and enjoy the sites there.

Someone mentioned that he likes going to the beach at Sullivan's Island, but the last time I was there I could not find any points of beach access. I guess I assumed that if there was a house right there next to the beach, I couldn't use that stretch of the beach. Also, there didn't seem to be any parking.

What suggestions do you have concerning getting access to the beach at early hours of the morning? Also, do any of you know of areas near Charleston where you get access to the beach that are away from the main beach access points?

I appreciate any help.

[USCJoe]

You can gain access to the Isle of Palms Beach as well as Sullivan's Island beach at any time. There are multiple access paths to the beach in both communities, almost at the end of most of the streets that run perpendicular to the beach. You can generally park along most of the sides of the road in both communities as long as there is not a "no parking" sign. Generally they want your tires to be off the hard surface of the road.

[snapdragon]

You can go to Folly beach without going to the "park". Just turn left instead of right at the end of the highway. That part is open all the time too. I've been for dawn and it's very quite. The further you drive the fewer surfers you will see. Also you'll see small parking areas in between houses that have a boardwalk over the dunes.

p.s. the houses do not own any of the beach, so you are free to walk wherever you like.

[Beachside]

Sullivans would be the most private, quiet beach. And then I'd try Isle Of Palms, but do not use the public park parking.

Be careful to make sure your tires are well off the pavement. I got a ticket last year for parking less than the required space off the street.

[Charleston native]

Northern Folly, past the Washout, is easily accessible and has much less people. When you get to the end of the island, you'll even be able to see a close-up view of Morris Island lighthouse, and at sunrise, it's quite beautiful. For IOP and Sullivan's you also have many different areas for access. A great place for beach access on Sullivan's is near the lighthouse, and the access points are called Stations 19 or 21. The area there is very quiet in the mornings.

[Lynda Darnell]

Charleston Area Convention & Visitor Bureau - Charleston, SC

All good tips. Check out this day by day event calendar. Also, you can get another Charleston site with webcams....views of different areas of beach 24/7 so you can see the numbers.