Isle of Palms Beach - Parking & General Questions (Charleston: buy, restaurants)

[JanuaryGirl]

My husband and I are thinking of driving down to Isle of Palms from Charlotte, NC this weekend. How bad is parking? Is there NO parking by mid-day, or just a longer walk? We don't mind paying, I've heard there is parking at the county park.... where is that exactly? does it tend to fill up? do we need a special parks pass? If parking is really bad there, is there another beach you'd recommend instead?

Also, this is kind of silly, but are there restrooms and changing areas by the beach? What about stands or restaurants to get lunch?

Thanks for any help! We just moved to the southeast last year, so we've only been to the coast up by the Outer Banks so we're not sure what to expect in SC!

[Maryjane55us]

From 17, after you get on the IOP Connector in Mt Pleasant follow it til you pass over the bridge and get to the island's main stop light. Go THRU the stop light and the County Park is on the left right just before the road curves to the right. All the eating places and shops, and other parking spots are in that section.

I'm not local so I don't know how fast the parking fills up on a summer weekend, but I imagine pretty fast. If you leave Charlotte at 5am you might get there just as the County park opens.

The County Park is the spot if you need restrooms and changing spots. I think the parking is $5 ? Haven't been there in awhile..

I was going to let the locals tell you, but it's getting close to the weekend..

[beachme]

The county park is very easy to find and parking is plentiful. The park also has showers/changing cabanas/grills and it is very nice and clean. Perfect place to park and it is on the beach. I believe Mary Jane is correct the charge is $5. If you just looking for beach access you can park along the road and enter the beach anywhere, but you will have no restroom access.

Just go over the IOP connector and go straight thru the traffic light. Park and Beach is on your left.

For your first visit I recommend the county beach parking.

[Buckeye in SC]

Originally Posted by beachme

The county park is very easy to find and parking is plentiful. The park also has showers/changing cabanas/grills and it is very nice and clean. Perfect place to park and it is on the beach. I believe Mary Jane is correct the charge is $5 .

Actually, I think the parking for the county park is $7, most of the other lots are $5 though for the whole day. By mid-day, unless you are willing to drive around for a long time, you aren't likely to get parking on the street if you were to go past the county park. On the street it is $.75/hour which is a pretty good deal unless you are someone that stays at the beach literally all day. We typically only stay 3-4 hours, but those are pretty much your options.

[discgolf]

Is there anywhere to park in Isle of Palms or Sullivan's Island that has something like a monthly pass where you pay a flat rate instead of paying $5 every time you want to go to the beach??

[ohioaninsc]

I have a Charleston County Parks annual pass...cost is like $50, but I use all my Piggly Wiggly Greenbacks to pay for it...the IOP County Park is filled by Noon on weekends, not sure about during the week...you can still get in, as people leave, but it can take a while to get parked...

[stephz1008]

Parking at IOP County park is $7, if you buy the "Gold Pass" it is $75 for non residents, $55 for Charleston County Residents, $60 for non-resident seniors and $40 for Charleston County Residednt Seniors.