Charleston County, SC · Atlantic Ocean

Sullivan's Island Beach

Charleston's upmarket barrier island — Fort Moultrie at the south tip, Battery Gadsden, large historic cottages, and an enforced quiet beach scene (no music, no chairs left overnight, strict alcohol rules). The most polished of the Charleston-area beaches.

Today's Conditions

Ideal for a beach walk.

81°F water · 83°F air

Full NWS forecast for Today

Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. East wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy, with a low around 78. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Weather

83°F air — ideal beach weather
Sunny skies — mostly sunny

Water

81°F water — warm — full-day swim weather

Safety

UV 10 (extreme) — spf 50+ mandatory, limit mid-day exposure

81 /100

great

80 Swim

81 Sunbathe

87 Walk

80 Photo

Best for walking today

Water level 1.0 ft above predicted

Observed water level is running higher than the astronomical tide prediction. Expect a narrower beach, faster-rising water, and stronger near-shore currents than the tide chart suggests.

NOAA station 8665530 · Observed 1.24 ft · Predicted 0.28 ft

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Atmosphere

Air Temp

83°F

Clear

Wind

5 to 10 mph

Rain

Today

UV Peak

10 Very High

High 11 AM–04 PM · burn in ~20m

Burn-free before 09 AM & after 06 PM

Tomorrow

84°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Water

Water Temp

81°F

Swimming weather

Next High Tide

5:54 PM

5.6 ft · in 3.2h

Barometer

30.08 inHg

Rising 1.4 hPa / 3h

Water Quality

Clean

10 MPN/100mL · Enterococcus

USGS · sampled 2mo ago

Sun & Moon

Sunrise

6:12 AM

Sunset

8:31 PM

Moon · 80%

Waxing Gibbous

Neap tides — smaller range

Today's Tides

7-day chart →

Time	Type	Height
5:03 AM	High	4.4 ft
11:16 AM	Low	0.3 ft
5:54 PM	High	5.6 ft

7-Day Beach Day Forecast

Today Jun 25

83°

Mostly Sunny

Fri Jun 26

84°

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

30%

Sat Jun 27

86°

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

23%

Sun Jun 28

90°

Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

33%

Mon Jun 29

89°

Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

34%

Tue Jun 30

87°

Sunny

14%

Wed Jul 1

88°

Sunny

What to Bring Today

critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 10 — very high
recommended Umbrella or shade warm day, light wind
optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 81°F

Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).

Beach Info

Parking

Free street parking only — limited spaces, no public lots. Bike from Charleston via the Ravenel Bridge if you can.

Dogs

May 1 – Sep 30: dogs allowed on the beach only 6 PM – 10 AM (off-leash 5 AM – 10 AM, on-leash 6 PM – 5 AM); prohibited 10 AM – 6 PM. Oct 1 – April 30: off-leash 5 AM – noon, on-leash noon – 5 AM. Town dog license required.

Entry Fee

Free

Address

Middle St, Sullivan's Island, SC 29482

Amenities

fort historic siterestaurants nearbyno restrooms on most of the beach

7-Day Tide Chart →

Full high/low predictions for the next week at Sullivan's Island Beach.

7-Day Weather →

Extended forecast for Sullivan's Island Beach from the National Weather Service.

Frequently Asked

Is Sullivan's Island Beach dog-friendly?

Is there an entry fee at Sullivan's Island Beach?

Entry to Sullivan's Island Beach is free.

Are there lifeguards at Sullivan's Island Beach?

No lifeguards are stationed at Sullivan's Island Beach. Swim at your own risk and keep close watch on children.

What amenities are at Sullivan's Island Beach?

Amenities at Sullivan's Island Beach include fort historic site, restaurants nearby, no restrooms on most of the beach.

When is the water warmest at Sullivan's Island Beach?

Atlantic water temperatures peak in August. Northern beaches (ME, NH, MA) run cool — typically 60-68°F at the summer peak. Mid-Atlantic (NJ, DE, MD, VA) hits 74-76°F. The Carolinas and Florida Atlantic warm into the 80s and stay swimmable from May through October.

Where is Sullivan's Island Beach located?

Sullivan's Island Beach is in Charleston County, SC, at Middle St, Sullivan's Island, SC 29482.