Closest Beaches

Beaches Near Charleston, SC

Charleston is a coastal city with several barrier-island beaches inside its metro. Folly Beach is about 12 miles south of downtown, and Sullivan's Island plus Isle of Palms sit roughly the same distance east across the harbor. Water stays swimmable from May through October.

Plan This Week

Thursday looks like the best day across this list.

Strongest single forecast: Myrtle Beach on Thursday (81).

Within 60 mi

Sullivan's Island Beach

5.7 mi · ~8 min drive · Charleston County, SC

Skip the beach today.

87°F water 92°F air 9 to 14 mph wind Best this week: Thursday (75)

Folly Beach

8.4 mi · ~12 min drive · Charleston County, SC

Skip the beach today.

87°F water 89°F air 13 to 16 mph wind Best this week: Thursday (75)

Isle of Palms

10 mi · ~15 min drive · Charleston County, SC

Skip the beach today.

87°F water 88°F air 10 to 15 mph wind Best this week: Thursday (75)

Edisto Beach State Park

29 mi · ~42 min drive · Colleton County, SC

Skip the beach today.

92°F air 9 to 14 mph wind Best this week: Friday (73)

Pawleys Island

65 mi · ~1 hr 33 min drive · Georgetown County, SC

Skip the beach today.

91°F air 6 to 10 mph wind Best this week: Thursday (77)

Hilton Head Island

66 mi · ~1 hr 34 min drive · Beaufort County, SC

Skip the beach today.

96°F air 7 to 10 mph wind Best this week: Thursday (45)

Litchfield Beach

68 mi · ~1 hr 37 min drive · Georgetown County, SC

Skip the beach today.

90°F air 7 to 13 mph wind Best this week: Thursday (79)

Tybee Island Beach

74 mi · ~1 hr 47 min drive · Chatham County, GA

Skip the beach today.

87°F water 93°F air 10 to 16 mph wind Best this week: Saturday (39)

Garden City Beach

78 mi · ~1 hr 52 min drive · Horry County, SC

Skip the beach today.

91°F air 6 to 9 mph wind Best this week: Thursday (74)

Surfside Beach (SC)

80 mi · ~1 hr 55 min drive · Horry County, SC

Skip the beach today.

84°F water 89°F air 7 to 12 mph wind Best this week: Friday (77)

Myrtle Beach

89 mi · ~2 hr 8 min drive · Horry County, SC

Skip the beach today.

84°F water 88°F air 6 to 10 mph wind Best this week: Thursday (81)

North Myrtle Beach

102 mi · ~2 hr 27 min drive · Horry County, SC

Skip the beach today.

84°F water 90°F air 5 to 8 mph wind Best this week: Thursday (77)

Sunset Beach

111 mi · ~2 hr 40 min drive · Brunswick County, NC

Mixed conditions today.

88°F air 6 to 9 mph wind Best this week: Thursday (78)

Holden Beach

122 mi · ~2 hr 56 min drive · Brunswick County, NC

Skip the beach today.

89°F air 8 mph wind Best this week: Thursday (76)

Oak Island Beach

131 mi · ~3 hr 8 min drive · Brunswick County, NC

Mixed conditions today.

89°F air 8 mph wind Best this week: Thursday (78)

St. Simons Island Beach

141 mi · ~3 hr 23 min drive · Glynn County, GA

Skip the beach today.

92°F air 9 to 14 mph wind Best this week: Friday (45)

Kure Beach

143 mi · ~3 hr 27 min drive · New Hanover County, NC

Skip the beach today.

82°F water 86°F air 9 mph wind Best this week: Thursday (81)

Carolina Beach

146 mi · ~3 hr 31 min drive · New Hanover County, NC

Skip the beach today.

82°F water 88°F air 6 to 9 mph wind Best this week: Thursday (79)

Jekyll Island Beach

147 mi · ~3 hr 31 min drive · Glynn County, GA

Skip the beach today.

92°F air 9 to 13 mph wind Best this week: Friday (47)

Wrightsville Beach

158 mi · ~3 hr 47 min drive · New Hanover County, NC

Skip the beach today.

82°F water 86°F air 7 to 10 mph wind Best this week: Thursday (80)

Cumberland Island National Seashore

161 mi · ~3 hr 51 min drive · Camden County, GA

Skip the beach today.

93°F air 7 to 10 mph wind Best this week: Friday (40)

Topsail Beach

172 mi · ~4 hr 8 min drive · Pender County, NC

Skip the beach today.

88°F air 5 to 8 mph wind Best this week: Thursday (75)

Amelia Island Beach

175 mi · ~4 hr 13 min drive · Nassau County, FL

Skip the beach today.

91°F air 8 to 13 mph wind Best this week: Friday (45)

Surf City Beach

178 mi · ~4 hr 17 min drive · Pender County, NC

Skip the beach today.

86°F air 8 mph wind Best this week: Thursday (77)

North Topsail Beach

186 mi · ~4 hr 28 min drive · Onslow County, NC

Skip the beach today.

88°F air 7 mph wind Best this week: Thursday (76)

Distance is straight-line, drive times are estimates

Mileage shown is straight-line distance from the center of Charleston. Real drive times depend on highway routing, weekend traffic, and where in the metro you start. For summer Saturdays, plan 20–40 minutes longer than the estimates here. The range slider above filters by the same straight-line distance.