Folly Beach The fun one
~20 min south · Free
Photo: Kevin Weartz
Why it made the list: Charleston's laid-back surf town, all beach shacks, a fishing pier and a walkable main street of bars and taco joints. It's the closest, liveliest beach and the go-to for a classic Lowcountry beach day.
Sullivan's Island The refined one
~20 min east · Free
Photo: Cinthia Valle
Why it made the list: A quiet, upscale residential island with wide, uncrowded sand, a historic lighthouse and a tiny village of excellent restaurants. It's the calmer, more genteel beach, backed by beach houses rather than high-rises.
Isle of Palms The all-rounder
~25 min east · Free
Photo: Piper Simpson
Why it made the list: A classic family beach island with a wide strand, a county park with easy parking, water sports and a cluster of beachfront bars and restaurants. It's the most amenity-friendly beach day near the city.
Kiawah (Beachwalker Park) The natural beauty
~45 min southwest · $
Photo: Michael Childress
Why it made the list: The only public access to gorgeous, resort-lined Kiawah Island, Beachwalker Park is a wide, pristine, dune-backed beach regularly ranked among the best in the country. It's the wild-and-beautiful pick.
Edisto Beach The throwback
~1 hr south · Free
Photo: David McNamara
Why it made the list: A gloriously old-fashioned beach town with no high-rises, no chains and a slow, unspoiled feel, backed by a state park of maritime forest and salt marsh. It's the escape when you want the Lowcountry coast the way it used to be.
⭐ Bonus Pick: Botany Bay & Morris Island
Two more for the adventurous: Botany Bay on Edisto is a hauntingly beautiful 'boneyard beach' of weathered driftwood and dead trees, and the Morris Island Lighthouse, standing offshore beyond Folly, makes a striking sunrise or sunset view from the point.
