Beach Parks

Beach Season Visitation

From spring break all the way through September, weekdays see quieter beaches while weekends, holidays, and the occasional Friday draw in larger crowds. Please take note of the following to help make your next visit to the beach a breeze!

Pay attention to the digital highway signs as you approach the islands. Parking lot status is updated in real time by park staff.

Kiawah Island

Kiawah Beachwalker Park has 150 parking spots and usually fills to capacity by 10:30 a.m. during the summer. The Town of Kiawah enforces a traffic ordinance that prohibits vehicles from idling or parking outside the entrance to Kiawah Beachwalker Park. If the park is full when you arrive, our staff can add you to a virtual line. Timely updates and text notifications alert customers as they move to the front of the queue. Parking for buses, RVs, and/or campers is never guaranteed, even on weekdays.

Isle of Palms

Isle of Palms County Park has 445 parking spots and usually fills to capacity by 10:30 a.m. on weekends and holidays, with spots becoming available again more consistently late-afternoon. When our parking lot is full, police will allow up to about 20 vehicles to wait in line for spaces to open. Once the turn lane outside the park is full, police direct vehicles to keep moving to other parking areas that are not operated by Charleston County Parks. Be aware of City of Isle of Palms parking ordinances. There are only two lanes of traffic leaving Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island. On a crowded day, if weather or other event creates a reason for everyone to try leaving the islands at once, traffic will back up, and it may take up to two hours for our lot to empty.

Folly Beach

Folly Beach County Park has 225 parking spots and usually fills to capacity by 10:30 a.m. on the weekends and holidays, with spots becoming available again more consistently late-afternoon. When the parking lot is full, please look for City of Folly Beach parking lots on West Ashley Avenue to prevent the blocking of roads and driveways. Be aware of City of Folly Beach parking ordinances in order to avoid being towed or ticketed.

Pets on the Beach

Pets must always remain leashed within the parks, and each municipality has their own ordinances pertaining to dogs on the beach:

• City of Folly Beach
• City of Isle of Palms 
• Town of Kiawah Island

Alcohol & Smoking

• Possession or consumption of alcohol is not allowed at any of the beach parks.
• Smoking, vaping or tobacco use is prohibited.

Other Resources

Keep up to date on the latest beach traffic reports by downloading the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Government’s Beach Reach app on available for Apple and Android, or by visiting ABC News 4 Beach Information Page.