Folly Beach vs Isle of Palms | Which Charleston Beach Is Best?
While Folly Beach, aka “the Edge of America” and Isle of Palms are both barrier island beaches in the Charleston area of South Carolina, within a quick drive of Downtown Charleston, they’re both really unique beach destinations that deserve their own visit – whether it be for a day or a full week. I’ve visited both, and love them each for many different reasons. In this guide you’ll find out everything you should know when comparing Folly Beach vs Isle of Palms, so you can choose the spot that’s best for you.
- Isle of Palms is best for : Families, golfers, nature lovers
- Folly Beach is best for : Surfers, nightlife crowd, bachelorettes & bachelor parties, single people
How Far Is Isle of Palms And Folly Beach From Charleston South Carolina & the CHS Airport?
Both Isle of Palms and Folly Beach are both within about a 20 to 30 minute drive of Downtown Charleston and pretty equal distances. You’ll find the exact stats below.
Downtown Charleston to Isle of Palms = 28 minutes / 15.4 miles
Downtown Charleston to Folly Beach = 25 minutes / 12 miles
During traffic you can expect the drive to be up to 45 minutes whether you’re heading to Isle of Palms or Folly Beach.
That being said, Isle of Palms is much closer to the historical sights of Charleston like Fort Sumpter and Patriots Point. Folly Beach on the other hand is closer to North Charleston, the West Ashley and Johns Island areas.
Cost Differences of Folly Beach vs Isle of Palms
Folly Beach is generally going to be less expensive than Isle of Palms, but not by much.
The reasons for this is that as you’ll see below, Isle of Palms has pricier accommodation options. Also, Isle of Palms is a golfing destination which is expensive in and of itself. Lastly, Isle of Palms is more spread apart which could require more spending on transportation whether it be Ubers, a golf cart rental or parking, where Folly Beach is mostly walkable.
Resorts & Where to Stay
Isle of Palms’s is home to the sprawling 1,600 sq acre Wild Dunes Resort. Along with Wild Dunes there are a few small hotels along the beach as well as generally higher cost vacation rentals.
When it comes to where to stay in Folly Beach, you’ll find several small boutique hotels, including the oceanfront Tides hotel, and lots of eclectic vacation rentals spread along the beach.
Generally when comparing Folly Beach vs Isle of Palms hotels & vacation rentals, Folly Beach will be slightly more budget-friendly in comparison, but not by much.
This is because these are small beach towns when compared to large beach destinations like Myrtle Beach or Hilton Head, and you’re paying for the exclusivity and less crowds. It’s 100% worth it!
Getting Around Folly Beach vs Isle of Palms
When looking into getting around Folly Beach vs Isle of Palms, you’ll notice that both are about 5 1/2 to 6 miles long. That being said, Sullivans Island is the next beach down from Isle of Palms, which you may want to check out during your vacation, and the best restaurants in Isle of Palms outside of the Wild Dunes resort can be a little more spread out.
This makes Isle of Palms generally more spread apart and harder to get around in comparison to Folly Beach.
Folly Beach has a lot of places you can stay that are within walking distance of all of your dining and entertainment options on Center Street, and Folly Beach is definitely a more walkable beach town compared to Isle of Palms.
Most restaurants, shops and entertainment are located along Center St and W Ashley Ave within a 2-3 block radius. That being said, a lot of the vacation rentals are farther down the beach in either direction, along with the beautiful Folly Beach County Park, so you will either need a car, or to rent a golf cart or bikes if you choose to stay in these farther out areas.
Whether you stay in Isle of Palms or Folly Beach, you can rent a golf cart to get around faster. This would be more necessary in Isle of Palms.
Dining at Folly Beach vs Isle of Palms
There are fantastic dining options at both Folly Beach and Isle of Palms, so they are pretty equally matched here, although Isle of Palms has more dress-up worthy options.
At Isle of Palms, you’ll find more fine dining options. Don’t miss the The Refuge, Islander 71 Fish House and Raw Bar, The Boathouse. The The Obstinate Daughter and Acme Lowcountry Kitchen are also excellent dining choices right close by in Sullivan’s Island.
Folly Beach has lots of great restaurants which have an eclectic, casual atmosphere. Some highlights are Jack of Cups Saloon, BLU Beachfront Grill, Chico Feo, Rita’s, Taco Boy for the atmosphere, Woody’s Pizza and Alfredo’s.
Bar Scene & Nightlife at Folly Beach vs Isle of Palms
Folly Beach is the beach for casual bars with almost a Caribbean feel to them, which will be lively during the warm weather seasons until past midnight with live music and a fun crowd, so Folly Beach is the better nightlife beach. Isle of Palms is more family oriented with just one live music bar.
Folly Beach is the better destination for their bar scene and nightlife. There are multiple bars with live music regularly, and lots of great beachy bars with a chill atmosphere. On any given night, especially during the spring break and summer seasons, there will be multiple live music acts per night spread out throughout the bar scene at places like Loggerheads, The Washout and Bounty Bar.
Although Isle of Palms doesn’t have nearly the same amount of nightlife as Folly Beach, the Windjammer is the spot to be for live music and nightlife on the barrier island.
Things to See & Do In Folly Beach vs Isle of Palms
When comparing Folly Beach vs Isle of Palms, the main attraction at both is of course the beautiful beaches. But outside of that there is lots to do at both! These are the best things to see and do at each.
Golfing
Isle of Palms is known as a world-class destination for Golfers.
Wild Dunes on Isle of Palms has two destination-worthy golf courses designed by Tom Fazio and great for all levels. If you have a golfer in your family, Isle of Palms is the best choice for a beach destination near Charleston.
Both golf courses are beautiful with lush foliage native to the area and water views, so even if you aren’t a golfer, riding along with the golfer in your group is the perfect relaxing morning activity. I’ve done this twice with my husband and would gladly join along again!
Surfing
Folly Beach is the best surfing beach in South Carolina.
Folly Beach is not only the better beach for surfing in comparison to Isle of Palms but the best one in South Carolina. The Folly Beach Pier and the Washout are two surf spots that people come from all over to surf. After I learned to surf in Mexico I took my skills to Folly Beach and had a great time, and I can’t wait to go back!
If you need a surf board rental, head to the legendary McKelvin’s Surf Shop and they’ll help you out.
Beaches
When it comes to the beaches, Isle of Palms Beach offers a more relaxed experience, with more open space, less crowds and generally calmer seas.
Folly Beach is more crowded, better for surfing and generally has less open space making it more crowded, especially on weekends and holidays.
Nature Parks & Trails
Isle of Palms is slightly better for wildlife lovers since its beaches are more secluded, and there is the nearby Sullivan’s Island Nature Trail protected area right nearby for walking or biking.
Folly Beach has plenty of wildlife to see outside of the crowded beach areas, especially at Folly Beach County Park and Sunset Cay for dolphin watching.
What about Kiawah Island?
Kiawah Island is the third beach in the Charleston area, and generally the most upscale of the three when comparing Folly Beach vs Isle of Palms vs Kiawah Island. It’s located a bit farther away, about an hour from Downtown Charleston versus 30 minutes to Folly or Isle of Palms. The main resort on Kiawah Island is The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island, and it’s known for world-class golfing – much better than Isle of Palms, along with being a luxurious beach getaway. If you’re looking for a once-in-a-lifetime vacation, Kiawah Island is your spot.
Read my guide on where to stay in Kiawah Island to learn more about this luxury vacation destination.
Final Verdict : Folly Beach vs Isle of Palms
Overall, Folly Beach is a beach with a much more relaxed atmosphere, with beaches that are a little more crowded, great for surfing, and great nightlife. Isle of Palms is a more serene, upscale beach perfect for families and golfers.
Lauren Kessel is the owner and author for the Inspired Luxury Traveler blog. Lauren is passionate about travel and finding the absolute best experiences and destinations, from adventure travel to luxury travel and beyond. After earning her degree in Tourism, planning countless vacations for herself and others, and visiting over 12 countries and 30 states, she is sharing her knowledge and love of travel.
Lauren believes travel is an important way to learn about the different cultures, ultimately leading to more understanding and peace throughout the world.
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