Folly Beach, United States
Also within 20 km of Folly Beach
- Folly Beach Pier Surf spot · 0.2 km from Folly Beach
- The Washout Surf spot · 3.4 km from Folly Beach
- Kiawah Island Surf spot · 14.2 km from Folly Beach
Watch this spot We email you when Folly Beach is worth the trip.
About Folly Beach
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces SE (143°), so it takes swell from the SE. The wind blows offshore from the NW (323°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 2–9 ft of swell. The sea is about 13°C in February, its coldest month (4/3 wetsuit and boots), and 29°C in July, its warmest (no wetsuit). For intermediate surfers the best months are usually January, September, October and November, with about 1 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Folly Beach, 1.7 km away (about 5 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 2 surf spots.
Water about 24°C: no wetsuit. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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Book the trip
From Chicago: about 4 h 50 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to CHS, direct.
See flights MDW → CHS · Skyscanner from about £135 returnAdGetting there. 50 min from the airport to Folly Beach.
Accommodation.
Stay in Folly BeachAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Folly Beach (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Folly Beach 3 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 40 places to stay · where Folly Beach stays
Places to stay in Folly Beach · Booking.com AdKiawah Island 28 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 15 places to stay
Places to stay in Kiawah Island · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Folly Beach · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Folly Beach · GetYourGuideAd
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Where it is
Folly Beach on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
The score for experts, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for experts | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 6, too small | 2 ft6 s | 40kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 14 knots | 19°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 19, too small | 4 ft9 s | 204kJ | offshorewind from the north, 10 knots, offshore | 20°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 18, too small | 3 ft8 s | 119kJ | offshorewind from the north, 12 knots, offshore | 23°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 9, too small | 2 ft4 s | 21kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 5 knots | 21°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 10, too small | 2 ft6 s | 42kJ | offshorewind from the north, 9 knots, offshore | 19°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 3, too small | 2 ft7 s | 24kJ | wind from the north, 11 knots | 19°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 5, too small | 2 ft7 s | 49kJ | wind from the north-east, 18 knots | 18°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 8, too small | 4 ft7 s | 135kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 20 knots | 18°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 21, too small | 5 ft8 s | 253kJ | offshorewind from the north, 18 knots, offshore | 19°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 53, good | 6 ft10 s | 730kJ | offshorewind from the north, 20 knots, offshore | 18°C |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for expert surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Direct flight MDW to CHS, then 50 min by road. About 4h 50 door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Too small: 4 ft at best.
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Too small: 3 ft at best.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Too small: 3 ft at best.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Too small: 3 ft at best.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Direct flight MDW to CHS, then 50 min by road. About 4h 50 door to door
The plan picks the best of 3 spots near Folly Beach each day: Folly Beach, Folly Beach Pier, The Washout.
Rough cost
About £865–£1,550 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return MDW to CHS, estimated from distance and season, 1 airline on the route, with a hold bag | £135–£280 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Taxi | airport and back, shared | £50–£80 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £270–£455 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £260–£480 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £115–£190 |
| Total | £865–£1,550 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Folly Beach
- Catch 23 RestaurantSeafood · in the centre
- Coconut Joe'sSeafood · in the centre
- Rita's Seaside GrilleAmerican · in the centre
- Slice Of FollyPizza · in the centre
- The Bounty BarBar and grill · in the centre
- Tokyo CrepesBreakfast and brunch · in the centre
Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation. Credits
Book the trip
Where to stayAd
Places to stay · Booking.com (ad)Links marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.