What are the Best Times to Surf Folly Beach?

There is no exact “best” time of day to surf Folly Beach since the tides, swell direction, winds are always so different everyday in the Lowcountry. The conditions can change rapidly making it somewhat unpredictable, however, there are some general times and guidelines you can take into consideration to help make the most out of your surfing session.

Check Surf Sites

Checking sites like Surfline and Windy can help you make an educated decision on the best time to surf that day. Surfline provides local surf cams and surf forecasts, letting you know if and when you should head to Folly Beach. Windy is another good site for reference. Windy provides wind speeds, directions, and a full weather forecast. Bookmark both of these sites and check them daily, before heading out on the water.

Stick to Early Mornings and Evenings

Generally weekday early mornings are a good bet. Lighter winds during this time make for glassier conditions. There is also no traffic or beach goers (especially swimmers)  and lighter crowds. However, you may run into the pre-work morning crowds especially around the Folly Pier or main jetty at the Washout, so just be aware of that. Overall though, weekday mornings are a preferable time for most local surfers.

If mornings aren’t doable for you, evenings can be a great option because the winds often die off around sunset and you can get great clean waves. There is also typically no one out on the water because of work and other people not anticipating the winds dying. To make sure you don’t waste your time, always keep an eye on the Surfline cams at work or home before heading out.

Keep an Eye on the Tides

It’s important to keep an eye on the tides. We will elaborate more in our next blog post on tides and their impact on surfing. In a nutshell, the best time to surf on Folly Beach is the midpoint between low tide and high tide. This is basically the incoming “tide push” causing bigger more powerful waves. If you can’t make it out during this time, the next best time to surf is the opposite of this, the mid point between high and low tide.

Keeping the above guidelines in consideration can help you find the best time for you to surf. Ideally, we would love to be able to surf ‘round the clock, but on Folly that isn’t exactly possible. Check surf cams and forecasts, try to surf early mornings or evenings, and keeping an eye on the tide, will help you get the most out of your surfing session.