Most visitors to Folly Beach stay in a vacation rental, not a hotel. The island has hundreds of them, from oceanfront beach houses and big family homes with pools to cozy cottages and condos a short walk from the pier. This guide will help you pick the right kind of rental and the right part of the island, know what it will cost and understand the local rules before you book.
Updated September 2026.
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Find the right Folly Beach rental
Oceanfront rentals
Step off the deck onto the sand. Where the oceanfront streets are, what “ocean view” really means and how to pick a house.
Rentals with a pool
Private pools, heated pools for spring and fall, and condos with shared pools steps from the beach.
Pet-friendly rentals
Bring the dog. Seasonal dog beach hours, pet fees and the best areas for a morning walk.
Large homes
Family reunions, girls’ trips and wedding weekends: homes that sleep 10 or more, and the rules for big groups.
Hotels and inns
Only need a night or two? Compare Folly Beach’s oceanfront hotel and small inns side by side.
Monthly rentals
Stay a month or the whole winter. Off-season monthly rates, what’s included and how long stays work.
Where to stay on Folly Beach: the island by area
Folly is a long, skinny island. The avenues that run parallel to the beach go in alphabetical order (Arctic, Ashley, Cooper, Erie, Hudson, Huron, Indian), and the cross streets are numbered east and west of Center Street. Where you stay shapes your trip as much as which house you pick.
Center Street and the pier
The busiest part of the island, a short walk to restaurants, live music, shops and the Folly Beach Pier. Expect upstairs apartments, cottages, townhomes and oceanfront condos. It’s the best pick if you don’t want to drive once you arrive, but it’s livelier at night and parking is tight.
East side, from Center Street to the Washout
The biggest neighborhood and the widest part of the island. East Arctic Avenue is the oceanfront street: odd-numbered houses sit on the beach and even-numbered houses are across the street. Rates tend to drop the farther you get from Center Street, and the stretch around the Washout on East Ashley Avenue is Folly’s best-known surf spot.
The east end and Lighthouse Inlet
Past the Washout, East Ashley Avenue is the only road left, with one row of houses on the ocean and one on the marsh. It’s the quietest part of Folly, and the road ends at the Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve, where a short walk leads to views of the Morris Island Lighthouse. (No pets are allowed in the preserve.)
West side and the county park
Quieter and more residential, with the Folly River close by. West Arctic Avenue runs only to about 3rd Street West; beyond that, West Ashley Avenue is the oceanfront road. At the western tip is Folly Beach County Park, with lifeguards in season, restrooms and a wide, uncrowded beach.
On the Folly River and the marsh
The back side of the island has deep-water homes, many with docks, and sunsets over the marsh. They usually cost less than an oceanfront home of the same size, and the beach is still a short walk or bike ride away.
Oceanfront, second row or marsh-front?
- Oceanfront homes sit right on the sand, with the best views and the highest prices. See Folly Beach oceanfront rentals.
- Second-row and ocean-view homes are across the street or a few houses back, usually a short walk down a public beach access for a lot less money.
- Marsh-front and riverfront homes trade ocean views for sunsets, docks and quiet.
What a Folly Beach vacation rental costs
Prices swing widely by size, location and season. Short-term rental data company Rabbu put the typical nightly rate on Folly Beach at these levels in spring 2026:
| Rental size | Typical nightly rate |
|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | About $175 |
| 2 bedrooms | About $240 |
| 3 bedrooms | About $280 |
| 4 bedrooms | About $395 |
| 5 bedrooms | About $605 |
| 6+ bedrooms | About $930 |
- Busiest and priciest: summer, peaking in July. Cheapest: January and the rest of winter.
- Cleaning fees are charged per stay and can run several hundred dollars on larger homes.
- Taxes: stays under 30 nights carry South Carolina and local accommodations taxes that add roughly 14% to the rental rate. Check the full total before you book.
- Rates are market averages from Rabbu; AirDNA puts the island-wide average closer to $600 a night because so many large homes rent in summer. Your dates and the house will set the real price.
Folly Beach rental rules to know before you go
Folly Beach licenses and regulates short-term rentals, and your host should give you a copy of the city’s rental rules. The ones that matter most to guests:
- Occupancy: the city allows two people per bedroom plus two more per rental, so a three-bedroom house sleeps eight overnight.
- Parking: rentals licensed since late 2022 generally must have one on-site parking space per bedroom rented. Bring only as many cars as your rental has spaces, and read our parking guide before you park on the street.
- Trash: pickup is Monday and Thursday. Carts can go to the curb after 2 p.m. the day before and must be back by 8 p.m. on pickup day.
- Noise: amplified music is restricted after 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and after 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
- Parties and events: gatherings at a rental are capped at 25 people, with no outdoor bands, DJs or speakers and no food trucks.
- On the beach: no alcohol, glass, fireworks or smoking; dogs are off the beach 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from May through September; and from May through October, beachfront lights should be off after 10 p.m. for nesting sea turtles. See the full Folly Beach rules.
Tips for booking a Folly Beach rental
- Book early for summer. The best oceanfront and large homes for June through August go months ahead.
- Look at the fine print. Minimum stays, check-in days, cleaning fees and deposit rules vary by owner and manager. Some managers also require the person booking to be 25 or older.
- Count the stairs. Most Folly houses are raised well off the ground. If anyone in your group has trouble with stairs, look for an elevator or a first-floor bedroom.
- Plan for hurricane season. It runs June 1 to Nov. 30, and Folly Beach is in South Carolina’s highest-risk evacuation zone. Guests must leave during a mandatory evacuation, and refunds depend on your rental agreement, so consider travel insurance for late-summer and fall trips.
- Bringing a golf cart? Carts need state and city registration and can only cross, not drive on, Center Street and Folly Road. See the rules.
Vacation rental or hotel?
A rental gives you a kitchen, more space and more privacy for the money, especially for families and groups staying a week. For a weekend or a couple’s trip, a small inn or the oceanfront hotel can be simpler. Compare Folly Beach hotels and inns side by side.
Folly Beach vacation rental FAQ
Are there vacation rentals on Folly Beach?
Yes, lots. Market trackers count roughly 900 short-term rentals on the island, from one-bedroom apartments to large oceanfront homes. Search Folly Beach rentals on Vrbo.
Are there oceanfront rentals on Folly Beach?
Yes. Most sit along East Arctic Avenue and, on the ends of the island, East and West Ashley Avenue. See our guide to Folly Beach oceanfront rentals.
Can I bring my dog to a Folly Beach rental?
Many rentals allow dogs for a fee. Dogs are welcome on the beach before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m. in summer and any time the rest of the year. See pet-friendly rentals and the dog rules.
Are there condos on Folly Beach?
Yes, including oceanfront villas near the pier with pools and elevators. See Folly Beach condo rentals.
How many people can stay in a Folly Beach rental?
The city limit is two people per bedroom plus two, so a four-bedroom home can sleep 10 overnight. For bigger groups, see large vacation homes.
When is the cheapest time to rent on Folly Beach?
Winter, especially January, is the least expensive. Late spring and early fall are a good middle ground, with warm water, fewer crowds and lower rates than midsummer.
Planning your stay? See things to do, where to eat, the tide chart and upcoming events.