Dawn patrol surfing in Folly Beach

Folly Beach, South Carolina

Sunrise and first light times for planning your dawn patrol session.

First light in Folly Beach means glass, empty peaks, and the best conditions of the day before thermal onshores build. These 1 spots are worth the 5am alarm.

Sunrise

6:15 AM
First Light: 5:45 AM

Day length: 14h 17m

-1 min vs yesterday

Sunrise

6:15 AM

First light: 5:45 AM

Sunset

8:32 PM

Last light: 9:02 PM

Data from Folly Beach· Updated daily

7-Day Sun Schedule

Today(Today)

Sunrise

6:15 AM

Sunset

8:32 PM

Day Length

14h 17m

Tomorrow

Sunrise

6:15 AM

Sunset

8:32 PM

Day Length

14h 17m

Tue, Jun 30

Sunrise

6:16 AM

Sunset

8:32 PM

Day Length

14h 17m

Wed, Jul 1

Sunrise

6:16 AM

Sunset

8:32 PM

Day Length

14h 16m

Thu, Jul 2

Sunrise

6:16 AM

Sunset

8:32 PM

Day Length

14h 16m

Fri, Jul 3

Sunrise

6:17 AM

Sunset

8:32 PM

Day Length

14h 15m

Sat, Jul 4

Sunrise

6:17 AM

Sunset

8:32 PM

Day Length

14h 15m

Best dawn patrol spots in Folly Beach

Loading map...

Featured Beaches(1)

Folly Beach

Intermediate

Folly Beach is a long barrier island south of Charleston with several fun breaks. The Washout—a stretch blown open by Hurricane Hugo—produces punchy peaks on SE‑NE swells, while the Folly Beach Pier offers long lefts on the south side. It's friendly for beginners when small but can handle good size during hurricane season.

Dawn patrol access guide for Folly Beach

Parking and access info for early morning sessions before sunrise.

Folly Beach
beach
lower-intermediate

Folly Beach is a long barrier island south of Charleston with several fun breaks. The Washout—a stretch blown open by Hurricane Hugo—produces punchy peaks on SE‑NE swells, while the Folly Beach Pier offers long lefts on the south side. It's friendly for beginners when small but can handle good size during hurricane season.

Early access

Beach accesses are plentiful. Walk down the sand to the Washout or around the pier to find your peak.

Parking

Metered parking lines the streets, and a large lot near the pier charges a fee. Watch for towing in residential areas.

Dawn patrol tips

  • Glassy morning conditions before onshore winds
  • Less crowded lineups at sunrise
  • East-facing beaches for sunrise views
  • Spots with easy parking for early arrivals

Surf Guides for Folly Beach

Conditions

Dawn Patrol
You're here
Sunset Sessions
Evening golden hour spots
Tide Windows
Optimal tidal conditions
Water Temperature
Conditions & wetsuit guide

Style

Beginner Spots
Gentle waves for learning
Longboard Spots
Mellow waves for logging

Frequently Asked Questions

About surfing in Folly Beach

Dawn patrol in Folly Beach typically starts at first light, around 30 minutes before sunrise. This gives you the glassiest conditions before onshore winds develop.
Early morning offers glassy conditions, fewer crowds, and calmer winds. Water temperature is also warmer relative to air temperature at sunrise.

Make the next surf call sharper

Check the forecast, surf the session, log what happened, and help Quiver keep tuning your local calls.

Learn More

iPhone app is live. Android is coming soon.