Dawn patrol surfing in Isle of Palms

Isle of Palms, South Carolina

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

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

Sunrise

6:14 AM
First Light: 5:44 AM

Day length: 14h 18m

Same as yesterday

Sunrise

6:14 AM

First light: 5:44 AM

Sunset

8:32 PM

Last light: 9:02 PM

Data from Isle of Palms· Updated daily

7-Day Sun Schedule

Today(Today)

Sunrise

6:14 AM

Sunset

8:32 PM

Day Length

14h 18m

Tomorrow

Sunrise

6:14 AM

Sunset

8:32 PM

Day Length

14h 18m

Wed, Jul 1

Sunrise

6:15 AM

Sunset

8:32 PM

Day Length

14h 17m

Thu, Jul 2

Sunrise

6:15 AM

Sunset

8:32 PM

Day Length

14h 17m

Fri, Jul 3

Sunrise

6:15 AM

Sunset

8:32 PM

Day Length

14h 16m

Sat, Jul 4

Sunrise

6:16 AM

Sunset

8:32 PM

Day Length

14h 16m

Best dawn patrol spots in Isle of Palms

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Featured Beaches(1)

Isle of Palms

Intermediate

Isle of Palms (IOP) is a mellow beach break just north of Charleston. It picks up less north swell than Folly due to its slightly southerly orientation but still provides consistent waves for beginners and lower‑intermediate surfers. During late summer and early fall, tropical storm swells provide punchier surf and more push.

Dawn patrol access guide for Isle of Palms

Parking and access info for early morning sessions before sunrise.

Isle of Palms
beach
lower-intermediate

Isle of Palms (IOP) is a mellow beach break just north of Charleston. It picks up less north swell than Folly due to its slightly southerly orientation but still provides consistent waves for beginners and lower‑intermediate surfers. During late summer and early fall, tropical storm swells provide punchier surf and more push.

Early access

Use one of the many beach accesses; a short boardwalk leads over the dunes. Look for quiet sandbars away from the pier.

Parking

Public lots and street parking are available but fill quickly in summer. Pay attention to signage and avoid blocking driveways.

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 Isle of Palms

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
Less Crowded
Quieter lineups & backups

Frequently Asked Questions

About surfing in Isle of Palms

Dawn patrol in Isle of Palms 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.

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