Folly River is located along the northern shore of Folly Island and Folly Beach. Folly Island is a barrier island south of Charleston in Charleston County, SC. During the Civil War, the area was used as a staging area for Union Army troops. To this day, during major storms and hurricanes, Civil War era cannonballs can be found in the area. The island is home to the Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve and the Morris Island Light can be seen from its shores.
On the southeast side of the river about 2 miles above the entrance, a seafood plant has diesel fuel, water, ice, and marine supplies.
Navigation:
Click the “Map View” button above to see a chart of this harbor.
Folly River flows into Stono Inlet from the northeast. It is used by pleasure craft and local fishermen desiring to reach Folly Beach. A dredged channel, marked by lighted and unlighted buoys, leads about 2.3 miles upriver from the junction with Stono River at Bird Key. The dredged channel is subject to continual change. Local knowledge is advised when transiting the area. State Route 171 highway bridge about 3.1 miles above the entrance has a fixed span with a clearance of 10 feet. An overhead power cable close eastward of the bridge has a clearance of 46 feet.
Folly Creek enters Folly River from the north about 2.7 miles above the mouth. State Route 171 highway bridge about 2.9 miles above the creek mouth has a fixed span with a clearance of 10 feet. An overhead power cable at the bridge has a clearance of 40 feet and another overhead power cable 0.4 mile above the bridge has a clearance of 48 feet.