If you haven’t been to Charleston, South Carolina before, you may not know what a precious gem we have here. It’s old, it’s new. It’s traditional, it’s forward thinking. It’s beautiful, diverse, storied, and classy yet with both a hospitable and gritty spirit. It would be hard to think of a better place to embody the complexity of the modern South. In regards to the priority of Coastal Adaptive Sports - which is to see more access to activities for each person with a disability - we find the same hunger for progress by some to make the beaches in Charleston County accessible for everyone.

Though you won’t find an exhaustive review of each beach online, the South Carolina Beach Guide website does provide a map of accessible parking and ADA compliant beach access. The Charleston County Parks and Explore Charleston websites are both helpful resources as well.

There are loads of access points at the beaches in Charleston County, and many will have some provisions for a person with a disability. These provisions could include:

  • ADA compliant parking
  • Ramps
  • Paths
  • Beach wheelchairs (check details prior)
  • Lifeguards
  • Dressing rooms
  • Pads
Recommended Parking
Isle of Palms:
  • 9th Avenue
  • Isle of Palms County Park
  • 42nd Avenue
  • Municipal Parking Lot on Pavilion Drive
  • 21st Avenue
  • Front Beach Restrooms
Sullivan Island:
  • Town Hall (non-business hours)
  • Battery Thompson (non-business hours)
  • Right of Way parking
Folly Beach:
  • West End County Park
  • 9th West Arctic
  • 3rd West Arctic
  • Charleston County Pier
  • “The Washout” 1563 East Arctic
  • 1670 East Arctic
Kiawah Island:
  • Kiawah Beachwalker Park
Recommended Beach Access
Isle of Palms:
  • Isle of Palms County Park (first choice)
  • 42 Avenue (second choice)
  • Between 3rd and 9th Avenues
  • Between 21st and 40th Avenues
  • Between 42nd and 57th Avenues
Sullivan’s Island:
  • Station 18
  • Station 21
  • Station 26
Folly Beach:
  • West End County Park
  • 9th West
  • Charleston County Pier (pier ramp access)
  • 3rd West
  • 110 West
  • 110 East (mat path)
  • 5th East (flat entrance with flat path)
  • “The Washout” 1563 East
  • 1670 East
Kiawah Island:
  • Kiawah Beachwalker Park (only public beach access on the island)

This isn’t an exhaustive list of parking and access features of beaches in Charleston County available to a person with disabilities. Defining “public use” is tricky, as well as “path” and “accessible parking,” since some of these are usable without the designation. For example, Isle of Palms has over 50 access points. The ones listed here are places that multiple sources have validated as both public use and with provisions for people with disabilities.

As with all the activities we support here at Coastal Adaptive Sports, we hope people have awesome experiences and even meet people and find more community than they already have through these fantastic beaches in Charleston. Also, for those of you interested in a trek to the North Myrtle Beach area, be sure to check out our programs and event opportunities to participate or to volunteer. Please contact us with any questions!