Folly Beach, South Carolina, is the closest ocean beach to Asheville. It is a 4 hrs 20 mins drive from Asheville to Folly Beach.
Asheville has a lot of lake beaches nearby. Still, it’s surprising that the closest ocean beaches to Asheville are outside North Carolina. They are in South Carolina!
But how do you get to the closest beach to Asheville? How far is Asheville from any beach? What are the most excellent beaches nearby?
These are the questions that I’ll answer in this article. I’ll give you a list of all the beaches near Asheville arranged according to how far they are.
Let’s Begin!
What Is The Closest Beach To Ashville, North Carolina?
The closest ocean beach is 277 miles from Asheville, and the nearest lake beach is 13 miles. South Carolina’s ocean beaches are closer to Asheville compared to North Carolina’s beaches.
Lake beaches are a lot of fun, and Lake Powhatan Swimming Beach and Lake James State Park are the closest lake beaches to Asheville.
However, nothing can beat the experience you get on an ocean beach. The closest ocean beach to Ashville is Folly Beach in South Carolina.
Hence, here is a table of the ten nearest beaches to Asheville.
| Beach | Distance From Asheville | Driving Time |
| Lake Powhatan Swimming Beach | 13 miles | 25 mins |
| Lake James State Park | 53 miles | 1 hr |
| Lake Norman State Park Beach | 105 miles | 1 hr 45 mins |
| Folly Beach | 277 miles | 4 hr 20 mins |
| Isle Of Palms | 280 miles | 4 hr 25 mins |
| Kiawah Beachwalker Park | 290 miles | 4hr 32 min |
| Hilton Head Island | 306 miles | 4 hr 45 mins |
| Myrtle Beach | 307 miles | 5 hr |
| Sunset Beach | 330 miles | 5 hr 15 mins |
| Ocean Isle Beach | 327 miles | 5 hr 20 mins |
How To Get To Folly Beach From Asheville?
There are multiple ways to reach Folly Beach (South Carolina) from Asheville. Besides driving your car, you can also take a bus to the Charleston Amtrak Station or a flight to Charleston Airport from Asheville. However, driving is going to be the cheapest option.
Here are four ways to get to Folly Beach from Asheville, NC.
1. Car
It takes 4-5 hrs to reach Folly Beach from Asheville. And it is the cheapest option since the average fuel costs are $50-70.
2. Bus
- Charlotte Bus Station. It takes 2 hrs 45 mins and runs once daily. It costs around $20-30.
- Columbia Bus Station. It takes 1 hr 35 mins and runs twice daily. It costs around $16-23.
- Charleston Amtrak Station. It takes 1hr 45 mins and runs twice daily. It costs around $17-35.
- Folly Beach via Taxi. It takes 28 mins and costs $5-7.
3. Flight
- Take a flight from Asheville Regional Airport to Charlotte. It will approximately take 1 hr 3min.
- There will be a waiting period of 1-2 hrs.
- Take a flight from Charlotte to Charleston that’ll take 1 hr 6 min.
- Take a taxi from Charleston Airport to reach Folly Beach.
NOTE: I’d suggest not taking flights that connect via New York or Atlanta since they are very costly and have long waiting periods.
4. Bus & Flight
- Charlotte Airport via bus. It takes 2 hrs 30 mins and runs five times a day. It costs between $90-105.
- Charleston Airport via flight. It takes 1 hr and costs around $90-320.
- Charleston via bus. It takes 30 minutes and runs every 30 minutes. It costs $15.
- Folly Beach via taxi. It takes 18 minutes and costs $5-7.
Other Beaches That Are Close To Ashville
Apart from Kiawah Beach and Coligny Beach Park, here are some of the most excellent beaches I’ve visited near Asheville.
1. Myrtle Beach, SC
Time: 5 hr | Distance: 307 miles
Myrtle Beach is a popular tourist destination with 50 miles of beautiful beaches, a boardwalk, numerous restaurants, and the country’s tallest Ferris wheel, the SkyWheel.
Although it may not be suitable for those seeking solitude, it offers a variety of activities for those looking for a fun beach vacation. The evenings are lively, with plenty of hot spots for live music and dancing.
2. Sunset Beach, NC
Time: 5 hr 15 mins | Distance: 330 miles
National Geographic ranks Sunset Beach it as one of the top 21 Best Beaches in the World.
Despite facing east, the beach is named after the beautiful sunrises and sunsets that can be seen from late fall to early spring. You can also visit the Sunset Beach Pier for fishing or explore the 1,200 acres of Bird Island.
Astronomy fans can watch a show at the Ingram Planetarium’s SciDome Sky Theater.
3. Ocean Isle Beach, NC
Time: 5 hr 20 mins | Distance: 327 miles
Ocean Isle is a charming town with stunning beaches and many local attractions. In addition to the beach, visitors can enjoy the Museum of Coastal Carolina, River Country mini golf, the Swamp Park zip line, and the ATV Center.
Surfing enthusiasts can take lessons from the Carolina School of Surf at the Ocean Isle beach pier.
4. Holden Beach, NC
Time: 5 hr 25 mins | Distance: 336 miles
Holden Beach, a small town on the southern coast of North Carolina, is perfect for a quiet family vacation.
You can enjoy relaxing on the beach, exploring the Intracoastal Waterway on your kayak or paddleboard, and watching dolphins. Pets are allowed from September 11th to May 19th, before 9 am, and after 5 pm from May 20th to September 10th.
5. Emerald Isle, NC
Time: 6 hr 15 min | Distance: 392 miles
Emerald Isle is a small beach town on Bogue Banks. During the summer, it welcomes over 50,000 tourists per week.
Visitors can enjoy white sand beaches, clear waters on the Atlantic Ocean, surf lessons, and shell collecting. History enthusiasts can explore Fort Macon State Park, essential to American history.
Bogue Inlet Fishing Pier, one of the longest piers on the North Carolina coast, offers terrific ocean views. There are also plenty of hiking and biking trails to explore.
6. Hammocks Beach State Park, NC
Time: 6 hr | Distance: 387 miles
Hammocks Beach State Park is only accessible by boat or ferry, and the latter is closed from November to the end of March. Visitors can rent kayaks to explore the salt marshes and swamp forests and do birdwatching.
Please take advantage of the sea turtles visiting the area to lay their eggs. Primitive camping is allowed for those who want to stay overnight. Pets are also permitted in the park and campsites.
Final Remarks
In this article, I told you about the closest beaches to Asheville, North Carolina.
Here’s a quick recap.
Folly Beach in South Carolina is the closest ocean beach to Asheville. Other nearby beach options include Myrtle Beach, Sunset Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, Holden Beach, Emerald Isle, and Hammocks Beach State Park.
My name is Jeyn Dashner and I am the founder of WanderFever. I have worked as a travel journalist for many years, and exploring new places is my greatest pleasure in life.