Located directly south of Surfside Beach, Garden City Beach is a small beach community nestled on a narrow peninsula between the Atlantic Ocean and the tidal marshes of Murrells Inlet. This community boasts quiet and uncrowded beaches where you can enjoy peace and tranquility in proximity to fine dining, shopping, and nightlife options.
Location and Access
Garden City Beach, or Garden City, borders Surfside Beach in the northeast and U. S. Route 17 to the northwest, Georgetown County in the south, and the Atlantic Ocean in the southeast. It’s just minutes away from Myrtle Beach. The developed part of the seashore extends south beyond the Garden City and ends at the mouth of Murrells Inlet. The beach in Garden City features free entrance.
Beach Conditions
The beach of the Garden City is clean and not too crowded except for summer weekends. The sand is fine and soft and the water is warm. There are some shells to collect. As for amenities, there are port-a-potties at each of the public beach access points. There is also a rinse-off spot near the pier – on the right-hand side when leaving the beach.
Outdoor Activities
With fishing, crabbing, boating, and much more, Murrells Inlet is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise.
Watersports
With access to both inlet and ocean, Garden City Beach offers a wide variety of watersport activities – from kayaking and jet skiing to parasailing and fishing charters. Surfing enthusiasts are sure to catch some good waves. There are watersport rentals available.
The fishing charters range from half-day inshore trips for flounder, red drum, and trout to full-day Gulf Stream trips for tuna, wahoo, mahi-mahi, and billfish.
Local Attractions
Since Atlantic Avenue is the geographic and social center of the city, you can find the most popular attractions (including Dunes Realty) here, in this two-block area. There are entertainment options for the entire family.
However, the real heart of the community is the city’s fantastic 668-foot long fishing pier. During the day, you can see plenty of anglers here ($10 to fish per day but the entrance is free). During the summer evenings, there are live music concerts. The pier also has a marina, restaurants, and other businesses. There is also the Garden City Pavilion Arcade offering a variety of family-friendly entertainment opportunities.
Driving Time
- 1 hour 50 minutes from Wilmington, NC
- 1 hour 50 minutes from Charleston, SC
- 3 hours 40 minutes from Charlotte, NC
Hotels and rentals
If you're considering staying for one or even a few nights, there are plenty of options available near the beach. Chose your preferred accomodation type and your favourite room provider:
- Nearby rentals from VRBO.
- Nearby rooms and properties from Booking.com.
Beaches nearby
Additionally, there's a number of beaches near Garden City Beach which you can visit:
- Surfside Beach (South Carolina) (2 miles)
- Huntington Beach State Park (5 miles)
- Myrtle Beach State Park (6 miles)
- Magnolia Beach (Litchfield-by-the-Sea) (8 miles)
- Myrtle Public Beach (9 miles)