71°
Mostly Sunny
0%
75
Horry County, SC · Atlantic Ocean
Garden City Beach
Garden City Beach, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576
A laid-back unincorporated beach community south of Surfside Beach, Garden City Beach straddles the Horry/Georgetown county line. Its centerpiece is the Garden City Pier with arcade, restaurants, and live music, anchoring a family-friendly stretch of wide Grand Strand beach.
Today's Conditions
Great day for a beach walk.
74°F water
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. North wind around 9 mph.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. North wind 3 to 7 mph.
Weather
- 71°F air — cool but workable
- Sunny skies — mostly sunny
Water
- 74°F water — swimmable, refreshing
- 4.9ft waves — real surf — fun for confident swimmers, dicey for kids
75 /100
great
70 Swim
78 Sunbathe
83 Walk
74 Fish
80 Photo
Best for walking today
Water level 0.5 ft above predicted
Observed water level is running higher than the astronomical tide prediction. Expect a narrower beach, faster-rising water, and stronger near-shore currents than the tide chart suggests.
Atmosphere
Air Temp
71°F
Clear
Wind
9 mph
N
Rain
0%
This Afternoon
Air Quality
18 Good
PM2.5 (fine particles) · Myrtle Beach-Conway
UV Peak
4 Moderate
Peaks 12 PM · burn in ~50m
Burn-free before 10 AM & after 03 PM
Tomorrow
66°F
Sunny
Water
Water Temp
74°F
Swimming weather
Wave Height
4.9 ft
10s · ESE swell
Barometer
29.93 inHg
1014 hPa · buoy 41013
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
6:40 AM
Sunset
5:19 PM
Moon · 5%
Waning Crescent
Spring tides — bigger range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 5:41 AM | High | 6.1 ft |
| 12:01 PM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| 5:53 PM | High | 5.2 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:08 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 6:24 AM | High | 6.2 ft |
| 12:45 PM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| 6:35 PM | High | 5.1 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:47 AM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| 7:04 AM | High | 6.2 ft |
| 1:26 PM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| 7:15 PM | High | 5.0 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:25 AM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| 7:42 AM | High | 6.1 ft |
| 2:06 PM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| 7:53 PM | High | 4.9 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:03 AM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| 8:20 AM | High | 5.9 ft |
| 2:45 PM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| 8:30 PM | High | 4.7 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:41 AM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| 8:59 AM | High | 5.7 ft |
| 3:25 PM | Low | 0.9 ft |
| 9:09 PM | High | 4.5 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:20 AM | Low | 0.9 ft |
| 9:42 AM | High | 5.4 ft |
| 4:06 PM | Low | 1.1 ft |
| 9:52 PM | High | 4.3 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 8661070, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
66°
Sunny
0%
75
73°
Sunny
0%
84
73°
Sunny
0%
84
72°
Mostly Sunny
0%
82
71°
Mostly Sunny
8%
78
64°
Mostly Sunny
11%
65
What to Bring Today
- recommended SPF 30 sunscreen clear day + warm temps
- optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 74°F
Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).
Best Fishing Times Today
Solunar theory: fish activity peaks at moon transits (major) and moonrise/moonset (minor). All times local.
Major
9:20 PM - 11:20 PM
Minor
4:40 AM - 5:40 AM
Major
9:40 AM - 11:40 AM
Minor
3:50 PM - 4:50 PM
Beach Info
Parking
Free year-round parking at all oceanfront beach accesses and at Horry County Nash Street access. Paid parking lots available along Magnolia Drive off Waccamaw Drive.
Dogs
Horry County portion: leash required at all times (max 6 ft); dogs prohibited on beach 10am–5pm from May 1 through Labor Day. Georgetown County portion: leashed 9am–7pm, voice control other hours.
Entry Fee
Free beach access; free oceanfront parking
Address
Garden City Beach, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Garden City Beach today?
Garden City Beach shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. Seasonal lifeguards patrol the swim area in summer — follow their flags. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.
Is Garden City Beach dog-friendly?
Horry County portion: leash required at all times (max 6 ft); dogs prohibited on beach 10am–5pm from May 1 through Labor Day. Georgetown County portion: leashed 9am–7pm, voice control other hours.
Is there an entry fee at Garden City Beach?
Entry to Garden City Beach is free.
Are there lifeguards at Garden City Beach?
Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Garden City Beach during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.
What amenities are at Garden City Beach?
Amenities at Garden City Beach include lifeguards (seasonal, May 15 – Sept 15), restrooms, showers, fishing pier, arcade, restaurants.
When is the water warmest at Garden City Beach?
Atlantic water temperatures peak in August. Northern beaches (ME, NH, MA) run cool — typically 60-68°F at the summer peak. Mid-Atlantic (NJ, DE, MD, VA) hits 74-76°F. The Carolinas and Florida Atlantic warm into the 80s and stay swimmable from May through October.
Where is Garden City Beach located?
Garden City Beach is in Horry County, SC, at Garden City Beach, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS