80°
Sunny
0%
85
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
Ideal for a beach walk.
6.6ft waves · 75°F water · 80°F air
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Sunny, with a high near 80. Northeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Tonight
Clear, with a low around 61. Northeast wind 2 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 17 mph.
Weather
- 80°F air — ideal beach weather
- Sunny skies — clear conditions
Water
- 75°F water — warm — full-day swim weather
Safety
- 6.6ft waves — big surf — strong currents, expert swimmers only
71 /100
great
58 Swim
83 Sunbathe
87 Walk
48 Fish
80 Photo
Best for walking today
Water level 1.6 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
80°F
Clear
Wind
10 mph
NE
Rain
0%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
8 Very High
High 12 PM–03 PM · burn in ~25m
Burn-free before 09 AM & after 06 PM
Tomorrow
82°F
Sunny
Water
Water Temp
75°F
Swimming weather
Next High Tide
10:25 PM
5.1 ft · in 52m
Wave Height
6.6 ft
ENE swell
Barometer
30.18 inHg
1022 hPa
Water Quality
Clean
82 MPN/100mL · E. coli
USGS · sampled 5mo ago
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
6:06 AM
Sunset
8:22 PM
Moon · 87%
Waning Gibbous
Neap tides — smaller range
Today's Tides
7-day chart →| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4:17 AM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| 9:58 AM | High | 4.0 ft |
| 4:09 PM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| 10:25 PM | High | 5.1 ft |
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
82°
Sunny
0%
85
83°
Sunny
0%
85
85°
Sunny
4%
85
85°
Partly Sunny
11%
85
84°
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
50%
34
80°
Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
38%
46
What to Bring Today
- critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 8 — very high
- recommended Umbrella or shade warm day, light wind
- optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 75°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.
Minor
10:20 PM - 11:20 PM
Major
2:40 AM - 4:40 AM
Minor
8:10 AM - 9:10 AM
Major
3:00 PM - 5:00 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
7-Day Tide Chart →
Full high/low predictions for the next week at Garden City Beach.
7-Day Weather →
Extended forecast for Garden City Beach from the National Weather Service.
Frequently Asked
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