Garden City Beach Rentals

A Beach Community That Keeps Families Coming Back

Garden City Beach does not look or feel like the rest of the Grand Strand. Once you cross the causeway from Highway 17, the high-rise hotels and souvenir strips give way to marshland, winding creeks, and a low-slung peninsula lined with beach houses. The pace changes. The crowds thin out. And you start to understand why so many of our guests rebook the same week, at the same property, every summer.

The Garden City Pier is the social center of the community. At nearly 700 feet long, it is free to walk for sightseeing and offers rod-and-reel rentals for pier fishing. During the summer months, the cafe at the end of the Pier serves food and drinks while live bands play into the evening. On the ground level near the Pier, you will find a small arcade, a few amusement rides for younger kids, and a handful of local restaurants and shops.

What sets Garden City apart from other Grand Strand beaches is its dual-waterfront access. The oceanside offers wide, sandy beaches with less foot traffic than Myrtle Beach. The inlet side — facing Murrells Inlet — is where you will find calm waters for kayaking, crabbing, paddleboarding, and some of the best inshore fishing on the South Carolina coast. At the southern tip of the peninsula, the Marlin Quay Marina provides boat access. She is home to the Gulf Stream Cafe, a two-story restaurant with panoramic sunset views over the inlet and the Atlantic.

For families with kids, this setup is hard to beat. Morning on the ocean, afternoon on the inlet, and dinner at one of the MarshWalk restaurants in Murrells Inlet — all without driving more than a mile or two.

Find the Right Rental for Your Group

Garden City Beach rentals come in a range of sizes and styles. The right choice depends on your group size, your preferred view, and how close you want to be to the sand or the inlet.

Oceanfront Homes

Our oceanfront homes are large, multi-story properties with private walkways to the beach. Many feature five or more bedrooms, private swimming pools, hot tubs, outdoor showers, and covered porches on multiple levels. These are the best fit for family reunions, multi-family trips, and large groups that want direct beach access without sharing a pool deck or elevator. Most of our oceanfront homes are located along South Waccamaw Drive, the main road running the length of the peninsula.

Condo Rentals

Garden City Beach has several well-maintained oceanfront condo complexes, many of them within walking distance of the Pier. Our condo rentals typically include one to three bedrooms, full kitchens, private balconies with ocean views, and access to shared amenities like pools and sun decks. Condos are a strong choice for smaller families, couples, and guests who prefer a resort-style experience with less square footage to maintain.

Inlet & Second-Row Properties

Not every great rental sits on the ocean. Our inlet-front and second-row properties offer sunset views over the marsh, easy access to kayaking and fishing, and often come at a lower nightly rate compared to oceanfront homes. If your group plans to spend as much time on the water as on the sand, these properties put you closer to the boating and fishing access points along the inlet.

We also manage pet-friendly rentals throughout Garden City Beach. If you are traveling with a dog, use the pet-friendly filter in our search tools, or call our reservations team, and we will match you with properties that welcome pets.