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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Garden City
Garden City, South Carolina
Half-day stop on the Grand Strand: walk the pier, eat at Sam's Corner, then move on. One night if you want a quiet beach base.
Garden City is a small beach town on the Grand Strand, between Myrtle Beach and Murrells Inlet. Its main draw is the 668-foot fishing pier and a handful of casual restaurants. Most visitors pass through on a day trip from Myrtle Beach or use it as a quiet overnight stop.
- Country
- United States
- Local name
- Garden City, South Carolina
- Best months
- May–September
- Avoid
- December–February (pier café closed, many places seasonal)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget US$60–100 excl. bed · Mid US$100–180 excl. bed · High US$180+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police 911 · Fire and ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Hot dog at Sam's Corner | US$3–5 |
| Coffee | US$2–4 |
| Beer at the pier bar | US$5–8 |
| Fishing pass (pier) | US$9 |
| Rod rental (pier) | US$9 |
| Gulfstream Cafe dinner entree | US$20–35 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MYR · Myrtle Beach International
- About 15 minutes north by car; check
Typical fares
- Myrtle Beach Airport → Garden City
- about US$30–50 by ride-hailing, 15 min
- Garden City → Murrells Inlet
- about US$10–15 by ride-hailing, 5 min
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
You need a car. US 17 runs through town; parking is free at the pier lot and along Atlantic Avenue. No public transit within Garden City.
See and do
Known for
- The Pier at Garden City
- Sam's Corner hot dogs
- Garden City Pavilion Arcade
- Quiet beach atmosphere
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Myrtle Beach | US 17 north, about 15 minutes | 15 min |
| Murrells Inlet | US 17 south, about 5 minutes | 5 min |
| Pawleys Island | US 17 south, about 15 minutes | 15 min |
| Georgetown | US 17 south, about 25 minutes | 25 min |
| North Myrtle Beach | US 17 north, about 25 minutes | 25 min |
| Conway | US 701 north, about 20 minutes | 20 min |
Sleep
- Along US 17 / Waccamaw Drive
- Motels and small hotels, most within walking distance of the beach and pier.
- Murrells Inlet
- 5 minutes south; more dining and a working waterfront.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hellohello |
| Thank you | Thank youthank you |
| How much? | How much?how much |
| Where is the bathroom? | Where is the bathroom?where is the bathroom |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Sam's Corner is cash only.
- The pier café closes December–February.
- Summer weekends bring heavy traffic on US 17.
Garden City is a safe beach town. Usual precautions: lock your car, don't leave valuables on the beach, and watch for rip currents.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Garden City yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- The Pier at Garden City
- Sam's Corner hot dogs
- Garden City Pavilion Arcade
- Quiet beach atmosphere
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Garden City (South Carolina), revision 4343779 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4343779
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/garden-city-south-carolina). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.