Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business 
Gulf Shores occupies a slice of Alabama's short Gulf of Mexico coastline, on a barrier strip of white quartz sand between the Gulf and the Intracoastal Waterway. Paired with neighboring Orange Beach, it has grown from a fishing community into a family beach destination, while large tracts of state park and wildlife refuge keep much of the shore natural.
The Gulf Shores Public Beach is the classic place to spread a towel, and Gulf State Park adds a long fishing pier, beachfront dunes and an interior of lakes and forest around Lake Shelby. The paved Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail winds through those woods for cyclists and walkers. West along the peninsula, Fort Morgan State Historic Site preserves the brick fort that guarded Mobile Bay during the 1864 battle, and Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge protects dunes and maritime forest for migrating birds. From Fort Morgan, the Mobile Bay Ferry crosses to Dauphin Island. Families visit the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, and The Wharf in Orange Beach gathers shops, restaurants and a marina, with boats heading out through Perdido Pass for fishing and dolphin cruises.
The area suits families and groups wanting an easygoing beach trip. Summer and spring break are busiest, while fall brings warm water and calmer days, though hurricane season extends into November.
WiserMap travel guideGulf Shores Alabama White Sand Beaches and Gulf SeafoodPlan a Gulf Shores trip with this guide to white sand beaches, Gulf State Park, Fort Morgan, Orange Beach, wildlife trails, Gulf seafood and best times to go.Read the guide
The main public beach at the end of Highway 59, with white sand, lifeguards in season, showers, pavilions and restaurants just across the road. It gets busy in summer and during spring break. Pay for parking in the nearby lots, and check beach flags for rip current warnings.
A fishing pier stretching over 1,500 feet into the Gulf from the Gulf State Park beach, one of the longest on the Gulf Coast. Anglers catch king mackerel and redfish, while walkers watch dolphins and pelicans. A small walking fee applies, and the pavilion has restrooms and parking.
A freshwater lake inside Gulf State Park just behind the beach, with picnic areas, kayak and paddleboard rentals, fishing and alligators along the shore. The park campground and nature center are close by. It is a calm alternative to the surf on windy days.
A network of paved trails of about 28 miles through Gulf State Park's maritime forest, marshes and dunes, used for walking and biking. Look for alligators, gopher tortoises and birds. Bikes can be rented in the park, and early morning is cooler and better for wildlife.
A shallow saltwater lagoon running behind the beach west of downtown Gulf Shores, connected to the Gulf by a narrow pass. It is good for kayaking, paddleboarding, wade fishing and watching shorebirds. Little Lagoon Pass park offers access, and the water is calm compared with the open Gulf.
A brick star fort at the tip of the Fort Morgan peninsula, completed in 1834 and a key site in the 1864 Battle of Mobile Bay. You can explore its arched casemates, walls and later gun batteries, plus a small museum. It is about 22 miles west of town, and spring and fall bring migrating birds.
A refuge on the Fort Morgan peninsula protecting dunes, beaches, marshes and maritime forest used by migrating birds, sea turtles and the endangered Alabama beach mouse. Trails such as Pine Beach lead to lakes and the Gulf. Bring water and insect repellent, as services are minimal.
A family zoo in Gulf Shores, rebuilt on higher ground in 2020, with lions, tigers, bears, lemurs, sloths and reptiles. Animal encounters let visitors meet some species up close for an extra fee. It takes two to three hours, and the encounters fill up, so book them on arrival.
A car ferry crossing the mouth of Mobile Bay from Fort Morgan to Dauphin Island in about 40 minutes, passing oil platforms, dolphins and the historic forts on both sides. It makes a scenic loop drive with Dauphin Island. Check the schedule, as crossings stop in rough weather.
A large open-air restaurant and music venue right on Gulf Shores Public Beach, with live music, seafood, games and a playful atmosphere, and home of the Hangout Music Festival held in May. It is busy in summer evenings. Arrive early for a table, or come for drinks after the beach.
A casual waterfront restaurant on the Intracoastal Waterway at Homeport Marina, founded by Lucy Buffett, with seafood, live music, a sandy play area and a ropes course for kids. Boats tie up at the docks. Waits can be long in summer, so go at off-peak times or join the waitlist online.
A family water park and amusement park on Gulf Shores Parkway with water slides, a wave pool, a lazy river, and a dry park with go-karts, mini golf and an arcade. It is open from late spring through summer. Bring sun protection and plan most of a day for both sides of the park.
No reviews yet. Been to Gulf Shores? Be the first to share your experience.
Share what you loved, what to skip and tips for other travelers.
Log in to write a reviewBeen to Gulf Shores? Add your best shots to the gallery.
Log in to add photosPhoto: Please attribute this image as the work of "DiscoverWithDima.", Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: DanTD, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: William L. Farr, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Ken Ratcliff, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Acdixon, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Adrien Lamarre, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Dima Sergiyenko; Please attribute this image as the work of "DiscoverWithDima.", Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jodybwiki, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Teaves0921, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Bureau of Land Management, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Melissa McMasters from Memphis, TN, United States, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Infrogmation of New Orleans, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Teaves0921, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: https://ourgulfshoresvacation.com, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Melissa McMasters from Memphis, TN, United States, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey from Reston, VA, USA, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: (WT-de) Mistoffeles, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Department of the Interior. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. National Conservatio, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Paul Lowry, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
