Gulf Shores, AL

Travel Guide
Orange Beach
Beautiful beaches, championship golf courses, great seafood and unusual nature experiences attract carefree vacationers to this pleasant Alabama resort area.

White-sand beaches and emerald-green water are the popular attractions of Gulf Shores and the Alabama Gulf Coast. Find some of the state’s best golf, good shopping and many natural attractions.

Orange Beach and Alabama Point East are among Alabama Gulf Coast’s most popular beaches, great places to start exploring the area. Sandy shores stretching for miles feature sand dunes, boardwalks and several picnic areas. For a bit more action, try Gulf Shores Public Beach where you’ll find volleyball courts and numerous lively beach bars. Go shopping here and eat fresh seafood.

The Gulf Shores region is also home to some of Alabama’s best golf courses. Test your skills at the three designed by golf legend Arnold Palmer: Cotton Creek and Cyprus Bend at Craft Farms and Lost Key Golf Club on the way to Pensacola, Florida.

Other nearby courses to investigate include the affordable Glenlakes Golf Club and Gulf State Park Refuge Golf Course. If you’re here mostly for golf, consider a “stay and play” package offered by the various hotels and resorts.

For outdoor adventure off the course, hike along the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail, a collaborative effort between the city of Orange Beach and property owners along the trail. Try to catch a glimpse of the “Catman,” a part-man, part-wildcat creature that has allegedly lurked along the paths and swamps for decades. If you’d prefer not to walk, join an eco-tour, which provides a trip through the natural habitats in a covered electric cart.

Enjoy the many water-based activities in Gulf Shores and along the Alabama Gulf Coast. Rent a kayak and explore the back bays of the area or join a dolphin tour. The Alabama Coastal Birding Trail is a must-see for bird lovers, offering more than 50 birding sites. The trail is designed in a series of loops and provides information about the birds you might expect to see at each place.

Come to the Alabama Gulf Coast for adventure, fun and relaxation.

Where to stay in Gulf Shores

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Surf Side Shores

While Surf Side Shores isn't home to many top sights, Kiva Dunes Golf Course and Fort Morgan Beach are some notable places to visit nearby.

Surf Side Shores
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Morgantown

5/5(1 area review)

While Morgantown might not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like Kiva Dunes Golf Course and Fort Morgan Beach.

Morgantown
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Cabana Beach

When in Cabana Beach, you can plan a visit to Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge and Kiva Dunes Golf Course, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

Cabana Beach
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Brigadoon Trail

While Brigadoon Trail isn't home to many top sights, West Beach and Gulf Shores Beach are some notable places to visit nearby.

Brigadoon Trail
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Fort Morgan Pines

While Fort Morgan Pines might not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like Fort Morgan Beach and Fort Morgan.

Fort Morgan Pines
Beachside Resort Hotel
Beachside Resort Hotel
2 out of 5
610 W Beach Blvd, Gulf Shores, AL
The price is $101 per night from May 5 to May 6
$101
$118 total
includes taxes & fees
May 5 - May 6
Stay at this hotel in Gulf Shores. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
7.8/10 Good! (1,076 reviews)
"This property could use a little updating!!!! Cool having the pool on the 3rd floor looking across to the beach"

Reviewed on Apr 30, 2024

Beachside Resort Hotel
Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Gulf Shores
Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Gulf Shores
2.5 out of 5
3600 Gulf Shores Parkway, Gulf Shores, AL
The price is $76 per night from May 5 to May 6
$76
$88 total
includes taxes & fees
May 5 - May 6
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Gulf Shores. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
7.6/10 Good! (1,022 reviews)
"Quiet location and room was clean. Entrance & exit out of hotel was a tad challenging."

Reviewed on May 1, 2024

Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Gulf Shores
Waterfront home with WiFi, sun deck, screened porch & private beach access
Waterfront home with WiFi, sun deck, screened porch & private beach access
Gulf Shores
Stay at this beach vacation home in Gulf Shores. Enjoy a beach locale, onsite parking, and an in-room DVD player. Popular attractions Gulf Shores Beach and West ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (10 reviews)
Paradise and Bulldozers?
"We loved the house and location; beautiful sunrises and sunsets always. Plenty of room for our guests! What we didn't expect though was the last week of 24/7 beach dredging and reshaping which closed the beach directly in front of us. Fortunately, it reopened on our last day so we could enjoy a final ..."

Reviewed on Dec 16, 2023

Waterfront home with WiFi, sun deck, screened porch & private beach access
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Phoenix All Suites West Hotel
Phoenix All Suites West Hotel
3.5 out of 5
533 W. Beach Blvd., Gulf Shores, AL
Stay at this 3.5-star beach aparthotel in Gulf Shores. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a beach locale. Popular attractions Gulf Shores Beach and Gulf State ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (476 reviews)
"The room was exactly as described, beautiful ocean front balcony view, comfy king bed. The only bad thing was the door code didn’t work when we checked in for either suite & took multiple resets to open one, however the staff was diligent to get it reset & apologize multiple times."

Reviewed on Apr 22, 2024

Phoenix All Suites West Hotel
Sugar Sands RV Resort
Sugar Sands RV Resort
2 out of 5
5343 Roscoe Rd, Gulf Shores, AL
Stay at this mobile home in Gulf Shores. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a fitness center. Popular attractions Gulf Shores Beach and The Wharf are located ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (15 reviews)
"Awesome little RV resort with the option to rent out into homes for a fraction of the price to rent anything on the beach. Amazingly family & pet friendly with beautiful pool (with waterfalls and fountain jets), a playground, splash pad and fitness room. Large shared community area with games and ..."

Reviewed on Apr 10, 2024

Sugar Sands RV Resort
Waterfront home with WiFi, sun deck, screened porch & private beach access
Waterfront home with WiFi, sun deck, screened porch & private beach access
Gulf Shores
Stay at this beach vacation home in Gulf Shores. Enjoy a beach locale, onsite parking, and an in-room DVD player. Popular attractions Gulf Shores Beach and West ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (10 reviews)
Paradise and Bulldozers?
"We loved the house and location; beautiful sunrises and sunsets always. Plenty of room for our guests! What we didn't expect though was the last week of 24/7 beach dredging and reshaping which closed the beach directly in front of us. Fortunately, it reopened on our last day so we could enjoy a final ..."

Reviewed on Dec 16, 2023

Waterfront home with WiFi, sun deck, screened porch & private beach access
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Getting around Gulf Shores

The area around Gulf Shores lends itself well to biking, with miles of cycling trails to explore in beautiful wilderness areas like the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge. A car is also a good option for exploring the surrounding countryside; both car and bike rental companies can be found in town. On the water, a boat tour can help you spot dolphins. Many hotels are within walking distance of the beach. Visit the Alabama Department of Transportation website.Browse Gulf Shores rental cars.

Best time to visit

Gulf Shores’ greatest attribute is its stretch of sandy beach, and if you’re looking to make the most of it then the weather will play a major part in when you visit. Summers are very hot, so fall is probably the best time to visit, when the weather is balmy but not too hot, and the sea is lovely after months soaking up the heat of high summer. Winter is pleasant and the town has a large snowbird population.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Read travel guides and advice on visiting Gulf Shores

Cities near Gulf Shores