Gulf Shores and Orange Beach
Alabama's short stretch of Gulf coast, white quartz sand rebuilt repeatedly after hurricanes and the 2010 oil spill.
Updated 30 August 2026
Alabama has only about eighty kilometres of coast and this is it - fine white quartz sand, warm shallow Gulf water and a strip of condominium towers behind. The area has taken serious damage repeatedly: Hurricane Frederic in 1979, Ivan in 2004 and Sally in 2020 all rebuilt the shoreline and much of the built environment. The 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill closed beaches through a summer season and the settlement money funded a good deal of subsequent public infrastructure, including the expanded state park lodge. Gulf State Park covers over 2,800 hectares behind the beach with a long paved trail network through pine, marsh and dune - the quieter half of the destination.
The main sights
- White quartz sand - along Alabama's short coastline.
- Gulf State Park - 2,800 hectares of trails behind the beach.
- Repeated hurricane rebuilding - Frederic, Ivan and Sally.
- Post-spill infrastructure - funded by the 2010 settlement.
When to go
April to May and September to October. A full day.
Before you go
Summer is hot, humid and crowded, and is hurricane season. Beach parking is charged and limited. Development along the beach road is dense. Spring break brings large crowds in March.
Nearby
Fort Morgan is west at the point; Pensacola is east in Florida.
What to pack for Gulf Shores and Orange Beach
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Broken-in walking shoes or boots - Grip and ankle support matter more than looks; never hike in brand-new boots. Find on Amazon
- Reef-safe sunscreen - High SPF that will not bleach the coral you are swimming over. Find on Amazon
- Loose, light, long clothing - Covering up beats bare skin in the desert - and locals dress this way for a reason. Find on Amazon
- Strong insect repellent - DEET or picaridin; the jungle is where bites and disease risk are highest. Find on Amazon
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
