Things to Do in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach
The Alabama Gulf Coast, where white quartz sand meets green water.
See top-rated activities »The Alabama Beaches of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach
Alabama has only a short coastline, and most of its beaches are lined up along one barrier island in Baldwin County. Gulf Shores sits in the middle, with its main public beach where Highway 59 meets the Gulf, and Orange Beach runs east to Perdido Pass and the Florida line. The sand is fine, white quartz washed down from the Appalachians, and on calm summer days the water turns a clear green. Together the two towns are among the most popular Alabama vacation spots, especially with families from across the South.
Gulf State Park takes up a large share of the shoreline between the two towns: more than 6,000 acres with over three miles of beach, freshwater lakes, a nature center and a long network of paved backcountry trails for walking and cycling. Its fishing pier reaches more than 1,500 feet into the Gulf. West of Gulf Shores, the Fort Morgan peninsula is quieter, with the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge protecting dunes and maritime forest, and Fort Morgan itself guarding the mouth of Mobile Bay, where Admiral Farragut forced his way past Confederate mines in 1864. A car ferry crosses from Fort Morgan to Dauphin Island, so you can loop to Mobile without retracing your route.
Most bookable things to do on the Alabama beaches of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are on the water. Dolphin cruises leave several times a day from Orange Beach marinas into Perdido Bay and the pass, where bottlenose dolphins are common; sunset sails, parasailing and backwater kayak trips are easy to arrange, and the area is a major base for offshore fishing charters. The Wharf in Orange Beach adds shops, restaurants, an amphitheater and a large Ferris wheel on the Intracoastal Waterway, and the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo in Gulf Shores is a short drive inland.
Beach flags tell you about surf conditions and rip currents, so check them before you swim. Summer is busy and hot, spring break and fall are milder, and October brings the National Shrimp Festival to the Gulf Shores public beach. Winter is quiet, cool and popular with snowbirds.
Don’t Miss
Over three miles of beach, lakes, a nature center and paved backcountry trails between Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.
A pier more than 1,500 feet long, good for fishing or simply walking out over the Gulf at sunset.
Dunes, maritime forest and quiet beaches with trails, and a stop for migrating songbirds in spring and fall.
A brick fort at the mouth of Mobile Bay, central to the 1864 Battle of Mobile Bay.
Shops, restaurants, a marina, an amphitheater and a big Ferris wheel on the Intracoastal Waterway.
A zoo with animal encounters, rebuilt on higher ground inland after hurricane damage at its old site.
Top-Rated Tours, Tickets & Activities in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach
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ViatorTours, tickets, prices and reviews from Viator (a Tripadvisor company) and Tiqets — prices are per person, from, and were checked October 28, 2026. Best in Alabama may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you.
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Get free trip quotes »Gulf Shores and Orange Beach — FAQ
Which Alabama beaches are best: Gulf Shores or Orange Beach?
They share the same sand and water. Gulf Shores has the busy main public beach and Gulf State Park, while Orange Beach has more marinas, The Wharf and quick access to Perdido Pass for boat trips.
Are there free public beaches in Gulf Shores?
Yes. The Gulf Shores public beach, Gulf State Park beach pavilions and several Orange Beach access points are open to everyone; some have paid parking.
Can you see dolphins at Orange Beach?
Bottlenose dolphins live in the bays and passes year-round, and dolphin cruises from Orange Beach marinas see them on most trips.
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