The Ultimate Guide To Beach Campgrounds

Gulf Shores & Orange Beach

Find the perfect camping spot for your desired Gulf Shores & Orange Beach experience by using our in-depth campground guide.

February 8, 2023

On the Alabama Gulf Coast, our deep love of our coastal landscape has produced a variety of campgrounds where you can park an RV or pitch a tent to get up close and personal with nature. From luxurious RV resorts bursting with amenities to primitive sites that take you to a simpler time, our camping culture is as diverse as our beloved visitors - and designed to meet their every need.

Here’s your in-depth guide to six campgrounds in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

Gulf State Park Campground

The quintessential Gulf Coast campground is just 1.5 miles from our renowned beaches, making it easy to walk, bike or drive to beach bliss. You can camp any way you like, as the park boasts 496 paved pads for hookups, 11 primitive campsites, and an outpost site with three pre-set tents and cots for easy outdoor living. But it’s not all roughing it! With 11 modern bathhouses, an onsite camp store and complimentary laundry facilities, the campground offers all the comforts of home in its serene outdoor setting.

The great thing about this campground is you don’t need to stray far from your site for a day of family fun. Staying in Gulf State Park offers easy access to its 28 miles of nature trails, Lake Shelby, a pool, a splash pad, and multiple athletic courts. When you choose to venture out, you’re just minutes from the heart of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach and plenty of restaurants, shopping, and attractions!

Bay Breeze RV Park on the Bay

This bayfront park is the picture of Gulf Coast living. Its 25 paved RV sites feature large, shaded lots with concrete patios and picnic tables so you can enjoy your morning coffee or evening meal in a comfortable outdoor oasis. Each location offers picturesque views of Mobile Bay and is just steps away from the park’s private beach area and 200-foot fishing pier with boat slips. Spend the afternoon lounging on the two-story sun deck, fishing from the pier, or playing in the calm Mobile Bay waves. They even have a dedicated pet walk for your furry friends.

Amenities include an enclosed bathhouse, a laundry facility, and free WiFi. When it’s time to spend the day away from your site, your convenient location on Fort Morgan Road is just minutes from public beaches, Fort Morgan Historic Site, Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, and more!

Sugar Sands RV Resort

This retro-inspired RV park takes your family back to a simpler time but features plenty of luxurious modern amenities. Each spacious RV site includes full hookups, 30/50-amp power, free WiFi and cable, lush coastal landscaping, and entertaining family areas. The whole group will love playing in the resort-style pool and splash pad, making s’mores around the large fire pit, running ragged on the playground, or gathering for a meal in the spacious rec center with a full kitchen.

For your comfort, the park also includes a bathhouse with private toilets and showers, a laundry facility, a fitness center, and a scenic dog walking trail. During your stay, it’s just a short drive north to The Wharf, The Park at OWA, or south to Alabama’s beautiful beaches.

Buena Vista Coastal RV Resort

This luxury RV resort takes glamping to a whole new level. It offers some of the largest RV lots in the area in tiered options, including brick-paved pads, private fire pits and hot tubs, entire luxury coach houses, and more. You’ll be hard-pressed to leave your site, but it’s worth the short walk to any of the resort’s first-class amenities! They include a resort-style pool with a lazy river and water slide, a private five-acre lake stocked with bass and bream, a clubhouse with an indoor heated pool, a fitness center and a large, enclosed dog park.

Though the park has plenty of onsite options to fill days with activities, it’s also in a prime position for getting out and exploring the area. Walk just across the street for easy access to Orange Beach’s famed beaches, or stroll to the back of the resort to access the 28 miles of walking and biking trails through Gulf State Park. Of course, it’s also just a short drive to the area’s best restaurants, shopping, and attractions!

Heritage Motor Coach Resort and Marina

This luxury RV campground is nestled on a private marina on Bayou St. John in Orange Beach. Its unmatched sites include luxurious coach houses complete with kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms. The campground is dotted with impressive Heritage Oak Trees, scenic cobblestone walking paths and lush coastal landscaping. The resort is beautiful and full of amenities, including an infinity pool with fountains and a jacuzzi tub, waterfront access via the resort marina and private beach, a two-story fire pit and more. There’s even a complimentary business center where you can wow your clients and coworkers with your impeccable taste in camping culture!

If you can tear yourself away from all that luxury, the campground is just minutes from the best attractions in Orange Beach. Take a dolphin cruise with Cold Mil Fleet, enjoy the scenes at Orange Beach Waterfront Park, or head to the pristine beach at Alabama Point.

Sun Outdoors

Sprawling across 30 acres in Orange Beach, this master-planned resort is nestled near some of the area’s most popular attractions. Sun Outdoors sports rustic architecture and lush landscaping that make staying there a refreshing escape. Onsite, you’ll find two pools, a jacuzzi, a fire pit and volleyball and pickleball courts. All their sites include full hookups and access to showers, a bathhouse, a kitchen and a laundry room.

Campers will find easy access to the Backcountry Trail and can conveniently bike, hike and run through Gulf State Park. Just down the street from the resort is The Wharf, which features endless entertainment, incredible restaurants and tons of shopping.

No matter what type of campsite or RV park you’re looking for, you’ll find it here on the Alabama Gulf Coast. From luxury RV parks to primitive camping and waterfront access, our destination is filled with amazing options that’ll make you and your family happy campers during your stay. Ready to hit the road and head down to Alabama’s beaches?