Public Beach Accesses

Gulf Place sits where Alabama Highway 59 dead-ends at East Beach Blvd. (Hwy. 182). The beach is monitored seasonally by lifeguards and includes three open-air pavilions, a picnic area, a playground, restrooms, and showers on-site. It's the perfect location for playing beach volleyball, rollerblading, or grabbing a meal at a nearby restaurant. Four accessible beach mats along this stretch of coast make it easy for those with limited mobility or wheelchairs to reach the water's edge.  

The Gulf State Park Pavilion, six miles east of Highway 59, offers a spacious beach pavilion with air-conditioned restrooms, private showers, a snack bar, shady spots to sit and eat, and a large fireplace for chilly days. With a massive parking lot and ample amenities, it is a fantastic option for families looking to spend a whole day by the water.

Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge Beach sits at 12295 State Highway 180 (Fort Morgan Road) in Gulf Shores. You can park along Mobile Street for easy beach access. It is a protected wildlife refuge, so there are no facilities (restrooms or showers). Please note that the refuge office is nearby. This pristine stretch of sand offers an unmatched natural experience for hikers and nature lovers.

Shell Beach is on Perdido Beach Boulevard across from The Caribe and just east of the Perdido Pass Bridge. As its name suggests, you’ll find plenty of shells in the sand. Gravel parking is available, as well as a portable restroom (seasonal). It is a favorite spot for soaking up the sun and avoiding the summer crowds

Alabama Point is 0.3 miles east of Perdido Pass Bridge and offers more than 6,000 feet of wide beach in addition to lifeguards, sand dunes, boardwalks, shaded picnic areas, restrooms, and outdoor showers. During the spring and summer, beachgoers can also grab a cold treat from Frost Bites food truck on-site. This beautiful access offers west- and south-facing beaches, providing guests with two viewing points. The sights of the jetty rocks and boat traffic make it uniquely scenic compared to other beaches.

For a few weeks of the year, a small portion of this beach access near the Perdido Pass bridge is closed to the public. During spring break, this area receives an influx of boat traffic, which makes it a high-risk spot for beachgoers and swimmers. For most of March and April, the west-facing area underneath the Perdido Pass bridge is closed. Visitors can still access the Gulf-facing beach area of the Alabama Point East access.

4th Street and 5th Street are Gulf Shores beaches situated between properties along West Beach. They are generally uncrowded; however, there are no bathrooms or showers on-site. There is a parking lot on the north side of Beach Blvd. in between 4th and 5th Street. Parking is also available on the south side next to Bahama Bob’s.

Gulf Shores 10th Street Public Beach offers guests a convenient beach boardwalk over the dunes, pedestrian crossing, and street parking on the north side of Beach Blvd. This access also has restrooms and showers.

Cotton Bayou is a top choice for those in Orange Beach, as it features both a handicap-accessible boardwalk and a beach mat located at the east ramp. This makes getting from the car to the shoreline a breeze. Wheelchair users and stroller users can easily bypass the soft, loose sand and head straight to the hard-packed sand near the water.

All-day parking for personal vehicles at Orange Beach and Gulf Shores beach accesses is $15. Visitors of Gulf Shores public beach accesses can pay using the ParkMobile App. Orange Beach beach accesses have parking kiosks. Please note that these pay stations accept cash and credit cards, but do not give change back or accept coins. You can find more information about parking in Gulf Shores and parking in Orange Beach.

Free street parking in Gulf Shores is available at E. 1st Ave., E. 1st St., E. 2nd St., W. 1st Ave., W. 2nd. Ave., West 1st St., West 2nd St., W. 5th St. North of Beach Boulevard, and W. 12th St.