Easy Access to Gulf Coast Waters
In Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
Published on: June 13, 2022
Updated at: April 17, 2026
Access to the water is increasingly important to those who wish to spend a day on their boat cruising the beautiful Alabama Gulf Coast or angling for the abundant inshore and offshore species of fish. Alabama’s Beaches are home to plenty of launch sites and marinas for boaters to set sail into coastal waters.
Boat Launches in Orange Beach
- Cotton Bayou launch is located on the north side of Perdido Beach Blvd., about a quarter-mile east of State Hwy. 161. The double-lane ramp is located directly across Perdido Beach Boulevard from the Cotton Bayou Beach Access.
- The Boggy Point launch is located at the end of Marina Road, just off State Hwy. 161. The renovated launch features new docks and ramps and paved parking.
- The Launch at ICW has more than 1,700 feet of water frontage, six boat launches, 200 lighted boat and trailer parking spaces, 84 lighted passenger car spaces, six covered pavilions with picnic table seating, a 20-foot by 30-foot grand pavilion, eight restrooms with more than a half-mile of sidewalks and boardwalks.
- If you want to launch in upper Perdido Bay, head to Josephine Park on Josephine Drive off Old County Road 95. The ramp has two lands with 10-plus parking spots, a dock at the ramp and a T dock nearby.
Marinas in Orange Beach
- Between Wolf Bay and Perdido Bay is Barber Marina, located at the end of Fish Trap Road in Elberta. The marina’s amenities include a 9-acre boatyard, 185 wet slips, 400 inside dry-storage slips, 20 outside dry-storage slips, yacht repair facility, boat and outboard service center, ship store with marine gasoline and diesel, and a new and used boat sales center.
- Orange Beach Marina has been rated among the top facilities on the Gulf Coast with 161 in-water slips, boat repair, fuel and fine dining at Shipp's Dockside Grill Lower Deck and Upper Deck. The marina is home to numerous boats in Alabama’s charter fleet.
- Reel Surprise Marina is located at San Roc Cay and offers charter boat trips for groups or walk-ons.
- Harbor Marina is the largest watersport rental facility, with more than 50 vessels available. The marina also offers boat dry storage as well as fuel and a fully stocked dock store.
- Romar Marina features dry storage, wet slips, a dock store, fuel dock, repairs and service, and permanent and temporary storage.
- Caribe Marina offers charter trips, jet ski and boat rentals, dolphin and sightseeing tours, and parasailing, as well as Cobalt the Restaurant.
- Safe Harbor Sportsman Marina offers dry storage for up to 40-foot vessels, charter boat trips, wet slips, and Barometer Waterfront Grille.
- Zeke’s Landing Marina is known for its charter boat fleet dedicated to catching Alabama’s premier fish species – red snapper. Zeke’s has dry storage, dock and bait shop, a restaurant, and cruises.
- Hudson Marina is home to the $69 party boat fishing trip, Screaming Eagle Jetboat, Orange Beach Pirate Ship Cruise, and Avenue Pub restaurant.
Boat Launches & Marinas in Gulf Shores
- Homeport Marina is located on the Intracoastal Waterway next to LuLu’s Restaurant in Gulf Shores. The marina has 76 wet slips with all the expected amenities.
- Canal Park launch is located under the Hwy. 59 (W.C. Holmes) bridge at 200 East 24th Ave. The single-lane launch is lighted with 34 paved parking spots. Restrooms are available.
- Lagoon Park launch, known locally as Mo’s Landing, is located on State Hwy. 180, 2 miles west of Ala. Hwy. 59. The double-lane ramp features three docks and lighting. The facility has 25 parking spots and restrooms.
- The Fort Morgan boat launch is available next to the newly renovated Fort Morgan Pier. The launch has two ramps, and parking is currently being expanded.
- If you own a boat that doesn’t draft much water, the Pines Boat Launch, with a ramp and a dock, has been repaired and recently reopened.
- The Fort Morgan Marina on Mobile Bay is a full-service marina with dry storage, wet slips, private charters, showers, a dock store, and Tacky Jacks restaurant.
David Rainer
David Rainer has written about the great outdoors on the Alabama Gulf Coast for more than 20 years. For 14 of those years, he covered the many fishing opportunities on the Gulf Coast as outdoors editor at the Mobile Press-Register. He is past president of the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association and currently serves on the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council's Outreach and Education Advisory Panel and the Alabama Gulf Coast Reef & Restoration Foundation board.
