Experience Alabama’s Beaches Without Barriers
In Gulf Shores & Orange Beach

Where to Stay?
You’ll find several wheelchair-friendly lodging options to meet your needs in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Some hotels and condos have roll-in showers and chair lifts in pools and hot tubs. Gulf State Park even has ADA-compliant cottages and campsites.
Beach Access for Everyone
Wheel right to the water’s edge and enjoy the sugar-white sand and turquoise water with the rubber mats at the public beach in Gulf Shores. At other locations, you can rent a beach wheelchair with wide tires to navigate the sand or for more independence rent a motorized version.
Wheelchair accessible activities in Gulf shores & Orange Beach
Listen as your tour operator points out wildlife and historical points of interest on a wheelchair-accessible dolphin cruise in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach. Afterwards, head to Alligator Alley and meet the 13-foot, 800-pound alligator, Captain Crunch. He holds the bite strength world record at 2,982 pounds.
Want to go fishing? Enjoy the wheelchair accessible fishing rail at Gulf State Park pier, the second largest pier on the Gulf. Then explore more than 27 miles of paved, winding scenic paths on the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail, or the 1-mile Jeff Friend Trail’s maritime forest and lagoon in Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge.
For more adventure, travel to Dauphin Island on the Mobile Bay Ferry. Along the way keep an eye out for ships, birds and marine life. Once there, you’ll love The Estuarium, the fourth largest estuary system in the United States. Peruse the educational exhibits, be amazed at the stingray touch pool, and view more than 100 native species of plants and animals from the wheelchair-accessible boardwalk.

Gulf Coast History and Art
While in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, learn about the history of Orange Beach, local Indian heritage and how the shrimping industry got its start at the Indian & Sea Museum. Delve into Civil War history including displays of artillery, uniforms, and more at historic Fort Morgan.
Are you in a creative mood? Paint your own masterpiece, blow a glass ornament, or try your hand at the pottery wheel at the Coastal Arts Center. The center offers a wide variety of on-going classes for both children and adults.
Fun Attractions for All
Admire incredible views from The Wharf’s gigantic Ferris wheel or pet a lemur, sloth or baby kangaroo at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. You can take a selfie in a giant shark’s mouth, and explore rows and rows of fun things to see, touch and buy such as shells, t-shirts and hermit crabs at Souvenir City.
Year-Round Wheelchair Events in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
Experience the thrill of competing at the Sweetheart 5K Wheelchair Race or the Sea Turtle Half Marathon Wheelchair Race, both in February.
Other wheelchair-friendly events:
March
Orange Beach Festival of Art
Mardi Gras parades
Wharf Boat and Yacht Show
April
Waterway Village Zydeco & Crawfish Festival
Bama Coast Cruisin’
September
Wharf Uncorked
October
National Shrimp Festival
November
Oyster Cook-off and Craft Beer Weekend
December