6 Places to Play in the Sand
Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
When heading to the Alabama Gulf Coast for sports and event travel, the beach is likely top-of-mind! Whether you’re staying beachfront or inland, try changing it up and hitting several public-access beaches. Below are six of our favorite sandy spots in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.
1. Gulf Place (Gulf Shores Main Public Beach)
If you are looking for volleyball-playing, beach-bar-hanging good times, Gulf Place, located where Highway 59 dead-ends into the Gulf of Mexico, is for you. For a small fee, you get half- or full-day beach parking, making it easy to unload your gear. Restrooms and showers are on site, and beach attendants, open-air pavilions and a picnic area are available. A beach safety office is now located on-site, and two access mats were recently installed on the east and west ends of the property.
2. Lagoon Pass Beach
Located 2.9 miles west of Gulf Place in Gulf Shores, Lagoon Pass Beach provides a parking area, showers, a restroom facility and a new 300-foot fishing pier. Swimmers may prefer the calm, flat waters of this beach on the lagoon side of the highway. Enjoy wading or floating in these shallow waters, but please remember that there is no lifeguard on duty, and the current can move swiftly as the tides shift in and out. Always heed the posted beach flags wherever you visit. Lagoon Pass Park is also an optimal place to watch the sunset. In summer, the sun goes down over Little Lagoon, and during winter, it sinks over the surf!
3. Gulf State Park Beach Pavilion
This protected natural beach is located east of Highway 59 among the sand dunes and sea oats. Just west of The Lodge at Gulf State Park is the gorgeous Gulf State Park Beach Pavilion, featuring ample paid parking, a covered pavilion, air-conditioned restrooms, private showers and a large fireplace for when the weather gets cooler. This area may be rented for large parties, which makes it the perfect venue for celebrating with your group, however large or small. Interactive displays west of the pavilion at the Interpretive Center encourage families to learn about ecotourism, including the nine – yes, NINE! – distinct ecosystems found within Gulf State Park.
4. Romar Beach in Orange Beach
Romar Beach is a Gulf State Park-maintained beach access located west of the Gulf State Park Beach Pavilion in Orange Beach and very easy to access. It’s a great spot to take a picnic lunch, watch local surfers carve the waves and enjoy the white-sand beaches among smaller crowds. Always pack in what you pack out, here and wherever you go. Fill in any holes after you dig them, and bring a bag for your trash.
5. Cotton Bayou in Orange Beach
Maintained by Gulf State Park, Cotton Bayou is situated where two main roads intersect – Highway 182 and Highway 161 – making it easy to locate when driving in Orange Beach. With a paved parking area and showers and restrooms on-site, you can take in the shops and restaurants nearby in a snap before or after relaxing and playing on the sand.
6. Alabama Point East in Orange Beach
Alabama Point East is located beneath the Perdido Pass Bridge in Orange Beach and is also maintained by Gulf State Park. The long boardwalks to the beach provide access to the Gulf of Mexico. Or instead, walk across the sand and set your beach gear down in front of the swift-moving waters of the pass. It gets deep very quickly here in the pass waters, and since it’s a major channel for boats, we recommend extreme caution when swimming here. However, the waters are gorgeous and clear, which can be an excellent spot for snorkeling.
Before heading out to the beach, check for current beach conditions to ensure you have a safe and fun experience. Sign up to receive daily beach conditions and warning flag status by texting ALBEACHES to 888777.
No matter what stretch of our beautiful 32 miles of beaches you spend your time on, you are sure to enjoy a day of relaxation and fun in the sun!
