5 Less Crowded Beaches to Visit on Alabama's Gulf Coast

Aerial view of a beach, with turquoise water on one side, a strip of sand, and towers behind it. — Orange Beach, on Alabama’s Gulf Coast, is popular with travelers who want access to seafood restaurants and even glass-blowing and ceramics classes.

This article was originally published in 2023 and most recently updated on August 2, 2026, with current information.

Visions of untouched, white-sand beaches in the United States may conjure up images of Florida’s palm-tree-laden coastline or Hawai‘i’s islands. It’s rare the state of Alabama comes to mind, but Alabama’s Gulf Coast—between Pensacola, Florida, and New Orleans—has one of the most unspoiled shorelines along the Gulf of Mexico, with roughly 50 miles of Gulf Beach and 65 to 70 miles of bay beaches to enjoy. It’s a destination without overwhelming crowds, where space on the sand is easy to access.

Here are five of the best beaches to visit in Alabama for a swim in the Gulf Coast, plus the best time to go.

Gulf Shores

Blindingly white, soft sand and warm, turquoise waters keep locals and tourists coming back to Gulf Shores, a laid-back seaside vacation town of some 16,400 residents.

Gulf Shores’ action is centered around the end of Highway 59 at Gulf Place, where a stretch of pristine sand is dotted with beachfront bars and seafood shacks like Pink Pony Pub, Sea-N-Suds, and Bahama Bob’s; volleyball nets; and beachgoers of all ages enjoying the water.

For a quieter experience, head east to Branyon Beach Access, with its tall sand dunes on either side of a small boardwalk, or west to Lagoon Pass Park, where the calm, sheltered waters on the north side are ideal for paddleboarding.

Where to stay: Embassy Suites by Hilton Gulf Shores Beach Resort

One block north of Gulf Shores Beach, the Embassy Suites by Hilton Gulf Shores Beach Resort has 257 suites with accent walls, headboards, and decor elements in teal and sea foam green, and each has a private balcony or patio with sweeping Gulf views. Downstairs is the seafood-centric Tide & Table (for breakfast and dinner), while Sound Wave on the second floor hosts live music daily from early March through fall.

Gulf State Park

White sand beach, with wood fencing and grass in background — Enjoy—and learn about—nature along the Gulf Coast at Gulf State Park.

Just east of Gulf Shores, Gulf State Park is a haven for activity-seeking travelers with more than 6,000 acres, 3.5 miles of beaches, and a pavilion with picnic tables. If you prefer freshwater to salt, you can paddleboard, swim, or kayak at the park’s 900-acre Lake Shelby; a pedestrian bridge connects to the nearby beach if you want to enjoy both.

After getting your fill of splashing in the water, relax in the shade at the lake’s picnic area, a pet-friendly place where you can use one of the charcoal grills and spread out lunch. (If you’d rather bring sandwiches, Amelia’s Deli is a few minutes’ drive from the park.) Kids can avail themselves of a playground, a learning center to get information on the local wildlife, and a flower-filled butterfly garden.

Where to stay in Gulf State Park

If you’re up for a night under the stars, the Gulf State Park Campground has nearly 500 campsites, 11 bathhouses, volleyball courts, and access to 28 miles of trails. It also has a store stocked with food, firewood, and other camping supplies in case you forget something.

For a proper mattress, book a room at the Lodge at Gulf State Park, a Hilton Hotel, which is part of the park and located right on the beach. There are two pools—one adults-only—and bikes to rent so you can make good use of the park’s trails. (If you’re not staying at the hotel, you can rent a set of wheels from Ike’s Bikes.)

Dauphin Island

Three bikes—white, red, and pale blue—on sand dune, with three people in distance — It’s easy to ride a bike around 14-mile-long Dauphin Island.

Set on a barrier island a 40-minute car ferry ride from Mobile, Dauphin Island feels far removed from the bustle of the city.

The so-called Sunset Capital of Alabama entices swimmers and shallow-water surf-fishers who spread out along the island’s 14 miles of soft, white sand. Dauphin Island is the first stop for birds making their spring migration across the Gulf of Mexico, and bird-watchers can see hundreds of species at the 164-acre Audubon Bird Sanctuary and the 11-acre Indian Shell Mound Park. (The shell middens, small piles of bivalve shells left behind by Indigenous inhabitants, date to 1100 to 1550 B.C.E.)

After keeping your eyes peeled for birds, switch to some people-watching on the porch at Lighthouse Bakery, which opens at 6 a.m. to welcome sunrise swimmers. Saturdays are for omelets, but sandwiches and pastries, including giant cinnamon buns, are available every day.

Where to stay: Dauphin Island Harbor House

The 10-room Dauphin Island Harbor House, on the south side of Dauphin Island Bay, has been a mainstay for families for more than 40 years. Start your day with complimentary grits and biscuits; after a day at the beach, wind down on the water-facing deck with a good book.

Orange Beach

Turquoise water lapping at a stretch of white sand, with tall buildings in the background — Orange Beach, Alabama has seven miles of powdery white sand.

This small city is home to seven miles of sand, running from near Gulf State Park to the Florida state line, a border marked by the rowdy Flora-Bama dive bar. While the emerald-hued waters and white beaches along the Gulf tend to look similar, sections of Orange Beach offer something slightly different, such as Shell Beach (just east of the Perdido Pass Bridge), a perfect spot to collect seashells, or Alabama Point East, which has wide swaths of sand, dunes, and boardwalks.

There are several old-school seafood joints here, including Doc’s Seafood Shack, alongside more contemporary marine fare at Cobalt and Zeke’s. Not to be missed: Sunliner Diner, a perfect facsimile of a 1950s diner, complete with lots of chrome, period cars, and towering milkshakes.

Come in mid-March to attend the annual Orange Beach Festival of Art, which has live music and dozens of artists whose media include glass, metal, and leather. Or learn to blow glass and make your own ceramics on a wheel at the Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach, open year-round.

Where to stay in Orange Beach

Go glamping at the western end of town at Timberline Glamping Orange Beach; its 10 tents have air conditioning and ceiling fans to keep you cool and a ring fire and hammocks for after-dinner s’mores and stargazing. Bikes, boogie boards, and sun tents are available to rent, as is a family fun pack with giant Jenga, corn hole, and Connect Four.

Next door is Hotel Indigo Orange Beach – Gulf Shores by IHG, offering 62 rooms and suites with misty teal and orange accents, indoor and outdoor pools, and a shuttle to the Gulf State Park Pavilion. The decor is a tad dated at the 161-room-and-suite Island House Hotel Orange Beach – a DoubleTree by Hilton, but it has a sizable outdoor pool, is on the beach, and is five minutes’ walk to Zeke’s restaurant.

Fort Morgan

Sunset over the water, with pink clouds and orange reflections on the water — Watch the sun melt into the Gulf of Mexico from Fort Morgan, at the western tip of its eponymous 21-mile peninsula.

A low-key alternative to the busier beaches along the Gulf, Fort Morgan is a quiet community with lovely beaches, history, and wildlife. You can take a day trip to Fort Morgan from Dauphin Island by hopping on a breezy 40-minute ferry ride.

Trek along the maritime forest trails in Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, a 7,000-acre protected habitat of longleaf pines and bald cypress trees, endangered green and loggerhead sea turtles, and more than 370 species of birds, including multiple varieties of hummingbird. For a glimpse into how Fort Morgan got its name, head to the namesake Civil War fort. While it played a key role in the 1864 Battle of Mobile Bay, today it serves largely as a well-preserved National Historic Landmark, as well as a much-needed pit-stop for migrating birds.

Cool off with a swim at Fort Morgan Beach, whose uncrowded shores are the ideal place to soak in seclusion. When it’s time to eat, the fresh seafood (and water views) at Jesse’s on the Bay will satisfy your cravings.

Where to stay in Fort Morgan

The town is loaded with vibrant beachfront vacation rentals, with cutesy names like Dream Catcher or Easy Breezy. If you’re looking for a big resort full of amenities, though, the Beach Club Resort & Spa is your best option. There are more than 650 units, ranging from one to five bedrooms, spread across four towers, plus a number of lakeside cottages. Beyond the beach, it has five outdoor pools, pickleball and tennis courts, and paddleboards, kayaks, and Jet Skis available to rent.

When is the best time to visit Alabama’s beaches?

Alabama’s Gulf Coast is affected by Atlantic hurricane season, which generally runs from June through November, peaking in August and September. This being an El Niño year, the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season is predicted to be “below normal.” However, Tropical Storm Bertha did close Alabama Gulf Coast beaches in late July 2026.

The best time to visit Alabama’s beaches to avoid hurricane season is before June or starting in October. May is nice for warm days and water that isn’t too cold for swimming. Expect daily highs of around 81 degrees and an average water temperature of 76 degrees. Come in early October for daytime temperatures around 80 degrees and water temperature in the upper 70s.

Sophie Friedman contributed to the reporting of this story.

Tom Burson

Tom Burson is a travel and food journalist based between the Deep South and Central Europe. He chases oft-forgotten trails, unexpected traditions, and the stories food tells about a place—like driving Mississippi backroads for gas station dining, ambling across Alabama’s barbecue trail, or hitchhiking across the Balkans.