The 13 Best Beaches of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach — Find Your Beach

Are you looking for the best beaches in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach? We have created the perfect guide for you along with interactive maps, pictures, and descriptions of every public access point along the 32-miles of pristine coastline.

Alabama has some of the best beaches, not just on the Gulf Coast but for all of the United States! Coastal Living magazine voted Gulf Shores as one of their 21 best beaches, and USA Today ranked Gulf Shores as #5 in their ‘Top 10 in Best Coastal Small Towns’.

When you come to Orange Beach and Gulf Shores beaches, you’ll discover more than snow-white sugar sand and warm gulf water. You’ll find plenty of room to spread out and stay healthy. A visit to Gulf Shores uncovers the simple things that will make your vacation extraordinary, like stunning sunset vistas, delicious local food, and exciting outdoor activities like hiking, kayaking, and some of the best biking in Alabama.

The Lodge at Gulf State Park-15
The Lodge at Gulf State Park-41

Overview of Gulf Shores Alabama Beaches

The four primary beaches along the Alabama Gulf Coast are Gulf Shores, Gulf State Park, Orange Beach, and the Fort Morgan Peninsula. Perdido Key State Park in Florida is also close by, but this article focuses on the other side of the Flora-Bama line.

Right away, you might be asking – what’s the difference between Gulf Shores and Orange Beach? They are both Alabama coastal cities that, more or less, are separated by Gulf State Park. Gulf Shores is to the west, where Highway 59 reaches the coast, and Orange Beach is to the east by Perdido Pass and Wolf Bay. Fort Morgan Peninsula is west of Gulf Shores and runs to the mouth of Mobile Bay.

Each area offers something different and unique, so we’ll take the time to introduce 13 distinctly different beaches and let you decide which one is best for you.

Join us as we explore:

  • Gulf Shores Beaches (Gulf Shores Public Beach, Little Lagoon Pass, Gulf Shores Public Access Points) 
  • Gulf State Park (Gulf State Park Pier, Branyon Beach, Gulf Shores Pavillion)
  • Orange Beach (Romar Beach, Cotton Bayou, Alabama Point)
  • Fort Morgan Peninsula Beaches (Pine Beach, Bon Secour / Mobile Street Beach, Pizarro Ave Beach, Fort Morgan Beaches)

Of course, we promised you a map of Gulf Shores beaches, so you’ll find that below. It’s color-coded and interactive, so feel free to take a little time clicking around and exploring. If it doesn’t come up right away, feel free to hit the refresh button. We promise you it’s worth it