Beaches
Paid Beach Parking Announcement
Beginning on Friday, April 23rd, 2021, all beach accesses owned by Gulf State Park will be implementing paid parking. Please review the Press Release and to learn more, refer to the FAQ and Updated Policies documents.
Parking Pay Stations (Kiosks) are in place at the Gulf State Park Fishing and Education Pier and the Beach Pavilion in Gulf Shores and at the public beach accesses in Orange Beach - Romar Beach, Cotton Bayou, Alabama Point and Shell Beach.
$3.00 - 2 hours for personal vehicle
$5.00 - 4 hours for personal vehicle
$10.00 - All day for personal vehicle
$15.00 - All day for passenger vans
$30.00 - All day for buses or large RVs
$100.00 - Annual pass parking decal
- Purchase annual pass from Park Headquarters
- Valid for one calendar year with expiration on December 31st annually
Veterans - Free parking
- Obtain an annual pass parking decal from Park Headquarters
- Valid for one calendar year with expiration on December 31st annually
Before heading out to the beach, put the printed pass or receipt on the dashboard of your car.
Gulf State Park boasts over 3.5 miles of beautiful white sand beaches available in both our main park area in Gulf Shores at the Beach Pavilion and from our access points in Orange Beach, Alabama. Our family-friendly beaches are a perfect place to enjoy some much needed time of fun and relaxation. Whether you are into surf fishing or just laying out and reading a book, you will find our beaches to be a fantastic place to do this and more.
Gulf State Park is home to many types of wildlife, including alligators. Please be aware at all times. For detailed information, please see our Wildlife Safety recommendations.
Click on the image below to view all beach access points and amenities.
Beach Access Points
Pier: 20800 E Beach Blvd, Gulf Shores, AL 36542
+Parking +Restrooms
Beach Pavilion: 22250 E Beach Blvd, Gulf Shores, AL 36542
+Parking (paid) +Restrooms
Romar Beach: 24450 Perdido Beach Blvd, Orange Beach 36561
+Parking
Cotton Bayou: 25900 Perdido Beach Blvd, Orange Beach 36561
+Parking +Restrooms +Handicap Accessible
Alabama Point: 27853 Perdido Beach Blvd, Orange Beach 36561
+Parking +Restrooms
Shell Lot: 28273 Perdido Beach Blvd, Orange Beach 36561
+Parking +Portable Restroom
Some beach access points have food & drink available on a seasonal basis. Please visit the Dining page to see what options you may have.
Commercial Photographers must purchase an annual permit for $100 to use any of the Gulf State Park beach access points listed above as a venue.
Complete the Commercial Photographers Permit Form and email it along with your business license to gulfevents.statepark@dcnr.alabama.gov or call 251-948-7275 ext. 2101
At each Gulf State Park beach access point, you will see a flag indicating water conditions. Please reference the flyers above to learn more about the beach flags and rip tide warnings.
Alabama beaches are beautiful and pristine. The Leave Only Footprints program protects our beaches so that we may enjoy the coast for many years to come. You can do your part by following beach ordinances and disposing of trash. You can use our toy boxes found at every beach access to leave toys behind! Take a toy from these boxes as well and enjoy a fun day on the beach! Please help us preserve our beaches while having a relaxing, safe vacation by following the beach regulations.
Visit Leave Only Footprints to learn more about the important conservation initiatives in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.
The Alabama Gulf Coast offers nesting beaches for sea turtles during the summer months. A volunteer program, Share the Beach, devotes time and passion in Gulf State Park and the surrounding beaches in order to protect the sea turtles. Visit the organization's website to learn more about this conservation program and what you can do to help!
