As winter weather draws near, it’s time to think about planning for your cold-weather escapes. What about a stay in one of several campgrounds on the beach in Alabama? If mild winter weather is what you’re after — plus views of the sparkling Gulf Coast and alabaster sand — Alabama just might be your place to get away for the colder months. Let’s take a look!
Best Time of Year to Visit Alabama Beaches
Of course, you can join the crowds and visit Alabama during popular tourist months in the summer. But we think an off-season vacation may lend itself better to your needs. You’ll find fewer crowds, lower rates, and still some warm water. In fact, you can plan to take a dip in the ocean between late spring and into the fall months.
Winter is also a good time to visit campgrounds on the beach in Alabama. Highs are typically in the 60s. The lows throughout the winter months stay above freezing. Although you can expect fewer crowds on the beach during winter, don’t expect to take a dip in the water.
Gulf Shore and Orange Beach are well-known beaches in Alabama. Or head to Gulf State Park for 900-acre Lake Shelby, two miles of beach shoreline, and 28 miles of trails.
Perhaps you’d like a more low-key getaway, in which case you could head to the 14-mile-long Dauphin Island that sits at the southernmost point of the state. Catch a sunset while you’re on the “Sunset Capital of Alabama.”
Pro Tip: If you want to spend some fun in the sun while in Alabama, check out these 7 Best Beautiful White Sand Beaches.
7 Best Campgrounds on the Beach in Alabama
We’ve compiled a list of the seven best campgrounds that place you within walking or driving distance to some dreamy white-sand beaches. Let’s check them out.
1. Gulf State Park
Address: 20115 State Park Rd, Orange Beach, AL 36561
Amenities: Gulf State Park offers paved sites spacious enough to fit big rigs, with a mixture of pull-through, back-in, and waterfront sites. All sites offer full hook-ups. In addition, the state park offers 11 modern bathhouses.
Other amenities include miles of walking and biking trails, a camp store, a nature center, and tennis and volleyball courts. If you want to venture offsite, you’ll find the Five Rivers Delta Resource Center, The USS Alabama, and Meaher State Park, all within driving distance.
Pet-Friendly: Yes, just leave them on a short leash and pick up after them. Pets aren’t allowed at the beaches.
Why You’ll Love It: You’ll have restaurants, a swimming pool with a splash pad, and lakes onsite. Plus, you get a view of the Gulf of Mexico and two miles of white-sand beaches within walking distance. You just might forget you’re staying at a state park and think you’re at a resort.
Morton Road Trip Rating: 9/10
Pro Tip: If you would rather enjoy the Gulf of Mexico from Florida and not Alabama, check out these 9 Best Beachfront RV Parks on the Gulf Coast of Florida.
2. Pelican Nest RV Resort and Campground
Address: 1510 Bienville Blvd, Dauphin Island, AL 36528
Amenities: Enjoy full hook-up sites with concrete patios, a pool, laundry facilities, and a camp store at Pelican Nest RV Resort and Campground. They also have handicap-accessible showers. The campground is near many local attractions and amenities, like Dauphin Golf Club, Audubon Bird Sanctuary, and Sea Lab Estuarium.
Pet-Friendly: Pets are welcome at this Alabama beach campground. There’s a nearby beach where they can join you.
Why You’ll Love It: You’re right across from Public Beach and steps away from the Gulf of Mexico.
Morton Road Trip Rating: 8.5/10
3. Dauphin Island Campground
Address: 101 Bienville Blvd, Dauphin Island, AL 36528
Amenities: Dauphin Island Campground is a 155-acre park with more than 150 campsites, many of which offer full hook-ups. You get access to a secluded beach, where you can take a walkable trail to a boardwalk. There’s also a bike trail that stretches across the island, plus laundry facilities and a bathhouse.
Pet-Friendly: With a dog-friendly beach nearby, your pooch will enjoy this campground. Be sure to clean up after him and keep him on a leash, plus keep the barking to a minimum. There’s also an off-leash dog park onsite.
Why You’ll Love It: Aside from direct beach access, it’s only a short walk to the Audubon Bird Sanctuary and the Civil War-era historic Fort Gaines.
Morton Road Trip Rating: 8/10
4. Bay Breeze RV on the Bay
Address: 1901 Bay Breeze Pkwy, Gulf Shores, AL 36542
Amenities: Bay Breeze is a small campground offering 25 shaded spots with full hook-ups and concrete patios. There are separate bathhouse and laundry areas. The campground is adult-only for a portion of the year and family-friendly for the remainder.
Pet-Friendly: You can bring up to two dogs, provided they aren’t aggressive or one of several breeds that aren’t allowed. Pets aren’t allowed on the beach, dock, or pier. There’s a pet-designated area for walking.
Why You’ll Love It: You have your own natural beach and sun deck at this beach campground in Alabama, plus a dock for fishing. If you’d rather head to another beach, both Mobile Bay and Public Beach are minutes away by car. This is also a great area from which to spot migrating birds and butterflies.
Morton Road Trip Rating: 7.5/10
5. Fort Morgan RV Park
Address: 10397 2nd St, Gulf Shores, AL 36542
Amenities: Next to Mobile Bay, this smaller RV park stretches across several acres to give you spaciousness and privacy during your stay. The full hook-up sites feature cable and either bay views or bay front lots.
There’s a bathhouse, laundry facilities, and a community room on-site. And you’re less than two miles away from beaches and close by walking trails and the historic Fort Morgan.
Pet-Friendly: Dogs are welcome. There’s a dog run onsite.
Why You’ll Love It: Fish or crab off the 200-foot pier, or enjoy watching the variety of wildlife, like seagulls and porpoises. You’ll have space to spread out without feeling crowded by neighbors.
Morton Road Trip Rating: 8/10
6. Luxury RV Resort
Address: 590 Gulf Shores Pkwy, Gulf Shores, AL 36542
Amenities: Luxury RV Resort offers nearly 100 full hook-up sites with cable, all on paved lots and handicap-accessible. The resort features a pool, a nature walk area with a pier, a bike trail around the premises, and a camp store. The bathhouse is beautifully decorated with modern showers, and there are also laundry facilities.
Pet-Friendly: This resort allows dogs. They also offer a dog walk area.
Why You’ll Love It: This campground puts you within walking distance to the beaches of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama. Also within walking distance are restaurants and activities like the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo and Waterville USA. Or take a drive to Fort Mims Historic Site or The Wharf for shopping.
Morton Road Trip Rating: 9.5/10
Pro Tip: Are you new to RVing? We put together 7 Key Tips For Every New RVer.
7. On the Bay: Bay Palms RV Resort
Address: 15440 Dauphin Island Pkwy, Coden, AL 36523
Amenities: Bay Palms features more than 130 full hook-up sites, including cable and fiber internet. With a heated pool, full gym, walking trails, and a fishing pond, you’ll have plenty to keep you busy while on-site. They also offer propane, laundry facilities, and a bathhouse.
Pet-Friendly: This park is pet-friendly. You can bring up to three dogs, but they must be on leashes and with you at all times while they’re outside. Dogs aren’t allowed in any communal areas.
Why You’ll Love It: This resort is centrally located on the Gulf Coast. Or head to Dauphin Island, which is a short drive away. Downtown Mobile is a 30-minute drive. Come for one of their big annual events, like the Mobile Greek Festival, Shrimp Festival, or Mardi Gras, or enjoy their lower-key event like Food Truck Fridays.
Morton Road Trip Rating: 9/10
Head to the Alabama Gulf Shore
It’s not every day you get to gaze out your windows into the white sand and glistening gulf. Spend your winter and spring getaways in campgrounds on the beach in Alabama to get away from bitterly cold weather in exchange for mild and comfortable oceanside bliss.
Have you ever been to any campgrounds on the beach in Alabama? Drop a comment below!
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