Gulf Shores Public Beach Reviews

have been several times. these are the whites beaches you can find. they are clean. they are easy to walk on

The beach sand here is white and free of litter (notably glass) giving it the well-deserved title of sugar sands. It is really nice to walk on, especially in the evening as it gets quite warm in the day!

We visited expecting nice beach (which it has) and clear blue water as many pictures show that we did not see from the beach.

We did find some great sea shells in the early morning and enjoyed looking for crabs at night (see pictures)! It is a fun place to visit. It is very family friendly and we found some wonderful places to eat which made it really memorable for our family!

The sand is so white and clean. The water was nice, no real problem with seaweed or jellyfish. Having a great time....beautiful beach...love to come here👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👋

Rented a 5 bedroom house with pool 5 minutes from the beach for 12 of us. What a great time. The beach was amazing. Not crowded. Nearby shopping. Great for all ages. Plenty of activities nearby.

One of the things our city is proud of is our beautiful beaches. The improvements made to the public facilities at the public beach have been well done, and very nice. There are more improvements in the works soon!

This is home of some of the best beach experiences in the southeastern US. Lovely beaches and not too many people especially in November. The weather is is still welcoming. It is a good spot to see dolphins swimming by.

Probably the best lace for the early evening is here. There is some construction going on but he parking s god by for now the bathrooms are not . done. Get a seat or just park facing the west and watch the sun do its best to give u a spectacular sunset. Well worth the later part of these light.

I took a short walk along the beach and down to the water. The sand here is fantastic and the beaches are perfect for spending a few hours to a full day. The Public beaches are close to the boardwalk, restaurants and hotels making them a bit more crowded in the busy season than other more secluded areas but the sun shines the same.

Cleanest beach I have ever been on. Beach was full of seashells. We went early in the morning and had the beach to ourselves for about an hour or so and it was great.

"Leave only footprints" is the beach motto. The beach is very clean and people sunbath or walk through the sand at all hours of the day. Nice parking area. Turtles are to be found at certain times of the year and people come out to protect them from harm. During Spring Break, you may see lots of volleyball tournaments and kids that are having fun.

My family has been coming to the gulf coast multiple times a year since I was too young to remember. Likewise, raising my family I enjoy bringing them to the same sugar sand beaches that I grew up on. While the "city" of Gulf Shores certainly isn't the sleepy town it once was before the Oil and Hurricanes, it is still a great family vacation! We have seen MANY beaches all over America and even Europe, Bahamas, Jamaica, Mexico, etc and we still love our Gulf Shores getaway!

It is easy to see that this is a tourist town so be prepared to pay, and pay, and pay. The water was nice the day we spent here but a few days prior they had big waves that made swimming dangerous.

This beach has beautiful sand, but it is so trashed up with the cigarettes and cigarette butts all over the beach. It seems like they outnumber the seashells on the beach. Trash was everywhere. Smoking needs to be prohibited on the beach and strictly enforced. Alcohol is not allowed, but there was plenty of liquor and beer bottles laying around. There were many beer bottle caps laying around, prime for someone to step on and cut their feet or heels. Unless they clean up their beaches, I will never be back.

We rented a house here last month (September) for a week. The beach was nice and the water temperature was comfortable. You cannot go running on this beach as the sand it not hard packed. The tides were not bad at all and the fishing was pretty good. I am already looking forward to going back next year.

Nice beach and not busy when we attended. There is a cost to park, which while not high seemed off for a public beach but ...
Bathhouse was very clean and beach close to Hangout.

The white sand is great on this wide, well maintained beach and the water is is pretty nice as well. The surf was just right for teens to play in, but can be a little rough if you have little ones.

Family vacation and the whole family loved the beach. It was clean with plenty of room and access to the ocean. It even smelled good. White sands and the water was not blue due to rain, but it was clear. Snorkled and saw a ton of fish not ten yards off the shore. Didn't use it, but they have rental chairs with umbrellas and cushions. Most hotels and condos are on the beach or have a short walk.

This beach is free and it's nice. People seemed friendly. Some were fishing. They have toys kids can use while they play in the sand. Next time we'll take chairs so we can stay longer.

We had a good time at the beach Parking was a bit of a headache and turned quite costly our last day.
The beaches were clean and easy to access. We were near the Hideout and enjoyed the area greatly.

Nice beaches. We were off peak so there was very few people there. We are looking forward to going back.

If you are taking your family this way, ho ahead and go to Pensacola Beach, FL or further. The waters and beaches are not pretty here like they are at Pensacola Beach or further to Destin, etc.

Close to restaurants, shopping, etc. It's a bit hard to find a parking space, though. Warning flags are easy to see and there are lots of officials "patrolling" the beach in addition to the lifeguards.

For a public beach, this was beyond our expectations. Nice parking, bathrooms, outside showers and a very clean beach. White sand and a lot of sea shells! The entire area was beautiful. If you still have time left on your parking, you can enjoy walking around to the various shops and eating places too.

Such a great experience, nice quiet beach time on the beach behind the Lodge (Hilton) without a lot of the commercial hustle and bustle you have at some other beaches.

Best beach around. Sand is perfect and seems to be always clean. Have been coming here for 35 years and watched it change so much. Wish I took more pictures back then and bought up property. Our family loves it here as well as all our friends we have told.

The beaches here are always clean.We love coming here once a year as a family. Great memories! Looking foward to next year.

Had a great time on the beach. Clean beautiful white sand and warm salty water. Seen dolphins in the morning and crabs in the evening. Lots of beautiful shells. Would definitely go back.

The Gulf Shore beaches were super clean! I loved that they had trash and recycle cans available, and a staff that emptied them often. We didn't see any overflow of trash at all.

Very beautiful beach. Very clean. Was not real busy because it was March and about 65 degrees. But still warm in the sun. Cold water on our toes. But people were swimming in the cold water. Free parking across the street.

We LOVE the beach at Gulf Shores. However, we had to move our canopy. The Beach Patrol personnel informed us we needed to move locations. They helped us packup, load up and move everything from coolers, chairs, canopy to grandma.! They were awesome.

Compared to Florida, Alabama doesn't have many miles of beach; but the beaches it does have are incomparable: they are superb since finally recovering from the BP Gulf oil disaster a few years back. The tourists and seabirds are all back! There is a beach house & shelter to accommodate beach goer needs.

Gulf Shores has one of the most beautiful beach we’ve been to. The city keeps it clean and groomed daily. There’s shells and sea life to see daily. We walk on the beach everyday when we stay in February and March and every day has different scenery. We love Gulf Shores beaches.

Great renovations. Soft white sand. Now the site of the NCAA Women's Beach Volleyball tournament. Have to try a Bushwacker (drink)

Wow👍🏼. We took a quick three day trip from Texas to Alabama! Only a few words to describe. We should've stayed longer. Three days was not enough....planning to revisit again next summer.

Great getaway paradise (not crowded) people very down to earth.

Yup Sweet Home Alabama😎

The beach is kept clean and there are public restrooms available. There are a lot of hotels, motels, condos etc

Walked down the pier - they are still completed the rest of the pier due to the hurricane damage so it is not as long as it used to be. Still a nice pier.

We have been here several times and the beach is always clean. People are very nice and polite. What more is there to say but BEACH!

We had a beautiful October day trip to Gulf Shores! The sand is always so white and clean. This trip the temperature was a perfect 75 and some wind. Several people flying kites! Lots of nice people. Always lots of shells to pick up too. It was a great day!

Having lived in San Diego my entire life and practically raised on SoCal beaches I had always been curious about beaches beyond the west coast.....After much planning and consideration we, friend and I, flew to New Orleans, rented a car and drove along I90. The scenery was nice, food good, beaches alluring,
It was a great trip, Gulf Shores was my favorite stop but the oppressive heat and humidity made me question how this is actually entertaining?

Maybe it was us and not being used to weather that contradicts what San Diego provides. I found the weather to be discouraging and did not see any reason why one should roast in the sun in order to try to attain a beach experience

If it were not for the sweltering humidity, lack of waves, and cool ocean breezes the Gulf Coast beaches would be great.

Additionally, we were also blown away by how flat it is. We kept waiting for mountains, rock cliffs and waves crashing against them.Those things never transpired....

Its a different vibe out there and it is obvious people love their Gulf Coast beaches.

I am not one to make judgements, it was just different from what we are accustomed, too.It was a great experience, learned a lot about ourselves and the Gulf. Very thankful we did it and would like to return when it isn't humid.

Come see us, we can take you out on the Pacific and watch the Humpback whales feed or have a bonfire as the sun sets and we put on comfy long sleeve shirt as darkness descends

Take care, might come back in April

Few pictures from home

The beaches around Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are hard to beat! The sand dunes, sea oats, and powdery white sand are very beautiful. Beaches can be very crowded during tourist season but were quite empty and enjoyable in February. Pelicans, plovers and sea gulls outnumbered humans in the off season!

Over 60% of american households own a dog, just don't being it to Gulf Shores because they can't go to any beach areas. There is a dog park at the state park but it is open to the lake and plastered with signs warning about the alligators and snakes. Not a good option.

this beach is clean, easy to get to, plenty of parking, great restrooms, walk able with even disabilities, close to shops and restaurants, the sea gulls are a minimal pest. The have volleyball nets, plenty of benches, trash cans, awnings for shelter. Its a beautiful place to be!

This was our first time to visit a public beach on our vacation. We visited early afternoon and while slightly crowded, we didn't have any trouble finding a good spot. There is a cost for parking, based on how many hours you want to stay. But, there's no trouble finding parking spots. There are chair and umbrella rentals available. The pavilion also has bathrooms with showers. And there's a small restaurant on site as well. Everything was clean and it wasn't noisy for us.

It is a gorgeous place and the sunsets are amazing during the evening. I love the pelicans and the waves. The scenery is so nice.

Gorgeous white sand, warm gulf breezes, and the ocean waves- what's not to like? The beach was amazing, and we had a blast playing in the waves and beach combing. The facilities (bathrooms) are pretty nice as well. I can;t wait to go visit again!

For our first family vacation with our 3 year old and 1 year old gulf shores was the perfect place to be. We had an amazing time at the beach and the weather was amazing.

I was near the Gulf Shores area for a work related thing and since I was alone and kid-free that day, I decided to drive what should have only been about 30 minutes out of my way to stop by Gulf Shores and enjoy an hour or so of peacefulness on the beach. I grew up vacationing with my parents and sister in the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach area and it holds a lot of pleasant memories for me. I haven't been in years, mainly because my family vacations elsewhere. But I thought I would stop by. It took me about 1.5 hours to actually get into Gulf Shores and get to the public beach. It should have taken 35 minutes from where I was. The traffic is a total nightmare. It is gridlocked all the way from Foley into Gulf Shores. Stop and go, barely moving at times. Not the pleasant little beach town I remember from just 20 years ago. It has turned into a tourist trap and it's not even enjoyable to go when you have to fight crowds to get anywhere. On the plus side, the public beach was clean though crowded. The restroom facilities were surprisingly well maintained. Parking is a major issue. Hard to find a spot. Overall if you have a choice of another beach vacation destination then don't choose to come here. If you want peace and quiet and tranquility and a relaxing family vacation on a beautiful beach with good food, this isn't it. If you want bumper to bumper traffic, 2 or more hour waits at every restaurant,crowded beaches, and the whole touristy vibe, this is your place. So sad its changed so much.

The beach is wide and the white sand is beautiful and clean. The facilities, including the wide, clean well designed promenade, the public restrooms and the foot showers are all first rate and well maintained. There is even free wifi!

The first time I went to Gulf Shores was in 1973 and I have gone many times since. Despite hurricanes and oil spills, the sand this year was pristine. It is much more crowded with high rises, but the beach is beautiful.

I've been visiting the Gulf Shores Public Beach since I was a kid. The scene has changed a bit, but the beaches are still great. It's often quite busy, but still enjoyable. You can walk down the beach for a change of scenery or set up a spot on the beach to hang out all day.

The beaches are beautiful, but if you’re expecting good food, sights that don’t involve fishing/boating, and an older more quiet crowd - you will be disappointed. It’s also more expensive for what you get than in Fort Walton or Destin or Pensacola.

There is a chair/umbrella company (Ike’s) that were reliable and for $45 you didn’t have to haul chairs or umbrella to sit and relax - good option for landlubbers who don’t have a recurring need for such things. Best food we had during our five days - DeSoto’s (and it was a challenge to find/access due to construction).

Great public accesses along the beachfront road. Mostly Paid parking, but some free across the street at some locations. Some accesses have restrooms/foot shower. Always gorgeous white sand that is clean and well kept. The main access has blue walking mats that make the journey to the water much easier. They don’t go all the way, but the span they do run is super helpful.

If you enjoy birdwatching, you may enjoy watching the variety of birds who fish in this area. They all have their unique ways of stalking and capturing their prey. Be aware, however, that some birds will go after your food. If you transport food in an opened bag, the food is fair game. When you get closer to the fishing pier, more birds are in this area. Access this pier and gain a different perspective if you are interested.

My 16 year old and I were only able to visit the beach for about an hour and a half. We paid the $5. for 4 hours of parking. I consider that fair, beings you didn’t have a big walk from the parking lot to beach. Remember to put your paid parking ticket on your drivers side dashboard. I saw a lot of vehicles getting ticketed for not paying for parking. There are restrooms close by and also sprayers as you leave the beach area to wash your feet off. We were able to find quite a few shells in that short amount of time. If we had more time, I feel we could have found more! The water was very cold, but it was still a beautiful April day! I wish we could have stayed longer! Very beautiful beach!

I can see now why a lot of people come to Gulf Shores. The beaches are great. Fun ocean water and nice white sand. You get pretty much what you want from a beach here.

Worst beach and vacation I've ever had! There is nothing to do what so ever. If you found something to do, better get there before 6 pm (the track). Everything else closed at 8 or 9 pm. Even the restaurants. We never found a decent place to get a meal. For a family of 2 adults and 2 children the food ticket would be at least $90. For mediocre food at best. The souvenir shops were wayyyy over priced. Can't ride a board because the water and waves are shallow. I'll stick with the Atlantic Ocean and Florida or SC from now on. Never again will I waste another vacation to this lame excuse of a vacation destination. I don't understand the hype. Must be the only beach the regulars have ever been to! Definitely a huge disappointment!

My husband and I came to vacation in Gulf Shores. we are staying at Lagoon Landing, which is further down past all of the busy parts, that's more quiet, and we just walk across to the beach.

the beach here is nice . the sand is beautiful, powder white sand. the water is pretty and clear, and the waves are a nice size. the beach is very safe and it's a nice place to come. it is more crowded than Pensacola Beach, where we went to the day before but very nice overall.

There were no crowds on the gorgeous beach during our February visit. Relax and enjoy the sand and water.

This is not a tourist friendly city. They will gouge you big time for parking at the beach. $17,50 for parking. Police ticket out of state license holders if expired and not Alabama cars

This beach is great. I was amazed at all of the places provided for Free parking. There are even parking places for special needs people, although there is a fee for the handicap parking.

Gulf Shores boasts a beautiful family friendly public beach for all to enjoy. The beach is well maintained with lovely white sand and gorgeous water. There are public restrooms and parking fees are very reasonable (less than $10). We were fortunate to find a free parking space one day while we were in Gulf Shores. This is such a great beach to bring a chair and relax for awhile, search for seashells, fly a kite, or play a game of beach volleyball.

This was the first year I have noticed the new beach access and free parking. We visited friends who were staying next door enjoying the beach. Clean restrooms! Great beach access.

A little gem of a beach. It's usually not too crowded and is a very clean place. Restrooms and showers are handy too.

Loved the Pier. Rest rooms and concessions located midway out on the Pier. Seen a lot of good fish caught.

The city of Gulf Shores just updated the public beach area. It a beautiful place to take a stroll have a picnic by the ocean. Multiply shopping places close by and the hangout restaurant is right there if you are hungery

Nice wide beach regardless of the tide. Surf is generally. Nice white sand that doesn't ever seem to get hot and plenty of space so you aren't cramped up against a fellow sun bather. Some areas have rental beach chairs with umbrellas. Lots of public access point available along the length of the beach with parking.

Loved spending time just sitting in the white sands. My wife dug for hours finding seashells. Wasn’t too crowded when we were there. My favorite part was nighttime looking for crabs with flashlights, can’t wait to return.

We stopped at several public beaches and were disappointed that the majority did NOT have a bathrooms or changing house. Having said that we did eventually find one that did. Not only did it have the amenities that we wanted it had 3 different boardwalks, several picnic tables and covered areas plus at least 3 shower heads and spickets to rinse the sand off when you were ready to leave. This particular beach also had a large turtle with a sign and a toy box that said "take a toy, leave a toy". That was a nice surprise to see for little ones who maybe didn't have a sand toy to play with. Sunsets here were just beautiful and the beach wasn't too crowded. There were lots of professional photographers taking pictures with families and we did try to be careful not to end up on the pictures. There is a jetty here as well and a canal. This place was just so much fun. Our new favorite beach!

Enoy a day at the beach or a walk at sunset. Certain days you can see the dolphins swim by. It is clean and you feel safe with the patrol on duty throughout the day.

We stopped at West Beach. Beach was very clean (they have the tractor sweeping the sand while we were out there which made my 2 year old nephew's day). Sand is amazing. Bathroom facility was very clean (well for a beach). Wish it would have dedicated changing stalls instead of just bathroom stalls. Out door showers to rinse off at. Covered picnic area. Life guards on duty. Sadly due to Tropical Storm we weren't really able to get into the water but we enjoyed spending the morning building sand castles and playing in the tidal pool. $5 to park for 4 hours.

A great beach with wonderful views of the gulf and people fishing. Easy to walk at low tide and not bad at high tide.

This was the first visit to this beach area. We normally have hotel beach access but due to a number of reasons we stayed in Foley area and drove down 20 minutes to this beach. We could not be happier with our experience. Easy parking. You pay $5 at the blue boxes for 4 hours parking. Don't forget to leave receipt on drivers side dash. Ramp access to the beach level came in handy for beach cart and then a quick walk across a very clean beach to the waters edge. They must sweep the beach every night because there was no sign of litter anywhere we saw. Feet washers and showers were there on the edge to wash away as much sand as you can on the way out. Yes we were happy with this beach experience.

Beautiful, clean and peaceful beach to take your family too. The temperatures were not that warm but we had plenty to do.

If you are planning to take a beach vacation to the west coast of Florida before school starts, forget about it. Red Tide is devastating beaches on the gulf coast and can cause health problems in humans, especially those with asthma or other pulmonary problems. Go to a beach with thousands of dead fish floating in the water and laying on the shore, over 6 ft. deep in some places, and you will get a good taste of the apocolypse. Around 200+ manatee have died and 300-400 sea turtles. Baby turtles hatching on the beaches have very little chance of making their trek from nest to ocean. If predators don't get them the red tide will. Dead dolphins are now being found, indicating that death is now creeping up the food chain. This bout of red tide has been in FL. since Nov. last year and is expected to stay around at least into 2019. There have recently been reports of some red tide on the atlantic coast and in the keys. No, this is not due to global warming. Humans can accept full blame. Farming and other industries are dumping pestisides, fertilizer and other poisons into lake okeechobee which is already totally polluted. To prevent flooding, the lake needs to be drained into tributaries which flow from the lake to the gulf shore and into the ocean. The lake is also drained into the Everglades which may be close to extinction if there are no plans and implementation of those plans within the next 10 yrs. So sad. Try to enlarge the pictures to get a better look at this disaster.

The beach was beautiful.i could walk to the beach.The weather was nice.The people were friendly.I saw people fishing.

Enjoyed every day at the beach. Great service from chair/umbrella guys. A lot of families. So clean, but watch for jelly fish.

The Gukf has pristine, white sand against the turquoise and green oceans water. Gulf Shores knows what treasure they have and maintain it well. They are currently building another great bathroom and covered seating. We love going to the beaches here.

Only one word to describe it, beautiful! Go early to take advantage of the close parking there is also limited free parking

Beautiful beach, sometimes surf is large and sometimes small. perfect to bring your chairs and umbrellas and stay for the day.

Beautiful white sand beaches that are very family friendly all year around. The beaches are immaculately maintained and the maintenance crew is out there every day. Good fishing off the shore or swimming and boarding at its best. No problems with the spring breakers as the police heavily patrol the beaches and there is zero tolerance for violators. Very family friendly beach - a must visit

Love the beach, have been going here for the last 30yrs from a 10yr old kid to a 40yr old parent. Gulf Shores has changed from a family friendly place to vacation to a loud, booze filled teenage hangout. It breaks my heart to see this, but we have to find somewhere else to vacation...

Snow white soft sand. These are the cleanest beaches we have ever been on. They are kept clean and graded by the city to keep the sand level. Anyone who loves the beach, will fall in love with Gulf Shores.

Ok. I LOVE the beach ... I have never been to Gulf shores. I was not impressed. It was super windy from the weather that we just missed and worse part, I had 3 very little kids with me with NO changing area! No shower area AND had to pay to park! Yuck! I was just not impressed at all, went to Orange Beach the next day
WAYYY better.

My wife and I have been to pretty amazing beaches around the globe, and we were surprised at how clean and enjoyable was this beach for being a public beach in the US. White, soft sand, parking always available (free and paid), and places to walk to eat and shop at a super close distance. Even at the peak hours, there was space to not feel crowded. We would definitely consider coming here for a longer stay with family or friends.

The beach is clean, and the sand is powdery like powdered sugar. So nice! We stayed on a quiet part of the beach, although we could see a LOT of activity down from us. We were happy it was a bit quiet. My wife found a lot of shells, which made her happy. The only thing I wish they had was a public restroom where we were. Had to walk back to our hotel.

My wife has problems walking. We were excited to find that in Gulf Shores there was parking almost next to the sand. There are benches o sit on and enjoy the waves rushing to shore. Clean restrooms all add up to a city that gives to visitors.

Nice white sand and nice clear, warm water.Being from Chicago (where Lake Michigan) is freezing all the time), the beach is always a great stop for family and friends.

Alcohol ban is back on! spend your money at a more pristine beach in Florida. Short drive but much more welcoming and clearer water

Gulf Shores (general review of beach, ocean and area) was an overall good vacation area. We did learn a few things that might be helpful to others. If you are coming down I65, beware traffic south of Birmingham - construction caused massive delays northbound and southbound. We detoured onto local roads to preserve our sanity but still had long delays. Jellyfish (Portuguese Man-O-War) were plentiful at all area beaches. We were stung multiple times - we treated with vinegar and that took the sting away mostly. They were a nuisance for sure. The beach was always crowded and people jockeyed for front row spots early in the morning. They are not non-smoking so expect to smell cigar and cigarette smoke and you will see discarded butts on the beach. We stayed in a condo so the beachfront was further obstructed by a rental chair/umbrella company. Country music was the popular music genre played by most. The weather was absurdly hot and humid - heat indexes in the 100s...the ocean was comfortably warm but not refreshing. On a positive, the fresh seafood in the area was awesome, if a tad pricey - restaurants fill fast at the dinner hour so call a day or two ahead for reservations. Most places easily accommodated our party of 10. Dolphins swam off shore daily and were fun to watch. Rain showers didn’t last long while severe there. Fort Morgan was very interesting if you like history. Ocean breezes were consistent and helped negate the heat and humidity most days on the beach - a couple days were downright stifling. Overall, if we were to go to a beach area again I would more likely return to the Outerbanks than the Gulf Shores area.

the beaches were clean compared to some that i have been to. access to the beaches were very easy. lifeguards were visible and a respectful beach patrol unit. The main thing i noticed was how folks were respecting social distancing.

This has been upgraded since I was here last. Large public restroom area and nice wide clean beach. Lots of nice benches.

We traveled to Gulf Shores and Pensacola over Labor Day weekend. The sand in Gulf Shores is better maintained because they come by with a tractor and rake it and it is pretty white and there are not hardly any rough seashells. But the water is muddy and murky. The sand in Pensacola (about a 45 to an hour drive away) is just as white but the sand feels different. It is way better because you are able to build better sand castles, moats, and if you want to lounge in it (with a towel of course) if molds around you. The water in Pensacola is a lot clearer too. However, the seashells are rough on the beach at Pensacola. If I went back, I would go to Pensacola.
Also, parking is $5 for 4 hours whereas in Pensacola it is free.

We just sat on Beach . Water was to dirty and had Red , and yellow flags up ..Was on TV to be aware of Jelly fish people were breaking out . Real windy , and not many people on Account of the Flags .

Excellent parking and easy walk to the water. Nice restroom building. Beach clean. Bring your chair - rentals are $20./day.

The public beaches no longer provide trash receptacles, so bring a plastic bag to carry out your trash with you. They do have recycling bins, but you need to have a bag to carry everything to them.. not too crowded and beach was clean. No jellyfish this year, thank goodness!!

Beautiful with white soft sand, clean beaches, & clear water. Showers and public bathrooms available. We were unable to get in the water because of the jellyfish but we still enjoyed our visit. In the evenings, walk along the seawall or set and enjoy the breeze while you people watch! Very very clean & well maintained.

Ate at some great places! Buzzcatz for breakfast! Villagio at The Wharf! OSO at Bear Point for lunch!

It’s very close to 161, just east of it across from Walgreens. There is parking with restrooms and a beach toy exchange area for kids. This is a nice wide beach on the ocean side. We enjoyed our last night here watching the sunset.

We chose Gulf shores for our beach vacation this year and were so glad we did. The beach was clean and not very crowded. Parking was not that expensive, but you have to catch a parking spot before lunch or they are hard to find. The best part was the services offered to us by the beach personnel. My wife is disabled and uses a mobility scooter to get around, which does not work for sand. From their website the beach provided transportation for us with a side by side from our car to a great spot on the beach. Our driver was Tammy and she was wonderful. She gave my wife her cell number and told her to call if she needed to go back to the car or to the bathroom or to a beachfront restaurant near us. She was so helpful and it made it possible for my wife to enjoy the beach just like everybody else. We are so thankful that the city provides these services and has awesome employees like Tammy. Anytime we decide to go back to the beach, it will be gulf shores without a doubt. The beautiful white sand and great restaurants and shopping make it the place for us!

Friendly atmosphere, calm, relaxed, great day w kids on the beach. Playing in sand, boogie boarding on shallow waves. Finding wild Hermit Crabs and water so clear you can see the drop off. Just gorgeous. Kids (4, 5 & 17) can't wait to go again.
As single mom it was great to pay for nothing more than the basics.
We did pay little more for air bnb w a pool, and it was Perfect.

Clean beautiful beaches ,easy parking. Love the fishing and very relaxing way to send the day. Lots of shells

This has to be one of the worlds most beautiful cities and beach. The streets are clean, you do not see the "party crowds" hanging out everywhere and the police have a clear presence around the streets. The sand is gorgeous and white....this is probably one of the largest beaches that we have ever seen. The water is a stunning blue and everything seems to be family friendly. I think our family has found our new vacation spot!

Beautiful beach! Says no alcohol, but everyone was drinking beer, so I joined in on that fun! I think as long as you are behaving, switching beers discreetly and picking up your trash, the cops don’t even look at you. They rent out chairs and umbrellas too. Avoid on the weekends, too busy for us. Perfect time to snag a good spot near the water is about 9 AM during the week or 3PM.

There is an alcohol ban going on during the spring break times, but people are drinking and leaving all of their garbage behind anyway. Even with the police presence. More garbage on this beach than another we have visited.
We picked up two garbage bags of plastic, cans and paper plates to try to help out. We will not go here again.

The beach is extremely crowded, as in person to person with no space between you and the smokers next to you. You will also be threatened with a ticket if you try to bring your dog out on the beach. Very rude and arrogant Beach patrol.
Also the water is full of jellyfish and has a brown color. Not pleasing to get into. Stained my white bathing suit. No telling what was in it. We were also told there was flesh eating bacteria in the water. Seems like you would be informed before you got there. I would recommend the beaches in Florida where the water is blue your pet is welcome and the beach patrol is actually trained on courtesy. We will not return

Very nice uncrowded beach !! Unlimited crabs scampering around. Got to see the turtle nest at Fort Morgan on the verge of a boil. Also witnessed first hand a rip tide accident that thankfully did NOT involve a fatality! stay safe ya'll

Great beach for relaxing . Stayed in OCEAN HOUSE condo right on the beach . Unit 1405. Gulf shores rentals handles the rental agreements. Very nice visit. The porch looking out from the 4th floor at the water is wonderful. 2bedroom 2 bathroom. Clean and nicely stocked . Close to BAHAMA BOBS restaurant! Walk to it from the beach in 15 minutes. Love this area! Stay here! Affordable and nice quiet end of gulf shores beach. But- avoid the week on Hangout Fest music festival!

Lovely stretch of sand and water. Nice facility and great set up for family beach time! Free parking and lots of space for everyone to enjoy~

As a couple this was our Christmas present to each other. A trip. Usually we go to St Pete FL. It was colder here. And less local events and activities that we prefer. Would of been great it the weather was warm enough to sit out on beach, and gone para sailing or something.

The park facilities are excellent. Clean, modern and convenient. The price to park is $5 for 4 hours or $10 all day till 2 am. There is shower to was the sand off. Clean restrooms. Sets of Beach chairs with umbrellas available to rent for $35 which my husband rented and it was a wonderful option. So happy we did. The beach is clean the view of the Gulf is amazing. The surf was rough the days we visited so not too much time in the water only at the edge. But that made no difference we enjoyed our visit tremendously.

Book an experience on Airbnb with Jeff and meet for shelling at the GSPB. So worth the $$ and getting up early! I had no idea!

Beautiful beaches. Clean, sugar sand. Slightly disappointed that there was not
A designated area for dogs.

Depending on where you live, it may just be easier for you to travel to Pensacola or Destin FL to get to a much prettier beach. The whole entire gulf coast is loaded with algae right now and it is absolutely disgusting. I will not be returning to these beaches again. Also every business I miss you won is hiring which also means every place you go to is short staffed. Which also means long lines for anything. Coffee. Food. It’s just sad. Drive in a different direction and head to FL

The sand is soft and very white. The water varies from clear green in nice weather to brownish when the weather has been rainy. The surf is usually pretty calm but heed the red flag warning if they are flying. Plenty of places to eat nearby and a place to shower and change.

The city of Gulf Shores is undergoing a renovation project on the public beach. It will include lots of palm trees, sod, walkways, restrooms and volleyball nets. Very nice!

Always a great beach, but the new pavilion is great. There is more parking and a loading zone. The beach was very clean and well kept. One of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Powder white sand. Great seafood, Fantastic fishing and water sports, quality lodging for all budgets, lots of family friendly attractions. We like it so much, we have purchased two condos on the beach and plan two eventually move to Gulf Shores. Go check it out!

The beach was clean for the week we where there. Water is clear and soft white sand with lots of shells to find. Make sure to bring a chair, shade, water and even lunch to have a full relaxing day. At night bring a flash light to look for ghost crabs.

Best place on the "Red neck Riviera" for relaxing, walking, viewing wildlife, and occasionally see the world famous Blue Angels fly by.

have been here several times. gives me a relaxing feeling even with all the sand my shoes collect. to observe nature at its best: the birds, crabs, the gulf waves coming in and out.

Never seen so many seashells, probably 100,000's of them all along the breaking shore and early morning.

We saw multiple pods of dolphins, some jumping out of the water, chasing fish and cruising up and down the shoreline.

Wonderful sunsets and early morning sun rises. Windy most of the time, but occasionally, the wind would die down and it was excellent, almost perfect.

Will go again.

Perfect place to enjoy a huge and clean beach for Spring break and summer. There's plenty of accessible parking, great shops and restaurants within walking distance, and shade shelters and bathrooms in the area. We love the volleyball nets! Sand looked like it was kept clean all week we went here.

Gulf Shores is truly a beach loves paradise. This is a regular location for us because it is not overrun with tourists (in the way Florida is) and there is a LOT to do. Great for families, couples. The Alabama coast is one of our favorite destinations!

My second visit to the Gulf of Mexico shore for a family event (have been to Siesta key before). The beach is pretty great for water activities and stays fairly shallow for a bit (no shade nearby any of the beaches there, make sure to carry 1/2 umbrellas and/or a pavilion tent/canopy for your group).
You can rent bikes, scooters and jet skis on the main public Gulf Shores beach (2nd ave).

Have been coming here for years. Love Gulf Shores/Orange Beach. Less crowded and just as nice as any beach on the gulf coast.

Almost forgot that I was in the US with the cleaniness of the water, fluffy sand, and love how all the shells were in the water and not on the walking parts of the beach. It appears that there was lots to do, but we were only passing by for a few hours before being on our way to Florida

The beach was huge BUT there was also a ton of people there. Which meant you couldnt find a parking spot. First day we lucked in to one and paid the 10$ day fee. I disliked the beach had a middle area between the gulf and the beach that holds NASTY, hot water from the high tide. Beyond that it wasnt bad, clean bathrooms on-site. The second day no parking so we ventured West and had to park in a worrisome part. All worked out but was quite the hike with cooler and beach gear.

You would think they would ban cigarettes, or drunked out people littering. Nah, they ban dogs from Gulf shores and Orange beaches.

Anyways after the dogs banned the beaches are still dirty, trash all over but I take my dog to Dauphin Island Beach. It's pet friendly and very laid back

Imagine thinking Dogs were the problem...

The white sand, the crystal clear water, the cleanliness of the area.. Do not miss this beach, you will be highly disappointed.

The emptiest beach I’ve ever been on. So little people on this very large beach with wonderful clean up crews who clean the beach daily.

Make sure you arrive early to get a parking spot. They had several places to rinse off within a 2mile stretch. They also had lots to do around the area (shopping,eating). The bathrooms were clean and you could rent a chair and umbrella for $35 a day. Water had a fare amount of seaweed but you can’t pick and choose on that. I hope this helps

We spent 5 out of 7 days at the beach. Very relaxing and clean. We had a great time.. most certainly the best beach ever!!!

The beach were freedom is dead. Just check the forbidden list at the entrance 😱
child are still allowed to run and play...

Even tent are forbidden !! If you want to protect you and your child from the sun just go somewhere else. I leave in Alabama and from now I will go in Florida. To bad ! It used to be a nice beach. I’m glad I choose Texas this year for my vacation. But I won’t spoil my week end here any more.

There were several entrances for the public with parking and restrooms right there. Clean restrooms and water fountains. Beaches have beautiful white sand!

This is such a picturesque beach, the kind of American beach you always see in films. The weather was perfect all during my visit. Only downside is there is limited shade so recommend taking a tent or umbrella for a day trip.

I have been to many beaches in FL, gulf side icluding Siesta Key side, barrier islands, the Atlantic side,i up the east coast of USA and Australia. I have never seen sand any softer or finer than this. there are beach access points, and beach showers at them.

I LOVE the GS/OB area, but the last several times I’ve visited I’m greeting with a “sand cliff” between the sand and the water that is wildly unappealing. It’s not easy to maneuver it at 32 without a child in tow...meaning I can’t imagine it being older and/or having kids with me. And forget a nighttime stroll to the water. I typically don’t walk down to the beach after dinner to get covered in sand from a climb. I’m sure there’s a “good” reason for the cliff, but considering the other beaches I visit aren’t utilizing a sand cliff of their own... there HAS to be another solution. This needs to be addressed ASAP Gulf Shores or my future family and I will have to “beach” elsewhere.

Nice sandy beach. Great swimming and warm water to sit in the surf. Very well maintained sandy beach area with some low sand dunes to cross to get to the water. White beach sand is cooler than most darker sands. The gulf shores beach has miles of beach and several public accesses. The area in downtown has paid parking, but out away from the tourist attractions the parking is free and is right next to the sand.

Am I the only one who does not like the steep sand wall at the water's edge? I assume this helps with erosion, but it impedes access to the water. When the tide is high, there is barely enough room to pass other people without having to get very wet. At least once I had to walk under a fisherman's line because he was standing in the water at the wall, and there was no way to go around him. A little girl, about 5 years old, was walking with her grandparents, trying to find a place to get down to the water. I offered to help since I was on the "low" side, but the grandmother said that she wouldn't be able to get down either. We walked a long way trying to find a place that was not so steep, but it like that the entire way. It was the least enjoyable walk on the beach I've ever had. I left and went to Perdido Key where the beach gently tapers into the water's edge. I haven't been to Alabama beaches in a few years and am wondering if they are always like this. I reviewed this as a 3 rather than lower because a bad day at the beach is better than a good day at work any time.

The beach is breathtaking beautiful. Totally white sand and large enough to fit many people Lifeguards on duty but water was still cold to enjoy.

Beautiful sand, but couldn’t get in the water due to gross algae called “June grass “. The ocean is literally green right now. Disappointed

Warm water, gentle waves, and lots of space for everyone. Some beaches are more developed with benches and canopies while others are more sand and surf without the commercialization.

I have always loved Gulf Shores’ Public Beach. The sand is so beautiful and the water is gorgeous. My family enjoyed playing, swimming, and relaxing on the beach during our recent June visit. Of course, during the summer the beach is SO busy. Parking is cheap and fairly easy to find. The cost is $5 for up to four hours or $10 all day, which is a good deal in my book. We parked at the main public beach area and they also have restrooms and vending machines available. The beach at Gulf Shores is always a great time to be had by all. I just love it!

Gulf Shores Beach is a great place for a family vacation. The beaches are nice and have not been too packed while i was there. The water is clear and the beaches are always clean.

No, all beaches are not the same! We love traveling to beaches in the off-season and enjoying the unobstructed views of the Gulf of Mexico. Beautiful white, soft sand and cool, clear water for miles!

The beach paid car parking was full. Fortunately there is a car park across the road and also free on street parking. Beach was busy without being overcrowded, with the usual white quartz sand. However the reason for this review is to thank the people who provide and service these restrooms cos they were very clean and in great condition

Nice public beach. Clean water & beach. Plenty of chairs & umbrellas. Not a lot of vendors selling on the beach. Only con was didn’t see the lifeguard

We were there last week, very windy with big waves. The beach is very clean and white as sugar. Breathtakingly gorgeous!!!
'Im not a fan of having to pay at a public site (parking) but I'm sure that's the tourist area norm.

I have not been on a public beach in years. This beach is great. Good access, family friendly and very clean. My family enjoyed several days there this spring break and we all had a good time. Parking is close, there the showers and restrooms are close and clean and the new handicapped access is very nice.

We took the ferry over from Dauphin Island and caught the beach at sunset. Beautiful views and the powder sand was what my wife wanted to sink her toes into. Plenty of shells and great walking areas. We must have come after the algae issues others mention (mid-October). Plenty of restaurants, bars, and souvenier shops nearby. Parking was $5 for 4 hours, which was pretty reasonable.

This beach was very clean and the bathrooms were very clean. The beach is very beautiful white sand. All around nice place!

What a wonderful time we all had. Beautiful Beach and very clean. Kids had a awesome time. We hope to go back soon. It's safe and so much fun. If you haven't been go and enjoy all of this amazing site. It's great there are places you can take your family and feel safe and enjoy every moment.

Took grandkids down to get them acquainted with Gulf . Absolutely no parking ANYWHERE, RESTAURANTS HAVE WAITING LINES 2 HOURS LONG, PRICES WAY OUT OF LINE . City is greedy, and way behind the times! Stay away, Florida is a better option!

The Gulf Shores beach is a good place to walk in the sand and in the shallows of the Gulf. In November, it is no crowded. The major problem now, is the construction near the beach and in the street.

We love this beach! It’s wide, clean, well maintained, easily accessible, great parking. It could use a few more bike racks, but hey if you can’t find an open one, tie off to a palm tree! They’re are plenty of life guards on duty and beach patrol (County Sheriff’s) that actually enforce the laws! No dogs allowed- this is a human only beach. Can’t say enough about how family oriented, clean and safe this beach is! Just Go There! You will live it too!

Clean beach. Family friendly. There's a stack of flippies on the entrance to the beach. Seems like no one takes another person's. Nice place to run, get in the ocean or just be.

This was our first time here on Gulf Shores public beach and it was a wonderful experience. Just like any other services that we have encountered why staying in Gulf Shores the city does a fantastic job of keeping the city roads and beaches clean and welcoming to everyone. We enjoyed walking up and down the city beach and it was wonderful. The tide had come out and there was a lot of seaweed to be picked up but the sand and water are great. Free beach parking is always a plus when visiting this beach and we will surely return to Gulf Shores in the future.

The beach area is so beautiful and clean. We were there at all times of the day, including late one evening. Felt totally safe at all times. Nice clean public restrooms available as well as paid parking (reasonable) or free parking across the street.

Directly across from the huge Caribe Resort, this expansive beautiful white beach had amazing kite flyers and fishermen with it being a bit chilly this 'off-season'. Parking may be tight in high season but has restrooms, interpretive boards, and a nice boardwalk across the dunes.

Great location and very convenient parking right next to the Fishing Pier. Shops and Restrooms are very close by on the pier. The Snack Bar at the pier serves Pizza and sandwiches and the shop has tee shirts, and essentials in case you need sunblock or other supplies. You can also rent fishing gear if you are so inclined. It is a wonderful beach location.

Drive to the beach for the day. Park at the public beach. Get out there and mingle with the crowds. Just make sure not to leave anything overnight (it's against local regulations) and leave only footprints. That is the catchphrase for the beaches here. It's why they remain a wonderful place to visit. Although we live close by, we enjoy coming down on the weekends and spending a couple of hours on the sand.

this is the best place to go for family fun. good shopping, food great places to take your children. If you have never been to gulf shore beaches your missing out.

If you are just a couple and only need an umbrella, this might be the beach for you. Lovely white sand beaches and sunshine. However, if you have a family and need more than an umbrella, beware. While umbrellas are allowed at water's edge, all other shade structures are relegated to the very back of the beach in a small poorly marked "tent area" a very long hot-sand hike to the water. You will be cheek to jowl with all the other tents with no room to spread out or apart. And you won't be able to sit there and see your children at the water. I'd suggest looking for a more family friendly location.

Great value, great service, and clean restrooms. We have been camping here several times and always enjoyed it.

We recently attended the NAIA track meet and gulf shores beach. The city does not have the ability to host one of these events due to the terrible road conditions ( full of pot holes) and no control of traffic entering or exiting the sportsplex. The beach is ok but the water is not clear or blue and the city is not set up to handle the traffic. These conditions are horrible. Best to try Orange Beach or Destin for clear beautiful blue water. These cities also have better traffic control and there roads are not full of potholes. Everyone at the event complained about the traffic and horrible roads. They should have the police controlling the event traffic and beach traffic. Took literally 50 minutes to exit the event just to get to hwy 59. No police in site. They should not be allowed to host these events until they fix roads and figure out how to time traffic lights

The beaches are nice, however I am amazed and dumbfounded by the fact that Gulf Shores beaches do not have more recycling/trash receptacles along the shoreline. It is true that there are machines that clean the beaches every evening, however I am sorry to say that they miss a lot of trash. Every morning I would go for a walk along the beach in front of our timeshare, and every morning I would return with a large bag of trash (Styrofoam cups, plastic bags, bait containers, broken toys, chapstick containers, straws, etc.). I was actually amazed and saddened by the fact that the entire area, which appears to focus on the natural beauty of the area does not have a recycling program in place. We tossed out so much while we were there that could have been recycled. It would seem that the local scout troops would be interested in helping to implement a few programs, for example adopt a shore or starting a local recycling center.

Gulf Shores has worked hard to improve the public beach area. You are sure to enjoy. Please note the lovely landscaping as you arrive.

We spent a week at Gulf Shores on our family vacation this summer. We went to the public beach one evening to see if we could find any ghost crabs. We didn't. If you like white sands, cool water, high rise hotels, & lots of people, then you'll love Gulf Shores & its beaches.

BEST BEACH ever and getting better. Pay for parking is not cheap and probably not plentiful enough for summer crowds, but the aesthetics they are building into the area are wonderful. They have put down a sand mat to walk on across most of the deep beach - a pleasant surprise. Parking $5 for 4 hours - maybe a little pricey and some folks not paying that we saw but when crowds increase they will no doubt enforce more strictly. BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO 'BEACH'

Gulf Shores added a handicap access mat to the beach to give those who are on a walker or in a wheelchair the ability to enjoy the beach and a closer ocean view too. Thank you so much for this opportunity! This beach also has public bathrooms. The bathroom was clean and spacious enough to change clothes.

Clear water and white sand. This was a very nice clean beach, short walking distance from the parking lot and had clean restrooms and out door showers. Great family area.

the beaches are beautiful of course it is the Gulf Of Mexico. They aren't badly crowded either and the restrooms are nice and it is just nice to have a restroom. However, the parking is not so good. All parking areas are at a cost, and this makes it a pain because there aren't a lot of them either. Had a hard time finding any where to park while we waited to check in to our condo. Would be nice to have some free parking.

Plenty of parking. The pavilion and restrooms are nice and clean. Beach is well maintained and trash-free. Great place to go and take pics among the dunes in the allowed locations. Off season is the best time to go to not have to hassle with the crowds.

Such an amazing beach! We watched dolphins and birds and not very many people! The sand is white (not what we are used to) and the water is blue-green crystal clear!

Beautiful beach. Beautiful sunsets. Great white sands, great place to find shells or fish off the shore.

This beach is open to the public and easy to get to off season. I am not sure how the parking situation would be during the summer. The sand is as white as can be and their are places to eat and view the beach within steps.

The public beach has beautiful views and great parking options. The beach was not as packed as I assumed it would be! !!!!

Clean and family friendly beach that is just about perfect. The town of Gulf Shores is proud of their public beach and it shows. We make at least one trip a year, and more when schedules permit. Gulf Shores has been our beach vacation spot for 15 + years. Don't expect lots of resort hotels with loads of beach bars, this is a residential town, houses and condos dominate this area and it shows. The place is spotless.

We love Gulf Shores! We visited the area a few days before Hurricane Michael arrived. The ocean was rough of course, but we made the most of it until the beaches were double red flagged on us.

Due to Irma and tropical craziness going on in the gulf the water was choppy. But over nice. Rented chair area for $35 for the whole day. Not crowded

If you like stray cats running around crapping under your house and puking-then this is the place for you! There’s even a crazy lady that drive’s around feeding them that says the city pays her(she works for the city)!. Several people say she’s nuts or not well and she’s mean! She threatens everyone that walks their dog or drives a little fast down the roads because you will scare those disease ridden cats! They don’t get their shots bc you can’t catch them and they won’t come to you!/
So why does the city allow this?
No one has ever seen anything like this, so why is this being tolerated?

Nice clean beaches with plenty of shells to find. Water not as clear as Florida but close. Plenty of nearby shops and restaurants. If you can't make it to Florida or just want to save a little money visit here.

This was the first time going to this beach. We love white sand beaches, and this one is beautiful. The water isnt the look of the Caribbean, but what is....right. But regardless, its clean, nice looking, family friendly, we had a nice time. Is recommended.

Beautiful powdery sand beaches. Crystal clear water. Lots of shells. We obviously didn’t swim as it was too cold but stunning beaches. Made for a relaxing enjoyable stroll!

We stopped at a public parking lot at the beach. They charge $5 for 4 hours or $10 for the day. I wish there had been reduced rates for after 6 pm. There is a free outdoor shower by the parking lot and a handicap accessible mat on the beach. It doesn't go down to the water line but it allows greater access to the view. They also have benches where you can sit and enjoy the breezes and views.

Was here for 4 days, it rained every day we were here (not the coastal rain like normal). The beach, to me, just isn't even comparable to better beaches in Florida. There were lifeguards on duty and police patrol along the beach. The waves were rough and there was seaweed more than expected.

Save your experience and go to the Florida Gulf Coast

This beach is great for families. Lots of kids but not overcrowded. The ocean is not too rough and there’s warning flags every 500 feet or so. The chairs/umbrella renting are a little pricey but great quality. Very well kept and clean

Gulf Shores beach is one of the most beautiful beaches we have visited. The white sand beaches are beautiful and they are kept so clean. It is always a joys to wlk the beach and look for shells, and watch for dolphin. Sunsets over the gulf are spectacular.

Lots of white sand and just an all round great place to walk in the sand. Recommend checking it out when in the area.

Had a few guys working in Mobile. We had the afternoon off and decided to drive over to Gulf Shores. Short drive, found a public beach. No crowd, school is back in. Set up chairs and corn hole and had a great afternoon. Took a shower in the public parking facility. Great day and the water was perfect, greenish blue with white sand.

I have been visiting Gulf Shores since I was very little. I was in Gulf Shores almost my whole summer's, springs, and Thanksgiving my whole life. It is like a second home. The sand is white powder and the ocean is always inviting. It is an absolutely beautiful beach.

We stopped by there as we were leaving on our last day of our vacation. I would recommend using the bathroom before you stop there. Also, take a bottled water to get the sand off of you before getting back into your vehicle.

Had a wonderful tour of pier. Beautiful white sands beach. Everyone friendly. My husband should have worn sun block on his arms. I am golden though.

This was our first trip to the Gulf and we were highly impressed by how clean and well maintained the beach was. During our stay in one of the ocean front condos we routinely looked from our balcony to and saw vehicles patrolling the beach, workers screening the sand, workers picking up litter and driftwood, and life guards on duty. During our daily beach walks we repeatedly covered the same 10 miles of shoreline, and we never saw any litter. Well done.

We drove 2 hours from Biloxi to get to Gulf Shores beach and it was definitely worth the drive. Beautiful powdery white sand beach...clean...sea shells...clean facilities to change in and plenty of parking although there was a $5 parking fee. We would definitely go back here again.

We stayed in Gulf Shores Alabama near hwy 59 & West Beach Blvd. Off highway 180 going towards Ft Morgan. GPS Cortez Street. Public parking end Pizarro Avenue & beach access. Drive time about 12 minutes. Bathrooms? We used port a potty by construction areas.

Clean powdery soft sand
Lifeguards & Beach patrol
Very well maintained & Respected. Great Family Fun
Everything is close by Restaurants waterparks
Public parking is everywhere
We plan to visit gulf shores
Every year in june..great southern hospitality y'all come back now..thank you bama

The free beach is easy to get to and every one is so friendly here. Always wear sunscreen and it can rain and probably will.

Loved every minute we spent on the beach. Was able to find some really good sea shells not overly crowded. Very clean. loved the white sand and even found another spot on the beach to see some dolphins. Will definitely return in the future!!!

I have been coming to Gulf Shores with my family for 13 years. We are from the Dallas area. Sometimes we fly and sometimes we drive. It's a great place for a family vacation. We always have a great time. It has fully recovered from the horrible oil spill in 2010 and I'm so happy to see this.

my fave part of gulf shores is when I went swimming, but I don't go in spring because it is so cold.

What a state treasure! White sandy beach, love they have added handicap accessible walkways. Ample parking and several picnic tables. Clean! Just lovely. ❤️

Alabama's BEST kept secret is right here in Baldwin County! The sand is so beautiful and so white, highly recommend dark sunglasses if you have a high sensitivity to brightness. Plenty of FREE parking across the street from the paid parking. The beach is literally right across the street and not far at all. September is a great time to be here, not crowded.

The water was warm,clean and inviting. The sugar white sand was beautiful and the other beach goers were very friendly. I have been at the Atlantic pacific and even lake Michigan, but of all those places none were better than here.

2 places have a 50 foot or so blue mat going from the pavement toward the ocean. At the end of the mat is a 100 foot T. Excellent for wheelchair access or easy walking for seniors. Very considerate! Shows how welcoming this place is! Unfortunately the picture didn't come out right.

Beautiful beach! I love it here. It’s so calming and relaxing. There’s also a local spot a walk away from the beach, The Hangout. It’s great as well. 10/10 recommendation.

This is a very nice beach. Clean with beautiful white sand and when we were here it wasn't very busy.

Beautiful white sand beaches! We stayed down towards Fort Lambart. Clean, gorgeous and relaxing. a nice break for January!!

Popped over during downtime on a business trip. The sand is amazing. Clean and like power. It was beautiful. Look forward to coming back again. Free parking too.

It was nice and beach was beautiful. My friend and I spent day on beach and caught some Ray's. The waves were awesome and the air was something that everyone wants. This is my happy place and I love it...

This area is near Hangout and the renovations are beautiful. However, they need more parking! Can be a challenge to find a parking place at busy times.

We went to the public beach here for several days in July. I would highly recommend getting there before 9am to get a good parking spot. Also, the lot just to the west of 59 has blue mats that go halfway to the water. Way easier to pull a cart on instead of the sand. There are very nice public bathrooms and areas to wash the sand off before you go back to your vehicle. Parking was $5 an hour or $10 a day. Watch for the flags and know what they mean in regards to the water conditions. Rougher water the first day led to lots of shells for the kids. Other days had very easy waves which was better for everyone else. Water was crystal clear as you could see fish, crabs and especially jellyfish. Keep an eye out for them.

Although the beach is somewhat crowded, the white sand is beautiful. We did have some issues with jellyfish stings the first day, but thankfully no more after that.

Great beach to take a family and to relax. Lifeguards on duty most of the day. Sand was clear of trash and was easily accessed.

Very beautiful beach. New construction making things a lot better. Third visit to the public beach and it always better than before.

The water was a bit chilly when you dipped your feet in, but you acclimated quickly to it. The kids and I liked how clean the beach was, the rough surf was exhilarating as the children jumped and splashed, and it wasn’t overpacked with spring breakers. It felt good soaking up the sun with the sand in between your toes. Put your sunscreen on and enjoy yourself

I reviewed Gulf Shores Public Beach before but wanted to mention it's worth going back off season as it is not clearly advertised that beachfront parking is free between October and March. It's only a few bucks but there are still warm days in the winter, and the beaches are totally uncrowded. Great time to enjoy the peace and quiet and find some interesting seashells. The off season is also when the city does its construction there which is not a huge problem, but expect delays and equipment here and there, but with clearly marked detour signs. I'd take a nice 70 degree day with almost no people there and some construction equipment (and free parking!) over a 90 degree day where people are elbow to elbow.

This beach is very clean with white sand. You will find many families along the beach throwing frisbees and footballs. They have nice shower houses to change in and also have outside showers. Parking is available for a small fee.

The sand wasn’t quite as white as Florida’s but just as soft. Also, the water was a bit murky.. but they had a major hurricane in the gulf a few weeks prior. Not being accustomed to hurricanes I am unsure how much and for how long they affect the water

This area of Gulf Shores has been transformed into a beautiful area for a leisurely walk or just a peaceful place to sit rest and enjoy the gulf. It is very handicap accessible with concrete walkways and handicap mats to get on the beach. Highly recommend!

Clean, bright sand beaches. Several places along the beach to socialize (and social distance) and several retailers for meeting various beach needs, personal needs and eating. Cordial, Courteous visitors, by and large.

I am lucky to live in Gulf Shores, Alabama and enjoy the beautiful white beaches on the Gulf of Mexico. I am a Realtor here and pinch myself everyday to see if I am dreaming. There is approximately 30 miles of white sand beaches to enjoy from Fort Morgan to the Florida State Line. You really need to experience these beaches.

Clean and beautiful white sand. Very touristy, parking was $5 for 4 hours or $10 all day. Orange Beach much better.

This beach was amazing! The restrooms were clean and the entrance was beautiful. Parking was $5 for a few hours. Will definitely go back and take my entire family!

Beautiful white sandy beaches-water still bit cool but with warm days could still jump some waves-people spread out from others

We had a great time at the State Park... Stayed in a travel trailer at the park. It was very accommodating.

I love everything about this place. We've been going as a family for 5 years now.

The beaches are beautiful, the dunes like none I've ever seen before.

Lots to do, but not overly touristy either.

Beaches were beautiful, water not so blue but would enjoy coming back. Beautiful family get away. Lots of things to do for the family in the area. Putt putt golf, go carts, game rooms and more.

The beach is very beautiful. They have added lots of beautiful palm trees. There is a blue mat going down the sand so if you are in a wheel chair or pushing a baby stroller it makes it lots easier!!

Gulf State Park beach is pretty, but the water had lots of jellyfish that stung-not fun! The last two days of our trip, the wind shifted out of the north and we were also attacked by VICIOUS biting flies! We packed up and left the beach after twenty miserable minutes. I’m not sure when a good time to visit is, but we’ve been in August previously and now September. I doubt we’ll be back. It’s a shame, because we really like the surrounding area, the restaurants, access to stores, Gulf State Park Campground, the dog park, the trails, etc.😥

We were here last week for five days the beach is very clean white they had a music festival here and they closed off part of the beach for it so you couldn’t walk the whole beach. Never saw this before.

We love the beaches in Gulf Shores so much that we moved here from Oklahoma a year ago. It's warm enough to swim March through October/November. They have great amenities, fun surf shops, beautiful sand and water. Great fun for everyone. Please pay attention to the flags that let you know info about surf.

The beaches themselves are nice but it’s really sad that there’s no budget friendly parking and no disabled friendly beach space. If a family saved for years to be able to vacation and chose Gulf Shores, they might be surprised to find out that they can’t go to the beach because there’s no where to park that doesn’t cost money. The free parking lots that you see on the city’s website are blocked off by construction.

We have been to beaches all over from Hilton Head, Tybee Island and Daytona/Cocoa on the Atlantic to Destin, Corpus Cristi, and Panama City in the Gulf and this beach is by far the cleanest, best maintained beach out of all. It has public bathrooms located up and downt the shore as well as several restaurants with indoor/outdoor dining. Great beach that should not be missed!

During the week of July 4th, we spent several days on the beach. The public space was much larger than expected, but also not as clean as I anticipated. We came across buried beer cans, water bottles and cigarettes in the sand, even though ample trash cans were available. The water was mostly clear, with little algae. The public restrooms were clean. Most of the showers at the edge of the beach did not fully function. There was free parking across the highway, within a block of the beach, or you could pay to park on the beach grounds.

Gulf Shores Beach is one of the best in the U.S. and world. Sugar like sand. Clear gulf water 90% of year. Good amenities and parking. Restaurants and bar nearby---easily within walking distance. Terrific experience at the beach every time !!!

The beach at Gulf Shores is several miles in length and very wide at most sections, separated from the road by towering condos, houses, and a few hotels and restaurants. Beautiful white sand (easy on the feet), glistening blue-green ocean, and the call of seabirds entice at all times of day. Shelling can be hit or miss, but early morning after a storm is a fine time to hunt. Folks are friendly and polite, from locals to "snowbirds" to international tourists, so pack a lunch, towels, toys, a good book, camera, chairs, and an umbrella and enjoy the entire day (and sunset) at one of the prettiest beaches in the U.S.

There are several public entrances to the beach, with varying parking slots, and a small fee is charged (cash or credit card at self-pay stations) March through November. Free parking is available a short walk away from the beach (check out the website for a map). One of the more popular beaches is at the 59 "T", home to annual festivals and volleyball tournaments; it's being revitalized - landscaping, shade shelters, benches, parking, walkways, restrooms, footwash poles, garbage and recycling containers, and so forth, including expanded traffic flow and safety. This is all part of the vision for this small town's big beach to better accommodate the area's growing tourism.

The beach sand here is white (unlike the usual brown that is due to bits of iron ore).
There are lots of seashells here, although mostly the large ones are found broken.
To find perfect large shells you have to get up at dawn, to find the new ones that have washed in. The sands here are called "sugar sands" as they are very white and have the texture of granulated sugar. If you look at the sand with a good magnifying glass (or low power microscope), you will see that almost all of the sand is tiny broken bits of seashells. The shells are mostly made of calcium carbonate, which is the white mineral in limestone and pure marble. The beaches here are very well cared for. Trucks drive by in the early morning and evening and they empty trash cans and pick up other trash. You won't find lots of litter here, and any litter left by some beach visitors is soon picked up.
The city of Gulf Shores has free parking at several of their main beach access points.
The beach stretches from Orange Beach and Gulf State Park, though Gulf Shores and 18 miles further West to Fort Morgan.

We stayed in Gulf Shores last week with family. Made 2 trip to the beach and found it very accomodating; good parking at a reasonable fee, clean bathhouses and grounds, groomed sand and clean beach. Something they can't control is the seaweed which was awful but better a couple of days later. We all want to come back soon.

The beaches in Gulf Shores are just well maintained and beautiful. covered in snow white sands and emerald water! Just my favorite place!

We really enjoyed the beach here and the fact that it had clean restrooms at the pavillon was just a added bonus.

Just returned from a trip to Gulf Shores and was disappointed by the beach. It was very very crowded due to beach closures in Florida. There was a complete disregard for any kind of social distancing - on the beach and in town. In addition, there was quite a lot of trash in the sand and in the water. My daughter pulled an old beach chair out of the water on an early morning beach walk. Despite city requirements to remove all personal property from the beach at night, we saw many chairs and metal frame structures left out every night for a week. The city is dredging the lagoon so there is heavy equipment on the beach and in the lagoon every day - this is both noisy and dirty. I've come to Gulf Shores many times over the last ten years but definitely will not return again. It's no longer the clean and relatively quiet beach that it was in the past.

The beach was very nice. My friend wedding was beautiful the weather w as wonderful.i will visit again.

Clearly they care about visitors! Clean, glorious sand; fresh water rinse and bathrooms provided! Look at the flag color (posted near lifeguard stands) for beach/water conditions. Bring flashlights to chase sand crabs at night - fun for all!

We went on impulse in the middle of February and we wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Great beach!

Perfect for lounging the day away and building sand castles. You'll be finding the sand in every nook and cranny for days. Just be wary of the current, ban easily take you a mile down the beach before you know it!

A short walk away from the lodge and the visitor center and you can find your own private space on the beach. Glistening white sand and sparkling blue water. NO high rises. Lots of bird life, pelicans galore! Simply beautiful!

All the condos have beach access locked up. It’s nice to see that Gulf Shores has carved out a little spot for the public that aren’t spending the day or the weekend in an expensive condo. Right at the end of Hwy 59 are the public beaches with affordable parking and handicap access to the sugar white sandy beaches for which Gulf Shores is known. Close by are souvenir shops and restaurants. Also there are lifeguards and police in the parking lot. Don’t like the sand? There is a concrete and green area with benches to sit and watch the waves crash the shore.

Beaches are superb white sand with gentle slope into the gulf. Several sections of beach are sparsely used within a short walk or one can remain close to the boardwalks and lounge chairs with umbrella available to rent for the day.

We LOVED Gulf Shores. Super clean beach with that sugar white sand. Have nothing bad to say. Perfect spot!!!!

We stayed on the beach, which was very nice and looks to be well-patrolled. Our condo looked out onto the "Sea and Suds" restaurant -which is a very good place to eat- but it didn't do anything to add to the view. Wonder what city officials authorized a restaurant on the beach...I think it's been there since the 70's

We've been to Gulf Shores a couple of times and prefer the west beach area. There's free parking across a two lane road (not hard to cross/minimal traffic) and lifeguards on duty during the weekend. People fished, kayaked, and swam with dolphins very near by! Walk a few blocks down to the "pass" and sit on sandbars while watching hermit crabs play. There's paid parking there, and young families enjoy the shallow water during low tide.

I won’t go back to Gulf Shores again. I understand the reasoning for the “Leave nothing but footprints” rule, but it should be posted. Unless there is a sign stating that is posted stating that all things should be removed at the end of the day, I don’t understand how travelers are supposed to be aware of this. We left a small zipped up tent with 4 chairs in it overnight. We went back the next am & it was gone. Live & learn I guess but will not come back.

The sand here is really soft. Doesn't hurt your feet at all to walk barefoot. So nice. Clean. And lots of space even in May. When we were here, the water wasn't very clear from storms. It's not green like the gulf side of FL. But still nice and the water surprised us by being warmer than we expected. Even after big rainstorms.

The beach is clean and beautiful. We love the beach at Gulf Shores so much we have been back 3 times now. If your looking for a beautiful beach this is the place!

What a beautiful beach. Could have spent way more time there than we did just due to the beauty. Weather didn't cooperate so we only got 1 day of serious walking on the shoreline but it was terrific. Free parking which I heard ends March 1.

In order to avoid sitting in traffic all day, we had to go at dawn. It was hot and exceedingly humid--we were glad for what little breeze there was. Pay parking. No shells. A ledge along the coastline meant that if you wanted to walk on water-packed sand, you had to get wet to the knees. Otherwise, it was walking in the soft, shifting stuff--not the best for older folks.

The sand was white and beautiful and surprisingly for a public beach, very clean. Not a lot of people the day we went, parking was reasonable...great family beach.

$5 to park for 4 hours or $10 for all day is great when you consider how conveniently located this is. Once you spend a few days at the beach, you will get quickly tired of trudging long treks from car to water, and we found ourselves here more than any other beach though we did visit over 20 different locations. They also typically (but not always) have lifeguards present.

The water was absolutely horrible. Patches of green flora all over one's skin after going in the water. And, on another note, when did strings become acceptable on public beaches at Gulf Shores??? This was a family beach for many years. Loud boom boxes, and half naked mother's walking up and down the shoreline with their butts exposed.

This is a great beach. It's cheaper than the West End and you can bring your dogs. Beach was clean, lots of space and not close to a lot of people. Changing facilities. The only downside is the incredibly long walk from the parking lot to the beach. But because of that, you feel very isolated.

Great place to stay, clean, close to beach, shopping, family activities. Several restaurants near by and several shopping places. Definitely going back in the summer. Close to Florida from a quick day trip too.

The hurricane ended up closing all the beaches for like 200 miles. We were forced to find different thing to do on vacation. It really worked out for the best. We rented bikes and peddled all over the place. The public beach is a place that has tons of concrete and areas to take pics. The teens where very entertained and we where able to spend some time there riding and taking photos. I recommend that it is worth a visit if your in gulf shores. It is not a crapy public unkept beach. It's clean has walk ways and plenty of places to sit and take in the views.

Love sitting and walking Gulf Shores Public beach. Clean beach, with toilets, wash stations for feet. Also, an accessible mat for wheelchairs, older people to get to the beach

Exquisitely beautiful with amazing sand! We saw so much wildlife, ate fantastic food and loved every minute! We don’t actually stay in one spot on the beach so we saw so many birds and other animals!

great beach with easy access and parking. sand is white and water was great. restaurants on the beach if you want to dine out

My favorite place to visit. I have been coming here for over 35 years. The beaches are clean and beautiful. The waves are great! Great place to relax and the public beaches are often not crowded. Find beach access parking and many will have public restrooms available. Highly recommend!

Always go to the beach - every day when in gulf shores - it's what you do. Gulf breezes - sunsets - sunrise. Cant wait to get back.

So many pictures of green water but false advertising. Perhaps due to hurricane damage but I was disappointed at the brown water and prefer the green Florida water. I stayed poolside instead of my usual beachside because of the poor water quality. Hopefully the water will improve.

We just visited Gulf Shores over the 4th of July week. The family with 5 grandchildren spent a lot of time on the beach enjoying the water. The beach has great sand with lots of room for beach umbrellas to spread out in. The water was warm with enough waves for the kids to enjoy their paddle boards on.

Not busy in the off season. Great for long walks, morning, noon or evening. Condo and homes line the beach. A lot of rental places.

We brought our 3 year old grandson and stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn. Our room smelled just like animal pee so bad that we had to be switched to a different room. No cell service. Parking $10/day. Breakfast was almost $20 a person. Toilets got stopped up, carpet was coming up my grandson stepped on the tiny nails sticking up. Worse place I’ve ever stayed at.

Easy access to the beach from the pavilion parking. Would be nice to have some restroom facilities at the parking lot.

I feel that GS has done a great job in putting together their public beach spaces. For five bucks you can park close to the beach for 4 hours and have access to rest rooms. I am "frugal" and I think that the 5$ price point is well worth it. Beats hauling things through the sand and across streets.

A wide, white sandy beach. Plenty of room for all. I am thinking they don't allow fishing. I didn't have to duck or go around lines. So not sure on that.

Quiet and clean and was easy access! We loved taking our family and not being bothered by anyone else!

Beautiful, clean beach. not crowded at all and we were there Labor Day weekend. Bit of a walk from the park camp grounds

Beach was clean and water was 80 plus degrees. Parking was easy plus the beach that we were on was pet friendly. Close to everything and the hangout was cool place to visit. Highly recommend this place.

Great bathrooms, white clean sand and sidewalks everywhere. Close to food. Life guards to watch over everyone. It’s hard to find a cleaner beach anywhere.

First of all, I never actually got on the beach so I can only guess at the cleanliness of the sand or the quality of the water. I was so disappointed that I drove 11 hours and was not allowed on the beach in Orange Beach or Gulf Shores with my dog, even on a leash. Yes, I should have investigated better, but it never crossed my mind since in Texas dogs are allowed on all the beaches if they are on a leash. Unfortunately, our tourist dollars will not be spent on the Alabama gulf in the future.

Very nice with lots of convenient parking but WAAAAYYYY too many people. We aren't the crowded beach goer types. We just moved to Fairhope, so we wanted to check it out. We came, we saw and we will probably find a less-crowded beach for future daytrips.

Beautifully maintained beach! Lots of great walkways, volleyball nets and biking areas as well as mat walkway out to beach to make taking all your essentials much easier. Groomed frequently and very well maintained!

If you want to pay for parking, people watch, access to toilets and rentals, then go to the public beach. But know that there are other public beaches that are less crowded. We enjoyed the beach with no traffic, no seaweed, and no parking fee, BUT no amenities - on the Ft. Morgan end. The fishing beach a great for walking and shelling, too.

It was really pretty. The beach was clean. The water was clear. Standing chest deep I could see the sand beneath my feet.

Love Gulf shores been going since I was a little and you will love it. Southern hospitality is something you will notice from the locals. Tunes of different condos/hotels that our also right next to the public beach. Souvenir shops on almost every corner so if you need some sunblock or a cold drink you won't have to pack everything up at the public beach just walk across the street or walk the shore line over to THE HANGOUT it's a restaurant and ice cream shop with sitting areas out side or on the deck, the hangout is for people of all ages. Their is bands that play live also. Gulf shores is just a magical place.

Nice beach, very clean, not many shells because of all the people visiting the beach. It can be a bit crowded at times.

The Gulf Shore beaches were not crowded and free parking across the street was easily accessible. It was easy to plant our chairs near the water and enjoy the sun and sound of the waves. The water was somewhat rough and I think we could notice the jellyfish larvae "stings" but it was not enough to deter my wife and I from enjoying the water.

Let’s be honest the traffic is awful here with only 2 ways in to the beach & short cuts through neighborhoods are worse & wrong to do for residents. The condition of the water is bad with green moss everywhere. Nobody follows the posted beach rules & the life guards & beach patrol don’t care. Not worth the $$$$.

Beautiful and amazing beach.. Very clean. The sand is pure white and exactly how you image a beach on the ocean to be. Was not busy or packed. I liked how they had the water spots to rinse off your feet before getting in your vehicle

We always enjoy going to the beach. This Beach is very nice and has clean restrooms. Such a nice place for relaxing or fishing.

Beach was clean and everyone we encountered seemed friendly. The beach held a volleyball tournament the day we went which we really enjoyed watching some of and parking was great!

This beach is so awesome and the visitors are always friendly. The beach is kept up by staff and the visitors are awesome and picking up after themselves.

I love Gulf Shores. Plenty of stuff to do. Not crowded like Panama City Beach. It's just right! The water is usually pretty nice as well.

We stayed on this beach for 4 nights in August. People everywhere but always room for a few more. The surf was not to bad and the sand was just right. One day we went down to perido beach. The beach there was even nicer and not near as crowded. All in all, the Gulf Shores public beach was just as I remembered it from previous trips - a good place to vacation.

The beach was clean and very accessible. Parking was free and the pier nearby has nice restrooms for changing. There is a shower at the pier to rinse off the salt water and sand.

Arrived after the Tropical Storm. Beaches were cleaned up nicely, white sand and clear waters are all you need.

Beautiful beach, great soft white sand, wonderful sunrises and sunsets but dogs are not allowed. So we won't be returning.

OMG, a sunny day or cloudy day!! Been there on both. The sand is like sugar. Beautiful contrast to the blue water. Just a nice clean beautiful beach. Enjoyed walking the beach, watching people flying kites, Wind surfing.

We loved our time at Gulf Shores Beach!!!! They have public bathrooms that are clean. They also have public parking that’s easy to access. We are already talking about coming back!

PERFECT BEACH!! The sand is cool under your feet, the temperatures wonderful, the people are awesome. We love the gulf shores area! Good memories!