Gulf State Park
- Status
- Status not posted
- Entrance fee
- Not posted
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Not stated — check with park
- Camping
- 496 campsitesAlso cabins, lodge or inn rooms
- Official site
- alapark.com(251) 948-7275
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Gulf State Park is a 4,958-acre park in Baldwin County, about 3 miles southeast of Gulf Shores.
The park supports fishing, geocaching, biking, picnicking, and hiking. Water access includes a swimming beach. Camping is available: 496 campsites, including RV sites with full hookups, tent sites, and primitive or hike-in sites. There are also cabins and lodge rooms for rent.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trails | Not stated | sunrise – sunset | — |
| Office | Mon–Fri | 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. | — |
Official wording
Trails and Picnic Areas: Sunrise to Sunset
Headquarters Offices: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Monday - Friday
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Chicago).
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- Alabama State Parks reservations (reserve.alapark.com)
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Camping
| Campground or site type | Sites | Hookups / features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| RV and Primitive Campground PreviousNext
Plan Your Stay Here
Perched along the peaceful shore of Middle Lake, our Gulf State Park Campground offers a beautiful getaway just 1.5 miles from the white‑sandy beach. This area of our park offers 496 improved full-hookup campsites with paved pads and eight (8) primitive tent-only sites. Tents are welcome on all sites.
All full hookup camping pads are at least ~45' (most back-ins) to ~65' (most pull-throughs) long with more than enough room for RVs with pullouts, have picnic tables, and pedestal grill tops (no fire rings are available, but you are welcome to bring your own that | 496 | This area of our park offers 496 improved full-hookup campsites with paved pads and eight (8) primitive tent-only sites.Showers | — |
Camping details from the park
Whether you prefer tent camping under the stars or enjoying the comforts of an RV, Gulf State Park offers accommodations to fit every style of adventure. Our traditional Campground features 496 improved campsites, including full-hook-up RV sites, waterfront sites, ADA-accessible sites, primitive campsites, and unique glamping accommodations. Guests enjoy 11 modern bathhouses, paved camping pads, picnic tables, grills, and easy access to the park's beaches, trails, and outdoor recreation.
For those seeking an elevated camping experience, our new RV Resort offers 104 spacious full-hookup campsites complete with concrete pads, fire pits, pedestal grills, and access to premium amenities including a clubhouse, playground, and direct access to the Backcountry Trail for biking and birding. Guests staying at either campground have access to the amenities, pools, and playgrounds at both locations.
Gulf State Park offers flexible accommodations with nightly, weekly, and monthly camping options to fit your travel plans. Nightly and weekly reservations can be made online. Monthly reservations are available for the months of November through March. For more information, call our Reservationists (251-948-7275 ext. 1), who can assist you with availability and booking.
RV and Primitive Campground
PreviousNext
Plan Your Stay Here
Perched along the peaceful shore of Middle Lake, our Gulf State Park Campground offers a beautiful getaway just 1.5 miles from the white‑sandy beach. This area of our park offers 496 improved full-hookup campsites with paved pads and eight (8) primitive tent-only sites. Tents are welcome on all sites.
All full hookup camping pads are at least ~45' (most back-ins) to ~65' (most pull-throughs) long with more than enough room for RVs with pullouts, have picnic tables, and pedestal grill tops (no fire rings are available, but you are welcome to bring your own that are above ground). There are 11 modern, air-conditioned bathhouses throughout the Campground, along with laundry facilities.
Bathhouse 2 is currently closed for repairs.
Interested in our RV Resort? Click here to learn more.
Campground office hours are from 7:00 am to 5:30 pm daily. Need a later arrival time? No worries, you will receive an email confirmation with your gate code. Check-in is 2:00 PM, and check-out is 11:00 AM.
Day Use Visitor Entry Fee:
Nature Center: $5 per vehicle
Pickleball: $5 per person
Boat Launch: $6 per vehicle
Activities:
- Connector trail access to all 28 miles of trails
- Campstore with food, firewood, camping supplies, souvenirs, and more, available for purchase
- Nature Center with native flora and fauna displays and ongoing weekly activities
- Swimming pool with splash pad
- Tennis/pickleball courts
- Horseshoe courts
- Volleyball courts
- Waverunners and jet skis are not allowed in Gulf State Park at Lake Shelby for safety reasons.
- Firewood: Please do not bring firewood. Transporting firewood can bring invasive insects to our delicate forest.
- Gulf State Park is home to many types of wildlife, including alligators. Please be aware at all times.
Campground Map
Campground Rules and Regulations
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Cabins and lodging
- Eagle Cottages
- Lodge Rooms
- The Cabins
The Lodge at Gulf State Park, as well as the Lakeside Cabins and Eagle Cottages, are available for overnight stays. Longleaf pines and the local palmetto forest surround our four "woods cabins". The remaining "lakeside cabins" along Lake Shelby offer swimming, fishing, and sunrise walks right outside your doorstep. And with recent trail enhancements, waking up to jog or bike ride is easier than ever.
The park's 20 cabins provide guests with beautiful views of Lake Shelby, the beautiful longleaf pines, and the palmetto forest of coastal Alabama.
Guests choose to stay at Eagle Cottages because of the numerous fishing, swimming, boating, and other activities available along the shores of Lake Shelby. This 900-acre freshwater lake is one of the closest to saltwater along the beautiful shores of the Gulf!
Things to do
FishingGeocachingPicnickingHikingBikingCamping
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Armadillo Trail | 0.7 mi | — | — |
| Bear Creek Trail | 0.4 mi | — | — |
| Campground Connector | 0.1 mi | — | — |
| Campground Trail | 2.2 mi | — | — |
| Canal Trail | 1 mi | — | — |
| Catman Trail | 2.7 mi | — | — |
| Cross Park Trail | 0.8 mi | — | — |
| Eagle Connector | 0.2 mi | — | — |
| Eagle Loop | 0.3 mi | — | — |
| East Cabin Connector | 0.2 mi | — | — |
| Gopher Tortoise Trail | 1.5 mi | — | — |
| Lakeview Trail | 2.2 mi | — | — |
| Sawgrass Trail | 0.5 mi | — | — |
| West Cabin Connector | 0.2 mi | — | — |
| Woodside Connector | 0.1 mi | — | — |
Trail descriptions from the park
Hiking and Biking Trails
PreviousNext
Explore the Beautiful and Diverse Gulf State Park Trails!
USA Today recently named the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail the best recreational trail in the country for the third year in a row! The Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail is an award-winning 28+ mile paved trail system that takes visitors throughout the 6,150 acres of Gulf State Park. The trails are multi-use, meaning they are suitable for hikers and cyclists and are ADA-accessible. Trailheads surround the Park's perimeter, making it easy to find and access while vacationing on our shores. This trail system is just one of the amenities that Gulf State Park provides on your list of things to do while visiting the Park.
The Park features 29 miles of paved trails or boardwalks that inspire visitors to explore the nine distinct ecosystems within the park boundaries. These trails are also included in the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail system, connecting Range Beach and Gulf Shores, Alabama. Enjoy the serenity of the Gulf Oak Ridge trail, as you stroll underneath Live Oak trees draped in Spanish Moss. Take a bike ride on Rosemary Dunes and be on the lookout for the elusive Bobcat. If you're hoping to see an alligator, explore the Gopher Tortoise trail along the edge of Lake Shelby! Most of our trails are suitable for walking, running, and biking. You will surely enjoy the stunning natural scenery only found on the Alabama Gulf Coast!
Trail Hours
Dawn to dusk
7 days a week
No unauthorized motorized vehicles or golf carts allowed on the trails.
Check out the Park Map for all of the trail and feature locations. To view this map, click on the image below:
•
map 2023
Trail Distances
Alligator Marsh - 0.4 mi (Unpaved)
Armadillo Trail - 0.7 mi (Unpaved)
Beach Mouse Bypass - 1.1 mi (Boardwalk)
Bear Creek Trail - 0.4 mi (Paved)
Bobcat Branch - 0.7 mi (Unpaved)
Campground Connector - 0.1 mi (Unpaved)
Campground Trail - 2.2 mi (Paved/Boardwalk)
Canal Trail - 1.0 mi (Paved)
Catman Trail - 2.7 mi (Paved)
Cotton Bayou - 1.1 mi (Paved)
Coyote Crossing - 2.1 mi (Paved)
Cross Park Trail - 0.8 mi (Paved/Boardwalk)
Eagle Connector - 0.2 mi (Paved)
Eagle Loop - 0.3 mi (Unpaved)
East Cabin Connector - 0.2 mi (Paved)
Gopher Tortoise Trail - 1.5 mi (Paved)
Gulf Oak Ridge - 3.0 mi (Paved)
Lake Crossing - 0.6 mi (Boardwalk)
Lake Shelby Overlook - 0.3 mi (Boardwalk)
Lakeview Trail - 2.2 mi (Paved)
Middle Lake Overlook - 0.1 mi (Boardwalk)
Rattlesnake Ridge - 1.6 mi (Paved)
Rosemary Dunes - 2.1 mi (Paved)
Sawgrass Trail - 0.5 mi (Paved)
Twin Bridges - 0.8 mi (Paved)
West Cabin Connector - 0.2 mi (Paved)
Woodside Connector - 0.1 mi (Paved)
SAFETY INFORMATION
We are partnering with our local emergency responders, Baldwin County 9-1-1, to provide faster service to you while out on the trails during an emergency. To help the First Responders find your location during an emergency, download this app and relay the "what3words" location to dispatch during a 9-1-1 call and they will send help directly to you.
Download what3words app to help us find you faster!
Become a Dirt Pass Trail Crew member! Visit the program page to learn more about how you can help younger generations enjoy the parks for years to come!
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
- Picnic shelters
- Visitor center
- Nature center or museum
- Restaurant or food service
- Amphitheater
Water
- Swimming beach
Camping
- Tent camping
- RV camping
- Electric hookups
- Water hookups
- Sewer hookups
- Primitive or backcountry camping
Lodging
- Cabins
- Lodge or inn rooms
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Getting there
- Address
- 20115 State Park Road
Gulf Shores, AL 36542 - Nearest town
- Gulf Shores — about 3 mi southeast (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 30.2522, -87.6661
- Phone
- (251) 948-7275
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Alabama State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- Alabama State Parks 'All Parks' list
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology