Gulf Shores Public Beach: Address, Phone Number, Gulf Shores Public Beach Reviews: 4.5/5
Gulf Shores Public Beach
Gulf Shores Public Beach
4.5
Full view
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
The area
Address
Best nearby
Restaurants
97 within 3 miles

S & S Seafood Market
486
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Specialty Food Market • American • Cajun & Creole

The BEACH HOUSE Kitchen & Cocktails
614
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Bar • Seafood

Island Ice Cream
169
0.2 mi$ • Dessert • American

Janino's Pizza
247
0.4 mi$$ - $$$ • Italian • Pizza • Vegetarian Friendly

West Beach Coffee House
12
0.7 miCafe

Bahama Bob's Beach Side Cafe
2,312
1 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Bar • Seafood

The Wandering Baker
1
0.9 miDelivery Only • American

Funky Fresh Ice Cream
5
1.1 mi$ • American
Roasted Oak Coffee & Wine Bar
4
1.2 mi

De Soto's Seafood Kitchen
1,671
1.4 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Seafood • Vegetarian Friendly
Attractions
24 within 6 miles

Gulf State Park
1,405
2.5 miState Parks • Beaches

Gulf Shores Welcome Center
474
Visitor Centers

Gulf State Park Fishing Pier
1,112
2.8 miState Parks • Piers & Boardwalks

Orange Beach Welcome Center
285
Visitor Centers

Fort Morgan Road Trail
55
1.5 miBiking Trails • Hiking Trails

Big Beach Brewing Company
134
2.9 miBreweries

Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge
276
Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails

Waterville USA
405
1.8 miAmusement & Theme Parks

The Track
589
Amusement & Theme Parks

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo
1,641
Zoos
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
450 reviews
Excellent
321
Very good
84
Average
24
Poor
8
Terrible
13
harryh409
Crestview, FL338 contributions
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.
Written May 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Susan C
6 contributions
Family
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.
Written July 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Ltnochko
Huntsville, AL131 contributions
Couples
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.
Written August 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Travel173
Colorado27 contributions
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.
Written August 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Dream29338510910
Nashville, TN1 contribution
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.
Written July 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
AndyP1998
Wakefield, UK834 contributions
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
Written March 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
John B
Phoenix, AZ110 contributions
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
Written November 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jean M
1 contribution
Friends
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.
Written July 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Brandon P
Goodwater, AL1 contribution
Family
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...
Written July 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Kenneth L
White House, TN83 contributions
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.
'Im not a fan of having to pay at a public site (parking) but I'm sure that's the tourist area norm.
Written May 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Can we get beach service on public beach? And can you drink alcohol on the beach
harryh409
Crestview, FL338 contributions
What do you mean by beach service? If you mean for someone to come to you for services I doubt it unless you are staying at a motel on the beach. Why bring alcohol on the beach? Just enjoy Mother Nature and have your drink when you go home.
Karon G
Kyle, TX
I have visited y'all in late August, 2 different years, and both times the Gulf looked like a lake (no waves), there was no breeze, and the mosquitos on the balcony kept us inside.
Does this happen every August? I'd like to celebrate my 75th birthday at the end of August at Gulf Shores, but I sure don't want to make to risk this if it's normal for that time of the year. Thanks!
SpringHillMary
Spring Hill TN110 contributions
Can I rent towels?
spacejunky
Nashville, TN44 contributions
There is not a place to rent towels but there are stores across the street from the public beach in Gulf Shores to buy some towels including a Dollar General.
lisapm2017
Oxford, United States1 contribution
We will be there Labor Day weekend. Will we be able to rent umbrella and chairs at Public Beach?
kirt v
Colgate, WI715 contributions
I would say yes. Unless there is a storm
We are going at the end of August. Are the beaches back open and the waters safe to swim in?
jwatkins936
11 contributions
The beaches are open now, and will remain open unless another hurricane cause them to close it again.
Sandy L
Dallas, TX1 contribution
Arriving the last week of August and the home is on W. Beach Blvd. with access to a beach. However, home does not come with beach equipment (umbrellas, chairs, etc.) so was told that Sea of Gulf Shores Public Beach (6 miles from the house) would be our best bet for equipment rental. Can anyone please confirm this? And, is there good parking and what is the fee?
Thanks in advance for any helpful hints.
Sandy in Dallas
georgygirl
Ironwood, MI29 contributions
There are many rental places for chairs, umbrellas, etc.. The condos also rent lounger on the beach.
Is there oil just below the surface of the Gulf Shores sand, like the Texas beaches?
Robert W
Park Ridge, IL3,121 contributions
We are usually at Gulf Shores for two separate weeks each year for the last 15 years. I'm sure they never needed to replace all the sand at Gulf Shores. It never was affected that much. But the City of Gulf Shores received payments from Exxon (due to disruption of tourism) and they have several crews that rake the sand almost every morning and every night. After the offshore spill they had teams of people looking for any tar balls or signs of oil and everything was carefully picked-up. The sands are called "sugar sands" because the sand has the texture of granulated sugar. The sand is also white because the sand is almost entirely bits of sea shells broken into tiny fragments - check it yourself with a magnifying glass. The beaches at Gulf Shores are clean and are cared for (with garbage picked up too) as any place in the world. The economy of Gulf Shores depends on the beaches and they have dedicated significant resources toward keeping the beaches clean.
Frequently Asked Questions about Gulf Shores Public Beach
- Hotels near Gulf Shores Public Beach:
- (0.03 mi) Renovated Top to Bottom 2 Bedroom West Corner with Great Views Caribbean #604
- (0.07 mi) Newly listed with gorgeous view and beachside lazy river!
- (0.10 mi) Prime Beach/Lagoon Location! Walk to beach and restaurants!
- (0.10 mi) Prime Beach/Lagoon Location! Walk to beach and restaurants!
- (0.05 mi) Waterfront on Little Lagoon! Walk to the beach! Beach house with private pier!
- Restaurants near Gulf Shores Public Beach:
- (0.16 mi) S & S Seafood Market
- (0.15 mi) The BEACH HOUSE Kitchen & Cocktails
- (0.17 mi) Island Ice Cream
- (0.36 mi) Janino's Pizza
- (0.98 mi) Bahama Bob's Beach Side Cafe
- Attractions near Gulf Shores Public Beach:
- (0.75 mi) Ike's Beach Service
- (0.98 mi) Pleasure Island Parasailing
- (3.04 mi) Coastal Segway Adventures
- (2.31 mi) Island Marine Charters
- (2.54 mi) Gulf State Park