~ Carmen
We love to go camping! Recently, we spent three days camping in Gulf Shores, Alabama attending the National Shrimp Festival (see 5 Reasons to Go to the National Shrimp Festival). This wasn’t our first rodeo. It was so fun and memorable the last couple of visits, we continue to camp at Gulf Shores State Park year after year. There are lots of affordable condos and other campgrounds, but we stay at the state park because:
1. There is a variety of campsite options.
2. There is variety of activities available at the campgrounds.
3. Camping at the state park gives you access to beach facilities.
3 Reasons to Camp at Gulf Shores State Park

“Come see me at Gulf Shores!”

Our tent on a primitive site– $18 a night
1. There is a variety campsite options.
Gulf Shores State Park has over four hundred camp sites. That’s a whole lot of campers. You’ll see every kind of camper from tent campers to full time RVers. We’re talking about some big rigs! All are welcome at the state park.
We’ve stayed at the primitive sites, where you are surrounded by trees and on your own for a power source (Bathroom facilities are just a short walk away). We’ve also stayed at some of the full hook-up sites (water, electricity, and sewer). There are also cottages and cabins available to rent.
The campground has 11 nice bathhouses. No creepy-crawlies in the corners! All of the standard campsites come with a grill and a picnic table. The only amenity missing from the standard sites are fire rings or pits. Campers may bring their own fire pit if it is at least 6 inches off of the ground. I missed my campfire!

Our camper trailer at campsite #294– $40 a night
2. There is variety of activities available at the campgrounds.
There is a wide offering of activities at Gulf Shores State Park to keep all family members busy from sunup to sundown. My favorite part of the park are the miles of bike trails that go in and around the lake and marsh (heed the “Watch for alligators” signs).

Ranger programs are held daily at the nature center.

Bike rentals are available at the camp store.

Fish or boat off of “Middle Lake”.

2 tennis courts

Splash pool

Huge pool!
3. Camping at the state park gives you access to beach facilities.
Gulf Shores Beach is just a short bike ride away from the campground. Part of the state park is a huge section of the beach with parking, a pavilion, and a fishing pier. When you camp at Gulf Shores State Park, you automatically have access to all of the facilities for no additional charge. Others pay a “day use” fee.

LONG Fishing pier

Beach pavilion

Protected sand dunes

Watching the sunset from the pavilion
Have you ever been to the beaches on the Gulf of Mexico? We’d love to hear your thoughts. Please share by commenting below! We’d also love to hear about any other campgrounds we should check out.
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Trish
October 31, 2016 7:20 amThis looks like a great place to camp! I especially like the proximity to the beach. That is a major plus for me with camping spots. Also — I’m glad you mentioned the bathhouses. That matters, esp. if you are a tent camper!
Pack Your Baguios
October 31, 2016 7:34 amEven though we have a bathroom in our little camper, I like the option of going to a bathhouse.
Shane
October 31, 2016 4:46 pmOh so when I first read gulf shores on your Instagram I was thinking Florida! This looks like such a relaxing experience- camping near beaches is something I could get around!
Pack Your Baguios
November 1, 2016 1:24 pmI know what you mean. You don’t really think of Alabama when you think of beaches, but Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are some of the nicest beaches I’ve ever been on.
Karen - Sarcastic Parent
October 31, 2016 7:37 pmComing from MN we don’t get to see a real beach very often. This looks beautifiul
Pack Your Baguios
November 1, 2016 1:24 pmIt is very pretty. I love the powder-white sand!
Mili
November 1, 2016 2:50 amThis place seems to be paradise for campers and I love the idea of beaches being so close to camp! Nice tips, thanks for sharing. 🙂
Pack Your Baguios
November 1, 2016 1:25 pmYou’re welcome. Thank’s for stopping by!
Sarah
November 1, 2016 11:19 amIt’s my kind of campsite! Has complete amenities, inviting pool, close to the beach and as clean bathrooms!! This has always been my problem with campsites, lack of clean/tidy bathrooms!
Pack Your Baguios
November 1, 2016 1:26 pmI can’t stand dirty bathrooms, especially ones that are a harbor for spiders and wasps!
Eric || The Bucket List Project
November 1, 2016 3:07 pmThis looks awesome. Living in New Orleans, I keep trying to tell my girl that we need to go beach camping on the Red Neck Riviera because its so much fun. I usually head over to the florida panhandle but I may have to check out Gulf Shores now cause that facility looks amazing and the beach is so nice there!
Great pics
Pack Your Baguios
November 1, 2016 5:11 pmYou guys are pretty close. Definitely stop in Alabama and enjoy the gorgeous beaches and seafood!
NoMAD NiNo
November 1, 2016 6:12 pmInteresting! didn’t know they had this in Alabama. I may have to take the kids camping here if I’m ever in this part of the globe. thanks!
Pack Your Baguios
November 1, 2016 6:28 pmCome on over!
Lianna
November 1, 2016 6:23 pmI love seeing posts about places in America because as an American, these are obviously the cheapest places to visit for me! I’ve never been to Alabama (or camping, sadly) and this looks like such a cool experience. I’ll be adding camping at this park to my travel list!
Pack Your Baguios
November 1, 2016 6:29 pmIt’s easy to overlook the beauty in our own backyard.
Sonali Chauhan
November 2, 2016 12:57 amBeautiful pictures. I do hear about Gulf Shores State Park so many times but still never been at here. You have made me more crazy toward Gulf Shores State Park while sharing this post.
Pack Your Baguios
November 2, 2016 5:21 amIt is very pretty and there’s tons to do up and down the coast.
Stephanie Frias
November 4, 2016 3:36 pmYou had me at “Camping”…and I packed my bags at “Shrimp Festival”! This sounds like a wonderful weekend excursion and what a wonderful campsite! We don’t see campsite or RVs much in Ecuador, but we love anti-hotel experiences 😀
Pack Your Baguios
November 5, 2016 7:37 amI love being outdoors so anytime we can go to sleep to the sound of nature, we’ll take it!
Wanderlust Vegans
November 6, 2016 8:23 amWhat an amazing campsite. Looks like a wonderful place to camp! We will be planning a road trip around the US soon, and this looks like a great place to stop! Reasonable price as well.
Pack Your Baguios
November 7, 2016 2:39 pmI hope your road trip makes its way through the southern US. The weather is nice and the people are super friendly!
Johann
November 6, 2016 8:34 amIt would be fun to stay at a trailer camp. Haven’t got the chance to visit the USA yet. The sunset sat from the beach pavilion looks stunning!
Pack Your Baguios
November 7, 2016 2:40 pmI hope you can make it over here soon. There are so many different places. You could spent years and still not see all of the major attractions.
Marinel
November 6, 2016 10:17 amNever been to this part of the U.S. I love peaks and mountains but relaxing is great too. Love the photos…very inviting.
Pack Your Baguios
November 7, 2016 2:41 pmThere’s nothing more relaxing than spending a day at the beach, then a night under the stars.
Maria
November 6, 2016 12:33 pmThere are more than 20 years since the last time I’ve been camping. I really liked it but some how never did it again. That place you have been looks so beautiful and peaceful. Loved the photos.
Pack Your Baguios
November 7, 2016 2:42 pmWe love camping here. We try to camp at least one weekend a month. Less than that, and I get antsy for the great outdoors!
Sharleen Henderson
November 8, 2016 1:21 pmI’m actually a camping virgin!? I need to work on that, this place sounds awesome. It’s always good to get a recommendation from someone who returns year on year! A National Shrimp festival sounds so my thing!
Pack Your Baguios
November 8, 2016 4:05 pmYou need to start with a short little camping trip, like a weekend. Then you can build up to longer trips like we do.
Heather
August 4, 2017 10:45 amGulf Shores is truly gorgeous and there are so many options for outdoors people to enjoy their time. Thanks for sharing!
Pack Your Baguios
August 20, 2017 2:05 pmWe love camping at Gulf Shores. The Shrimp Festival is just a couple of months away!!!!
Gioko Pat
October 15, 2017 11:25 amFrom the pictures, this place looks really gorgeous. Looks like you guys really had yourselves a ball.
Pack Your Baguios
October 16, 2017 10:21 amWe did! We love to camp in Alabama!