The best campgrounds near Gulf Shores, Alabama with surfing

Looking for a camping experience near Gulf Shores, Alabama with prime surfing opportunities? Look no further than Hipcamp! With over 88 options specifically tailored to your preference for surfing in the area, you're sure to find the perfect spot. And with an average price per night of $38 and options as low as $20, there's something for every budget. Check out top campsites like Bay Forest Retreat (148 reviews), 30A Bay Hideaway (97 reviews), and CampFire at the Riverbend (44 reviews) to see what fellow campers have to say. With popular amenities like potable water, cooking equipment, and campfires, and activities like biking, wildlife watching, and fall fun, you'll have everything you need for a fantastic camping experience.

98% (496)

Top-rated campgrounds

Looking for a camping experience near Gulf Shores, Alabama with prime surfing opportunities? Look no further than Hipcamp! With over 88 options specifically tailored to your preference for surfing in the area, you're sure to find the perfect spot. And with an average price per night of $38 and options as low as $20, there's something for every budget. Check out top campsites like Bay Forest Retreat (148 reviews), 30A Bay Hideaway (97 reviews), and CampFire at the Riverbend (44 reviews) to see what fellow campers have to say. With popular amenities like potable water, cooking equipment, and campfires, and activities like biking, wildlife watching, and fall fun, you'll have everything you need for a fantastic camping experience.

98% (496)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. CampFire at the Riverbend

96%

(185)

26mi from Gulf Shores · 8 sites · Tents, RVs · Robertsdale, AL

We now have a pull through RV Site with 30 amp service with full hookups on 38 plus acres with 1250 fr pristine riverfront. Remote but accessible. Chose your site. Blaze a trail to the river, private beaches, tubing and swimming. 20 acres wooded and open field for a more remote experienced. Camp off your tailgate. You still have river access. RVs are welcome nice level easy access spots but no hook ups. Plenty of room for extra vehicles and trailers. Bring your horses! This is a guest maintained property. Treat it like grand-pa’s land. There is no cleaning service. Pack it in, pack it out. Leave no trace. Please don’t leave a mess for the next camper. Thanks!!

2. Colorful Camping at Beakertopia✨️🌈

97%

(110)

4mi from Gulf Shores · 23 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Bon Secour, AL

Come camp on one of the Southeast's most unique properties, Beakertopia! Our 2.4 acre artist compound is enclosed in bamboo and lush with hundred-year-old live oaks + native pollinator flowers we’ve planted. Choose any spot to pitch your tent and enjoy our magic oasis only 20 min from the beautiful white sandy beaches of Gulf Shores. You're welcome to use the "outdoor living room" as you please. This area includes a bar with rainwater catchment for washing hands/dishes, refrigerator, freezer, electric tea kettle, microwave, solar oven, complimentary coffee/tea station, 2 burner biogas stovetop with cooking equipment&utensils, games, aerial yoga silks, climbing wall, slackline, Iyengar yoga rope wall, trash/recycling, filtered alkaline drinking water and more! Feel free to use our laundry facilities, communal picnic basket, and complimentary condiments, seasonings, sauces, etc found in the door of the fridge. Attached to the lounge is our air conditioned ecobathroom with *hot* shower, bio toilet, and complimentary toiletries if you forget anything. A few notes on the property: Most people have never used an EcoToilet and don’t realize it takes some work. If you have children, you will very likely have to do this part for them. We keep the lounge area as clean as possible but at the end of the day it is an outdoor kitchen! Kitchenwares will have a layer of dust even if cleaned the day prior, so please give everything a rinse before you using! You may read about mosquitoes in some of our past reviews, but I am happy to share that we now have a monthly mosquito service in place that has mitigated that issue :) Learn more about this land: Our intention for this artist community is to bring like-minded people together and make the world a more beautiful place. It serves as our primary residence and also residence for seasonal workers&traveling artists when they come here. Every year we have the opportunity to employ about a dozen people to work with us during the tourist season, from March-October. Aside from our local employees, we also wanted to create a space that would allow for fellow travelers to join our crew. Beakertopia provides the possibility for friends from around the world to come live and work. Check out our website for more info ✨️

3. Bay Forest Retreat

96%

(362)

49mi from Gulf Shores · 7 sites · Tents, Lodging · Navarre, FL

Explore 11+ acres of rustic and untamed woods. We are a military veteran family who enjoys the land as a place for family and friends to explore, camp, and relax at the 250+ feet of the East Bay beach. We do not have WiFi, but we do have 5g service throughout the 11 acre property. Our camping sites DO NOT have electricity These are hike-in only campsites ☺️ Primitive camping is permitted at designated wooded high grounds in the middle of the property. It is a 5 and 10-minute rugged hike in to the middle ground respectively. The trail remains under development, so please bring close-toed shoes or boots for hiking throughout the property (depending on rainfall, there may be mud and water). We have two primitive campsites these campsites are first come first serve, they are not assigned when booking. Plesea see pictures. Our Glamper tent is a 10x12 canvas furnished full size bed with bedding, pillows and enough floor space for two sleeping bags. The tens are located off a short trial, but rugged 2-minute hike from the parking area. We provide the opportunity to go camping without having to pack the tent. Closed toed shoes are highly suggested as well as plenty of lighting with batteries or solar charging capability. This is a rugged, fun and serene camping experience. Locates justminutes from the Emerald Coast - 7 mins to Navarre Beach, - 30 mins to Pensacola Beach, - 15 mins to Naval Live Oaks, - 45 mins to Fort Pickens, - 50 mins to NAS Pensacola, - 45 mins to Santa Rosa Island, - 35 mins to Okaloosa Island, - 40 mins to Destin. Recommended local restaurants: St. Michael's Brewery which has rotating food trucks and is family friendly, Ye Olde Brothers Brewery, Dewey Destin’s, Andy D's on Navarre Beach, Stripe's Pub, Johnny Huston's, Windjammers, TC’s Front Porch, Deb’s Coffee, The Eatery food truck park, Top’s Burgers, and New York Pizza Depot. Other sightseeing in the area includes: Museums: National Naval Aviation Museum, Air Force Armament Museum, Fort Pickens, Indian Temple Mound Museum, Pensacola Museum of Art, Museum of Industry, and Destin History & Fishing Museum Additional activities include: Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center, HH Arts Gallery, Emerald Coast Science Center, Gulf Breeze Zoo, and Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park.

4. Murphy's Quiet Getaway

100%

(9)

26mi from Gulf Shores · 2 sites · Tents, RVs · Pensacola, FL

1 acre, fenced in backyard with drive through gate entrance, electric, water hook up, grill, and fire pit. Quiet Neighborhood 20 mins from Perdido Key, 30 mins from Pensacola Beach, 15 mins from Downtown. Great place to stay for Spring Break, Summer Vacation, Mardi Gras, or just the next stop on your travels.

5. Travel Downs RV Park

100%

(26)

23mi from Gulf Shores · 1 site · RV · Pensacola, FL

Private 2 acre property with 20x40 concrete pad with custom fire pit. Half of Property is cleared with woods surrounding it, gated entrance. Custom shed with washer/dryer, toilet, sink, shower and tankless water heater. Located 10min from perdido key beach’s and Johnson beach national seashore.

Stories from the community

M

Mike

2 weeks ago

Tent

2 nights at CampFire at the Riverbend

Great spots to tent camp along Styx River. It was very easy to reserve and Richard, the host was very responsive and super helpful. Will definitely book again!

It rained early our first morning, and by evening the ground was dry and all the burnable material was dry. There's no mud around camp, only sand and leaves.

C

Clark

November 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Bay Forest Retreat

The campground was beautiful! The facilities were clean and all trail paths were trimmed with no debris! They had plenty of fire would for sale and a cart to use to carry your camping gear into your site! The bridge was a little tricky to maneuver with your cart but after a couple trips we figured out how to make it work with the cart! Fortunately, we were the only campers in the primitive and glamper tent site but the 5 glamper and primitive sites seem too close together and would maybe be too much if all are fully booked and especially with all the open land they have that could be used to spread the sites out a little more so people have more privacy. The hosts were great and very attentive! Will certainly go back again soon!!!

My Brother didn’t tell me there was a pet Florida Gopher Turtle inside the yard until I was surprised by the turtle walking by in the morning. He said,” I thought you would wonder all night.

D

Daniel

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Murphy's Quiet Getaway

Very private. Where else can you have the whole camp to yourself? You park at the gate and go in to put your stuff on a table , running water, a plug in (we didn’t use). Put up your tent and relax in the chairs around the campfire.

E

Edward

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to CampFire at the Riverbend

Perfect camping spot and fantastic responses from Richard

J

Jean

October 2025

12 ft pop-up camper

Weekend Trip to Colorful Camping at Beakertopia✨️🌈

Host was very accommodating and quick to respond to any questions. Property with live oaks is beautiful. Quiet and colorful place.

Katie

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Bay Forest Retreat

This is my second time back and I had an even better experience the second time around! The beach was beautiful and a great spot to camp 🫶🏽🫶🏽 The instructions sent before my arrival were very thorough and helpful. The site is also very conveniently located to Navarre beach! Definitley coming back! 🤙🏽

L

Lauren

October 2025

Tent

With kids

7 nights at CampFire at the Riverbend

We loved our stay! Had a great time and hope to come back again in the future!!

R

Ryan

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Bay Forest Retreat

Exactly as advertised and I would go back to primitive camp again. Would possibly even do a yurt if it's in my camping budget for the time. Great for budget camper last minute camper looking for a quick imo, especially if a bigger spot is unavailable.

M

Matthew

September 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to CampFire at the Riverbend

The spot was absolutely perfect for camping, fire pit overlooking the winding River. The little cabin was essential for our dogs so we didn’t have to worry but I’d recommend an air mattress to put down. There were people tubing by all day so not total privacy but like I said, a perfect spot to camp out and unwind. Richard was very helpful in giving instructions. If you want more privacy I would recommend renting out both the cabin and the tent spot next to it. Would go back for sure

T

Tayler

September 2025

Tent

With pets

1 night at CampFire at the Riverbend

This is a beautiful spot with a sandy beach and crystal-clear, cool waters. At night there is great star-gazing and fireflies in the trees. A peaceful and private getaway. Richard responds quickly to messages and is very helpful! Will definitely be returning in the future and would highly recommend for nature lovers.

J

Jeff

August 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Bay Forest Retreat

I had an outstanding solo camping experience here. From fishing off the kayak in the bay to enjoying a gorgeous sunrise and sunset, it was everything I was looking for. The hosts were helpful and friendly during our brief interaction. Even though I only spent 1 day in those woods, it was memorable. And camp is only a short ride from a local brewery and civilization... If my travels ever bring me back around the area, I would definitely try to reserve a site here.

R

Ryan

August 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Colorful Camping at Beakertopia✨️🌈

The cutest little spot to camp!! I was only here briefly for a night, but I would absolutely go back if I’m in the area again.

M

Matthew

July 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Colorful Camping at Beakertopia✨️🌈

Camping under the oaks was beautiful. There is plenty of shade and it was extremely peaceful. There are plants and fruits trees that I'm excited to see how they've grown next time I'm back! Theounge was also very cool especially during 90+deg temps. +1 for the neat solar oven and +1 for the adorable dog.

s

shane

July 2025

15 ft travel trailer

With kids

5 nights at Travel Downs RV Park

We really enjoyed our stay at Kodys land, well maintained, climate controlled bath house with laundry and sink available. Full hook ups with a gated entrance. The site is very centrally located to anything you may want to do from beach activities to shopping and eating. Publix withing walking distance and Walmart and Target just a few miles down the road. There are tics so make sure and bring some repellent, helicopters do make frequent and repeated night touch and go I'm assuming training exercises but wasn't a bother we enjoyed it honestly. Kody was quick to respond with any questions we had. We look forward to staying again in the future.

Sara

July 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Bay Forest Retreat

Husband and I stayed from 7/4-7/7 with our 5 dogs after driving 9 1/2 hours. Besides the first night, no other campers were there. Pros- Owners (Hilary and Thomas) were wonderful, property is beautiful, sites are cozy, 2 kayaks (and life jackets) are available for use at the private beach on the bay. Cons- Cohost (Brooke) had to help another family camping that we had accidentally set up our stuff in their spot (no visibly marked site #’s), but was extremely rude to us about this, got in my husband’s face screaming and cursing at us, threatened to call the police (we weren’t being anything but compliant), then wouldn’t stop talking over us so we could explain the situation- all over a campsite mixup and us having our 5 dogs with us, which I had already disclosed in the reservation request that had been approved. It was obvious to us AND to the other family that she was drunk (probably coming from a 4th of July party) but I don’t care, she was horrible. Then another worker refused to allow us to BUY firewood from him when there wasn’t any available for the paying guests to buy, stating that he needed the wood to last him through winter… it’s July and we needed /maybe/ 2 bundles. We stayed in contact with the owners throughout our stay because, quite frankly, we were going to leave after the first night, but Hilary and Thomas’s willingness to help and communicate with us really to make us feel heard when the other 2 workers weren’t great really did make things better.

S

Shalina

July 2025

32 ft travel trailer

With kids

3 nights at Travel Downs RV Park

Had a great time this weekend at Travel Downs. Plenty of room for the kids and dog to roam, gated with fire pit. Best part was the seclusion and we cant for get the air conditioned bath house with washer and dryer. About 20min to the beach. Would definitely stay here again!