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Where to go
Gulf State Park
Encompassing 6,150 acres of land, Gulf State Park is an ideal beach experience for any camper. Two miles of sandy beaches make way for swimming, sunbathing, and picnics. Move inland to Lake Shelby, a 900-acre freshwater lake, for boating, water skiing, canoeing, and kayaking. One of the true gems of the park is Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail, a trail system comprising over 28 miles of paved paths for both hiking and cycling. The park’s campground has 496 campsites for tents and RVs with full hookups, modern bathhouses, back-in and pull-through sites, as well as 11 primitive campsites and three glamping campsites.
Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge
Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge is one of the last remaining areas of undisturbed coastal barrier habitat in the state. The refuge’s diverse landscape includes 7,000 acres of beach dunes, scrub forest, swamps, and marshes. It’s home to over 370 species of migratory songbirds, and the park’s beaches are important nesting sites for loggerhead, green, and Kemp’s ridley sea turtles. Staff and volunteers offer regular dune hikes, bird walks, and night prowls. Camping is not allowed within the refuge to maintain habitats, but campers can stay in nearby private RV parks and cottage rentals.
Big Lagoon State Park
A short drive west across the Alabama-Florida border is Big Lagoon State Park. Enjoy the beach along Florida’s Big Lagoon before kayaking along Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail, a 1,515-mile sea kayaking path that goes around the entire state of Florida. Or, hike or bike the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, a network of sites that showcases wildlife native to Florida. The park’s 75 designated campsites are equipped with 30/50 electrical hookups, picnic tables, and fire rings, along with nearby dump stations and full-service restrooms.
When to go
Summer tends to be the busiest time of year in Ocean Beach as crowds rush to enjoy the sand, surf, and nearby state parks. July is the hottest month with an average high of 89°F. Campers looking for smaller crowds can visit in fall. Although winter is considered the offseason, low precipitation and temperate weather makes Orange Beach a solid, year-round destination.