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Best Campgrounds near Orange Beach, AL

760 Reviews

Orange Beach, Alabama features several developed campground options along the Gulf Coast, providing access to pristine beaches and inland water features. Gulf State Park Campground serves as the primary camping destination, offering nearly 500 sites with full hookups for RVs, tent camping areas, and cabin accommodations. The park connects to extensive biking trails and beach access points across its 6,000+ acres. Nearby alternatives include Fort Pickens Campground in the Gulf Islands National Seashore and private RV resorts such as Pandion Ridge Luxury RV Resort and Island Retreat RV Park, which cater to different camping preferences with varying amenity levels.

Campground reservations are essential, particularly during peak seasons from March through October when Gulf Shores and Orange Beach experience high tourism traffic. A recent review noted, "Gulf State Park is the one by which all other parks in the region are to be compared. Good luck trying to book a site. Takes a pro, or a bot or something. It's rightfully popular." Most campgrounds in the area offer full hookups, though tent camping options are more limited. Weather considerations include intense summer heat and humidity from June through September, with milder temperatures in spring and fall making these seasons more comfortable for camping. Hurricane season (June-November) can affect camping plans, with occasional park closures for storm preparation or recovery.

The Gulf State Park campground provides substantial infrastructure including paved bike paths, beach access, and a swimming pool. Campers frequently highlight the park's connectivity to natural areas. According to one visitor, "They have biking trails throughout the park - and boardwalks to go over to the beach! If you aren't camping you can pay to just bike!" Many campsites offer water views, whether along canals, bays, or lakes within the park system. Several reviews mention the spaciousness of sites at Gulf State Park compared to other coastal campgrounds. For those seeking quieter experiences, Big Lagoon State Park across the Florida state line offers a more secluded camping environment while still providing beach access. Cell service is generally reliable throughout the region's campgrounds, allowing for remote work while camping.

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Best Camping Sites Near Orange Beach, Alabama (138)

    1. Gulf State Park Campground

    102 Reviews
    Orange Beach, AL
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (251) 948-7275

    "Kids love the splash pad Bigs sites Food trucks Site store Boat ramps Nice pool Access to the beach And between gulf shores and orange beach. Conveniently located to everything"

    "They have biking trails throughout the park - and boardwalks to go over to the beach! If you aren’t camping you can pay to just bike!"

    2. Big Lagoon State Park Campground

    46 Reviews
    Perdido Key, FL
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (850) 492-1595

    $20 / night

    "Bathhouses clean and close to most campsites. Plenty of walking trails. Love the Bird tower and kayak launch. Sandbar near launch to hangout when paddling."

    "Nice secluded campground with easy access to the beach and surrounding forms of entertainment. Awesome area to walk, hike, and ride bikes. Nice clean bathrooms/shower houses (3)."

    3. Fort Pickens Campground — Gulf Islands National Seashore

    98 Reviews
    Gulf Breeze, FL
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (850) 934-2622

    $20 - $40 / night

    "Best step above primitive camping while allowing for close to nature setting. Short walk to water, good coastal fishing, Ft Pickens historical site to visit, etc. Not long drive to town."

    "But other than that the showers / bathrooms are close by & clean, you can take a short walk to watch the sunrise & sunset .."

    4. Gulf Shores-Pensacola West KOA

    20 Reviews
    Lillian, AL
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (251) 961-1717

    "We loved walking to the waterfront. My son enjoyed the basketball court. My kids loved the pool. It was quiet at night."

    "Guy next to us threatened to beat his dog with a pipe at like 2am. A truck, big diesel started at 5 and ran for 30 minutes. People walking all hours of the night. Dogs barking continuously."

    5. Island Retreat RV Park

    13 Reviews
    Gulf Shores, AL
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (251) 967-1666

    $64 - $79 / night

    "A nice base camp to explore Gulf Shores that is located near one of the boat launches, the bike path, restaurants, and beaches."

    "The parking pads were large and level, but there wasn't much space around the site. "

    6. Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp Resort - Alabama Gulf Coast

    12 Reviews
    Elberta, AL
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (251) 986-3566

    "It is located in Elberta Al. The sites are gravel and dirt but they are level and very spacious. Great for RVs and large rigs."

    "Enjoy taking the grandkids to Jellystone campground in Elberta, Alabama. "

    7. Sun Outdoors Orange Beach

    9 Reviews
    Orange Beach, AL
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 978-2080

    "This was our first visit to the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area and Pandion did not disappoint during our stay. Sites are huge."

    "Close to beach(not on the beach). Close to restaurants and shopping. Lake is well stocked with big bass. Adjoins bike trails of Gulf State Park."

    8. Blue Angel Park

    11 Reviews
    Lillian, FL
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (850) 390-6133

    $7 - $75 / night

    "There is a walking trail and a flat place to ride a bike. Hope to return soon."

    "We did some paddle-boarding and walked trails. There is so much more we want to do, like play volleyball, mini golf, go kayaking, and ride bikes. It was quiet at quiet time, no problems."

    9. Perdido Key RV Resort

    9 Reviews
    Perdido Key, FL
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (850) 492-7304

    "This RV park is tucked under the overpass and situated across from a golf course and next to a neighborhood."

    "The park is very dog friendly they provide poop bags for clean up it has a little beach next to the marina just a little bit of road noise from the bridge that crosses onto Perdido Key."

    10. Luxury RV Resort

    7 Reviews
    Orange Beach, AL
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (251) 948-5444

    $84 - $110 / night

    "Walking distance to the beach, dining, shopping AND connected by a path through the woods to Gulf Shores State Park."

    "Although pricey this campground is worth it because it’s kept immaculate with beautiful trees surrounding it and is so close to the beach."

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Recent Camping Photos near Orange Beach, AL

117 Photos of 138 Orange Beach Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Orange Beach, AL

760 Reviews of 138 Orange Beach Campgrounds

  • m
    Aug. 18, 2025

    Pelican Palms RV Park

    Great site

    this is an RV park and is quiet and accommodating, the WiFi works well, had laundry facilities and mailbox to have your mail sent to , cannot complain

  • Bobbie S.
    Aug. 5, 2025

    Avalon Landing RV Park

    Absolutely Amazing Stay

    I have stayed many places and this is by far my favorite! We stopped over for one night on our way home from Texas. As soon as my husband backed the camper in, I asked if we could stay two nights. So glad we did! Breathtaking views and we were able to fish behind our camper. You're so close to all the "action" without hearing or having to be part of it. They have a boat ramp, rent fishing poles & kayaks, swimming pool, club house, bathrooms, laundry room and a wonderful covered deck/outside area. The office staff were absolutely wonderful. Hope to stay here again ❤️

  • Amy L.
    Jul. 23, 2025

    Mystic Springs Recreation Area

    Remote Primitive and Wild

    Pros: Covered tent sites (we tent camped) portapottys, free for up to a week, boat launch, spaced out sites (pretty private). Has picnic tables, fire pits, and grills. Cons: Sites flood, lots of gaters (if you have small pets this is sketchy), gets a little busy on the weekends with the boaters, it's reaallllly far from the next town but there's a gas station 15mins away. Get gas before you go back to camp. It's beautiful and clean. About 45mins to pcola

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 26, 2025

    Emerald Beach RV Park

    Great Place

    My wife and I and my two furry friends(dogs) give Emerald RV Park a Five Star rating. We thought we had lost our little Yorkie in the park somewhere or she even left the park. We set out on a frantic search for her. I am riding my bike, and my wife is on foot yelling out her name. I go into the park office and tell them what has happened, and a member of the park staff puts out an immediate bulletin by text message to all current registered guests to look for her. I could not believe the immediate help we had from other RVers that came out to help search for the dog. Making a long story short, we found the dog in maybe 20 minutes in good health. We are so thankful for the help of the residents of the park and especially the staff at Emerald RV Park. We may add that the park is well kept and very dog friendly. It has all the facilities (in working order) needed for a long stay. The staff are friendly and especially helpful in unusual circumstances as we experienced. Thank you to the staff at Emeral RV Park.

    From Lake Nebagamon WI

  • Wendee W.
    Jun. 25, 2025

    Gulf Shores-Pensacola West KOA

    Older but nice

    The sites are a combination of dirt and grass. Ours is level enough no problems there. WiFi is okay they publish that it doesn’t work for streaming but it worked fairly well for our TV. We would stay here again for the price in comparison to other RV parks close by.

  • madison M.
    Jun. 18, 2025

    Bay Breeze RV on the Bay

    Love it!

    Small, homey campground! Clean bath houses, lots of shady trees, and plenty of parking! The campground sits a max of 75 yards from the bay (depending on where your camper sits). A long peer leads out to the water making a beautiful sitting and fishing spot. The boat ramp is right beside the peer! The beach is a short drive down the road!

  • Jenny The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 8, 2025

    Sugar Sands RV Resort

    Nice place w/pool & fitness

    We camped here a couple days in our way to FL. The campground was great, they could stand to have a few more tall trees for just a little more shade - it got a bit hot being about 5 miles north of the beach.

Guide to Orange Beach

Camping spots near Orange Beach, Alabama offer access to both Gulf beaches and inland waterways across Florida and Alabama state lines. The area's diverse habitats include coastal wetlands, maritime forests, and dune systems supporting wildlife like osprey and alligators. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with high humidity, while spring and fall provide more comfortable camping conditions in the 70-80°F range.

What to do

**Wildlife spotting: Be attentive around wetlands for unexpected animal encounters. At Gulf State Park Campground, campers might spot alligators. "Went hiking along the trails and found 3 baby gators hanging out!" notes Paul G. The park's extensive trail system connects to diverse ecosystems.

**Fishing opportunities: Many campgrounds offer dedicated fishing areas. Fort Pickens Campground provides shoreline access with mixed results. "The shallow waters in the bay are great for surf fishing and kayaking and there are many access points," reports one visitor. Many campers bring their own equipment, though some areas sell bait and tackle.

**Historical exploration: Fort Pickens offers military history alongside beach camping. "We walked about 30 minutes to the old fort. There is a book store in the old fort," mentions Deborah C. The preserved fortifications date to the 1800s and include ranger-led tours during certain seasons.

What campers like

**Waterfront sites: Some parks offer premium waterfront locations. At Blue Angel Park, waterfront tent sites provide excellent views. "We camped in hammocks and used the tent platform for our canopy to cover our food and gear. The view was beautiful to wake up to in the morning," says Kathy. These sites often cost $5-10 more than standard sites.

**Clean facilities: Many campers appreciate well-maintained bathhouses. The Island Retreat RV Park receives consistent praise for cleanliness. "Amazingly clean restrooms with nice showers and full hook-ups. The front office even had ice cream parties and scavenger hunts for kiddos!" reports Eric S. Most parks clean facilities daily.

**Connectivity: Parks in this region generally offer reliable WiFi and cell service. "The WiFi was okay they publish that it doesn't work for streaming but it worked fairly well for our TV," notes Wendee W. at Gulf Shores-Pensacola West KOA. Signal strength varies throughout campgrounds, with better reception typically near camp stores or offices.

What you should know

**Storm considerations: Hurricane season impacts can extend beyond direct hits. After Hurricane Sally, one camper at Big Lagoon State Park noted, "Covid and Hurricane Sally messed up our plans but we were so thankful our reservation wasn't cancelled." Parks may close with little notice for storm preparation.

**Site restrictions: Some campgrounds have specific equipment requirements. "We have a pop up and was able to complete their easy online reservation without knowing we actually didn't make the cut ('only full RV style, less than 15 years old, etc')," explains Coartney Z. about Luxury RV Resort. Always read campground policies before booking.

**Insects: Bug activity increases dramatically during warmer months. "There were noticeably more bugs -- specifically termites and what we think were deer flies in May. It was pretty bad and they would swarm at certain times of the day," warns Meghan S. about Big Lagoon State Park. Bring insect repellent with DEET for maximum effectiveness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is tent camping allowed on Orange Beach, AL?

Tent camping is not allowed directly on Orange Beach's public beaches, but there are tent camping options nearby. Gulf State Park Campground offers tent camping sites with convenient beach access via boardwalks, along with amenities like biking trails, a pool, and laundry facilities. The Outpost Campsites — Gulf State Park provides a more primitive tent camping experience, with sites accessible via a 1.1-mile walk on the Cotton Bayou Trail. These locations give tent campers easy access to Orange Beach while providing proper camping facilities.

What campgrounds are available in Orange Beach, Alabama?

Orange Beach offers several excellent campground options. Sun Outdoors Orange Beach features spacious RV sites with ample parking and modern amenities. Bay Breeze RV on the Bay is a small 25-site campground located right on the bay with clean facilities and friendly staff, close to great restaurants. Other nearby options include Blue Heron Escape RV Resort in Foley (about 6 miles from Orange Beach) and Alabama Coast Campground, which offers full hookup pull-through sites in a natural environment with spacious layouts.

What camping is available near Orange Beach, AL?

According to TheDyrt.com, Orange Beach, AL offers a wide range of camping options, with 138 campgrounds and RV parks near Orange Beach, AL and 1 free dispersed camping spot.

Which is the most popular campground near Orange Beach, AL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Orange Beach, AL is Gulf State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 102 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Orange Beach, AL?

According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Orange Beach, AL.

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