2 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Gulf State Park Campground provides safari tent and luxury canvas glamping accommodations on Alabama's coastal paradise, all with full hookups and climate control features. Located in Orange Beach with easy access to sandy Gulf beaches, these premium accommodations offer a perfect blend of outdoor beauty and indoor comfort. According to a camper, "Great park with many bike trails and a shuttle to the beach. Lots to do in the area." Each glamping structure includes comfortable mattresses with quality linens, electrical outlets for charging devices, and a private outdoor space with seating. The campground's glamping options surpass traditional camping with furnished interiors, mood lighting, and some units featuring private bathrooms or outdoor shower facilities nearby.
Miles of scenic biking trails wind through Gulf State Park, connecting glamping accommodations to natural attractions and pristine beaches. The park boasts a heated swimming pool, pickle ball courts, and a nature center with educational programs about local wildlife. One visitor noted, "We have full hookups, wifi, activity center with pool, tennis courts, horseshoes and volleyball. Great hiking and biking trails." Glamping guests can explore boardwalk trails that lead directly to white sand beaches or paddle along the natural lakes where alligators can sometimes be spotted. The park restaurant provides convenient dining options with outdoor fire pits and occasional entertainment. Glamping reservations are highly sought after, with many visitors recommending booking well in advance, especially during peak seasons when the luxury outdoor stays fill quickly.
"PROS Quiet
Minimal streetlights
Site 435 level
Asphalt parking pad is extended as an area for the picnic table
Pedestal BBQ in good condition and free of ash upon arrival
Moveable metal and"
"But, we could see the lake across the road, and we were really close to the air conditioned bath house/restrooms, and within a short walk from the swimming pool, nature center, lily pond, camp store, air"
Available next weekend
"There are water and electric hookups snd a dump station in all but D loop. Bathrooms and showers. Every site is just a short walk to the beach."
"Gorgeous white sand beaches a short walk from the campground. Clean, great hot showers, level asphalt pads, water and electric, dump station on site."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 - $40 / night
"Dog friendly park that is away from the major city hubs, nothing but the beach is walkable. Our site was level with a grill, fire pit, picnic table and a wooden deck."
"We had an issue with the electrical that we couldn’t figure out, but one of the campground workers was very nice and tried to help us figure out the issue. We loved walking to the waterfront."
"Campsites have a fire pit, so we made s’mores. They have a store with everything we needed, which was really nice. The staff was great and accommodating. And bonus - you can earn Yogi points!"
"Enjoy taking the grandkids to Jellystone campground in Elberta, Alabama. "
"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."
"Electric, water with Dump Station. Very friendly staff. Quiet. Great area for long dog walks in the woods. We are repeat customers. 😎"
from $7 - $75 / night
"Staff was very friendly, campground was very clean. Very close to some great restaurants, we ate at De Sotos and some the very best crab claws I’ve ever had. Close to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach."
"This was the closest thing I have found to a camping experience near the Gulf of America. Most RV parks in this region are sterile asphalt and concrete, but Bay Breeze is different."
from $59 - $76 / night
"Beautiful area, with great biking and hiking trails. Very close to the beach and shopping. The sites are mostly very good size and there are lots of sites to choose from!!"
"They have a few trails here, and you can also go boating, kayaking, canoeing, bike riding, and birdwatching."
"**This park is in the middle of the delta, giving easy access to the water and lovely views. Trails are short but the boardwalk connecting the two parts of the park is incredible."
Available next weekend
"There are two wooden platforms for beds. A twin and a queen, and barstools to sit inside and look out into the woods, over the hill in which they are nestled."
"There's a lot of cool Civil War history to witness, as well as a beautiful walking path/deck along the bay."
"The retreat offers several amenities including showers, laundromat, and gas grills. There are even bouncy houses and playgrounds for the kids."
"Ice on site always a plus."
from $20 - $150 / night
ScoutIt has camper spots or rents campers that are already hooked up with cable there is a swimming hole a little further down the road pretty nice people own it not far from bellingrath gardens, the bayou and dauphin island is only 20 mins away. It's a little drive to a store
ScoutI rarely leave negative reviews, but this experience was incredibly disappointing. I reserved a specific campsite many months in advance for my birthday. Before arriving, I even received an email confirming that exact site. When I checked in, I was told they had given my reserved site to someone else and moved me to a different spot. The whole reason I booked so far in advance was to secure that particular location, so this completely defeated the purpose of planning ahead. What made the situation even worse was how it was handled. The manager never apologized or acknowledged the mistake. Instead, I was met with an attitude that made it seem like my frustration wasn’t justified. A sincere apology and some accountability would have gone a long way. To“make it right,” they offered a 20% discount, which honestly felt insulting given that they failed to honor a confirmed reservation on a special occasion. It wasn’t about the money—it was about keeping their commitment and treating customers with respect when they make a mistake. Unfortunately, what should have been a memorable birthday started with disappointment because of the park’s poor reservation management and lack of customer service. I hope they improve their processes and, more importantly, learn how to take responsibility when they let their guests down.
ScoutGreat campground, quick walk to the quiet beach, good bathrooms and laundry facilities
GuideWe have stayed at Gulf State Park several times. This is a busy campground with full amenities. It has level paved sites. There are some primitive sites with a little more privacy for tent camping. Its a bit expensive but has full hookups, a pool, laundromat, boat launch, nature center and tons of walking trails. Several sites are near the lakes and creeks. This is NOT on the beach but your pass gets you free parking at the Gulf State Park beach and the Pier which are both minutes from the campground.
TravelerWe recently stayed at Splash RV Resort at site 83 and had a great experience overall. Our site was excellent, featuring a decent little yard, and it was almost perfectly level—only about a half-inch off from left to right across the width of our camper. There was also plenty of room to park our F-450 right in front. The resort's location is perfect for day trips to the nearby beaches, and the roads inside the park are great with very easy access from the highway. (Note: There isn't much shopping nearby besides a Dollar General, so come prepared!) The facilities here are absolutely amazing. The bathhouses and laundry rooms are honestly resort-quality. We also ordered the cinnamon rolls a day in advance, and they were incredible. The resort app works flawlessly—we used it to request a propane refill, a fire pit, and firewood, and the service was incredibly fast every time. Almost all of the employees were super awesome and friendly. The only negative interaction we had was with the older lady working at the camp store. She constantly hounded us multiple times about not wearing our wristbands. Given that the resort has a gate code, gated security, and guest lists, the aggressive monitoring felt like overkill—especially since I personally cannot sleep with things on my wrists. To make this place a true 10/10, I have a few suggestions for management: 1 The Pizza: While the other poolside food was surprisingly good, the pizza was a letdown. It was a typical frozen, "waterpark-style" reheated pizza that cost $20. For that price point, the resort should definitely choose a higher-quality option. 2 Pool Sun Shades: Currently, the sun shades are over the shallow section of the adults-only pool. These really should be moved over the children’s section (at least on one side). Kids are much more sensitive to the sun and it’s always a struggle to get them out of the water to reapply sunscreen. 3 The Fitness Center: It was pretty pathetic and could definitely use a functional trainer or better equipment to match the quality of the rest of the resort. Overall, it’s a beautiful place to stay with top-tier amenities, and we would definitely come back!
TravelerWonderful quiet spot, great for tent camping, a lot of shade!
TravelerThis was our first outing with a new camper and glad we chose this location. Bad battery some mechanical issues but the location made it easier to fix and enjoy the weekend. Auto parts, grocery store, and Walmart is only a short drive away. Park itself inside was quite enjoyable. Bath houses were clean a variety of tasks can be done in the park which include Beach swimming, hiking, disc golf, and various parks for children. Highly recommended
TravelerThis campground is huge and adding 200 more campsites in 2026 for class A campers in their prior golf course.
Nice amenities! Bring bikes if you have them to enjoy the many trails and boardwalks. There are several hiking trails though a couple need to be maintained.
There are 8 primitive sites with more tree coverage than other areas. Surprisingly there is no water for washing dishes but there are areas for fish cleaning in the community areas. 🤷♀️ If they don’t provide water in the sites they should at least have a community dish washing station.
The bathrooms are newer and decently clean (though no soap for a week in the one we utilized). The showers are hot and there is a dry space for items and changing.
We enjoyed our week here and would come back if we were camping with friends.
TravelerThe lady on the gate was very helpful both on the phone and in person. Once I found the drive through site I found it very relaxing albeit with barely any cell signal (TMobile) Will definitely be back!
Gulf State Park sits just north of Orange Beach along Alabama's Gulf Coast, positioned where pine forests meet coastal dunes at 10-15 feet above sea level. This area receives over 60 inches of annual rainfall, creating lush vegetation but also requiring campers to prepare for humidity and occasional sudden afternoon thunderstorms. Camping options extend beyond the main campground with alternative glamping near Orange Beach, Alabama available at smaller private parks.
Beach access from camp: Gulf Shores-Pensacola West KOA offers proximity to beaches without being directly on the shore. As one visitor noted, "Nice place to camp close to beaches and lots of things to do. Everyone was very friendly and the place was clean."
Wildlife spotting: Search for alligators and other native species along the trails at Gulf State Park Campground. "Went hiking along the trails and found 3 baby gators hanging out! Had a few good tent spots and lots of RV spots. Just watch out where you swim!" explains one camper who visited specifically for wildlife.
Civil War history exploration: Blakeley State Park Campground combines outdoor recreation with historical sites. "When you think Alabama this is the kind of beauty you imagine. The water, huge oak and cypress trees, Spanish moss, boardwalks are all lovely to explore. The Civil War history is interesting and the rangers are well-versed in history," shares one visitor.
River recreation: The Retreat RV & Campground offers water activities on the Styx River. "The grounds are very beautiful and there are many places that you can walk around the campground. The river bank is gorgeous and we even spent a dinner out next to the river," reports one camper.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Fort Pickens Campground provides natural settings for animal observation. A visitor described: "We heard coyotes at a distance which was amazing... Loved seeing the horses on the trails and the easy bikes for our 5 and 7 year old."
Waterfront locations: Bay Breeze RV on the Bay offers direct water access. "This was the closest thing I have found to a camping experience near the Gulf of America. Most RV parks in this region are sterile asphalt and concrete, but Bay Breeze is different. The sites are located under massive oak trees with Spanish moss hanging from the limbs."
Military recreation facilities: Blue Angel Park provides unique amenities not found at other campgrounds. "There's absolutely everything you need right here! They have tent spots, cabins, rv spots, sail boat rentals, paint ball, frisbee golf, and anything else you could want!"
Kid-friendly activities: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park offers structured entertainment for families. One camper shared: "We had a lot of fun. The kids loved all of the Saturday activities. Campsites have a fire pit, so we made s'mores."
Ant issues: Multiple campers report problems with ants at various sites. At Gulf State Park, one camper warned: "Beware of the ants!!!!!! The whole campground is infested with stinging ants. There are ant piles all over the campsites. I was stung really bad after accidentally getting near an ant hill."
Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds require additional equipment for comfortable setup. At The Retreat RV & Campground, a camper advised: "Make sure you bring leveling blocks, some of the sites are fairly level while other are not. Our site sloped down towards the river and we needed extra blocks to place under our tires and stabilizers."
Seasonal crowds: Many parks fill quickly during peak times. A camper at Fort Pickens recommended: "Reservations can be made online (and should be made early if you plan on coming during the busy spring and summer seasons)."
Road closures: Some parks experience access issues during weather events. "It is best to check the park's website before your visit because sometimes they have to close the road to the campground due to sand and water on the roads," warned a Fort Pickens visitor.
Look for educational programs: Parks with nature centers provide learning opportunities. At Meaher State Park Campground, families can explore "trails that are short but the boardwalk connecting the two parts of the park is incredible."
Check for water features: Pools and splash pads are popular with children. At Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park, one visitor mentioned: "3 year old loved the splash pad, pool and seeing Yogi bear make an appearance."
Consider proximity to attractions: Some parks offer convenient access to family activities. Gulf Shores-Pensacola West KOA is "a short drive down the road" to beaches and other attractions, making day trips manageable with children.
Look for fishing opportunities: Many kids enjoy fishing at accessible locations. At Blue Angel Park, one parent shared: "My daughter even caught her first big ole catfish right off the boat launch!"
Check site size carefully: Some parks have tight spaces that challenge larger rigs. At The Retreat, one RVer warned: "Our camper is 35 feet travel trailer, and it was quiet tight getting into our spot, and it will be for most current spots, we would not have been able to park where we were had there been a camper next to us."
Confirm power requirements: Don't assume all sites meet your needs. A Retreat camper noted: "The campground website currently that all electric campsites are 50amp which they are not, if you need a 50amp site you will have to call the office to ensure you can secure one."
Consider interior roads: Navigation within some parks can be challenging. A Gulf Shores-Pensacola West KOA visitor observed: "There is an entrance and an exit on opposite ends of the park - the exit is a bit tight and my husband was nervous to pull the camper that way."
Research dump station conditions: Some facilities may present challenges. At The Retreat, one RVer reported: "Their dump station was terribly unlevel and we had many issues dumping our tanks."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Orange Beach, AL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Orange Beach, AL is Gulf State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 109 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Orange Beach, AL?
TheDyrt.com has all 23 glamping camping locations near Orange Beach, AL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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