Gulf Shores hotels

Gulf State Park is the crown jewel of Alabama’s beaches, where over 24 miles of biking trails wind past pristine lakes and tranquil bays. If you’re looking for full immersion in the park’s wilderness – with a stunning oceanfront view to go with it – The Lodge at Gulf State Park is one of the best hotels in Gulf Shores.

I love taking one of the lodge’s free rental bikes and exploring the park. Even if I’m in town for a beach vacation or Hangout Festival, getting out in the woods means each day starts on a healthy, grounded note.

The guestrooms at the hotel are equally calming, decked out in light woods and beachy hues that feel a little more authentic than the surrounding condo towers. The on-site restaurants are also some of the finest in Gulf Shores, and Perch serves up the area’s most inventive seafood dishes.

In Gulf Shores, a lot of the lodging options are condo beach rentals, leaving the selection of hotels right on the beach in short supply. Among the best hotels in Gulf Shores proper, the top oceanfront pick is this Best Western, where balconies hang right above the sand and rooms offer front row seats to sunrise and sunset.

I’ve actually spent more time at the hotel’s restaurant, The Island Pancake House, than I have in the rooms. And if you’re staying here, the restaurant needs to be your daily breakfast hangout. It’s a tiki-inspired spot with panoramic Gulf views, and it makes for a fun place to start every day with a big plate of bacon and sausage by the water.

The biggest and largest full-scale beach resort in Orange Beach is the Perdido Beach Resort, spanning two towers with a glittering lagoon pool in between. It’s about 15 minutes by car from Gulf Shores, and an easy drive to everything. It’s also a short hop over to the Flora-Bama, the state line saloon that’s one of the great roadside bars in America.

PBR, as it’s locally known, offers six on-site restaurants, so you can opt for coffee at Coastal Coffee Company in the morning, poolside burgers for lunch, then fresh seafood at Voyagers for dinner.

This is one of the best hotels in Gulf Shores for a watersports trip. It’s a short walk to the largest marina in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, and you can book excursions like sunset sails, charter boats and parasailing through the hotel.

The closest thing to a boutique hotel in Gulf Shores is the trendy Hotel Indigo. It’s less than 10 minutes by car from Gulf Shores and right across the street from the beach. Since crossing the highway can be dicey, the Indigo offers a free shuttle to the beach, so you won’t have to walk all the way to the nearest crosswalk with your beach gear in hand.

I like this hotel because it has a more unique design than most of the national brands along the coast, making it one of the best hotels in Gulf Shores for those looking for something a little different. It has the aura of a luxury beach resort in a small-scale hotel.

The outdoor pool is nice to lounge beside if you’re not up for dealing with sand. And if it’s raining, you can get some laps in at the indoor pool as well.

There’s no Ritz Carlton or Four Seasons in Gulf Shores or Orange Beach, but those looking for fancy hotels in Gulf Shores should take a long look at The Tides. It may be a Best Western, but the guestrooms here are pure oceanfront luxury, larger-than-average spaces with floor-to-ceiling windows that look straight out over the Gulf of Mexico.

About 15 minutes by car from Gulf Shores, The Tides plays to its strengths, and as soon as you step off the elevator in the fourth-floor lobby you’re immediately greeted by a direct view of the water. It’s one of the best hotels in Gulf Shores because it’s the cleanest, most modern feeling of the beach hotels, offering art-inspired decor.

I try to make a point of spending at least one happy hour at the on-site bar, whose massive windows let you enjoy the sunset in air-conditioned comfort, cocktail in hand.

Of all the Hampton Inns I’ve ever visited, this one is by the far most memorable. Located right on the Gulf of Mexico on Orange Beach, it’s one of the best hotels in Gulf Shores for location. The guestrooms here are pleasingly spacious, with big desks and living rooms with light wood floors.

Go for a room with either an ocean or partial ocean view, and your chain hotel room all of a sudden feels like your own little beach house. That’s why this place is always in high demand.

It's about 10 minutes from the main strip in Gulf Shores, and walkable to a lot of stuff in Orange Beach. The hotel has private beach access too, so you can easily pop back up to your room for a nap, shower, or to refill your cooler.

This big, arcing white beach resort is almost an icon along the Alabama shore. It reminds me slightly of the Fontainebleau in Miami, the way its curved design offers so many rooms with water views. Guestrooms have private balconies, which bring an added sense of adventure because you can look down in any direction and see who else is out enjoying the fresh air.

It’s less than 10 minutes by car to the popular Hangout restaurant, and still ranks among the best hotels in Gulf Shores. It’s a DoubleTree, so obviously my favorite part of staying here is the chocolate chip cookies you get during check in. I try not to think about the calories when I’m laying by the pool, which is so close to the sand it feels almost like an extension of the beach.

Like so many of the budget hotels in Gulf Shores, this Holiday Inn Express exceeds all expectations. It looks nothing like any Holiday Inn Express you’ve stayed in before, a colorful, balcony-filled hotel with a massive pool deck perfect for lounging in the sun. The rooms are pretty basic, but the location is so perfect, staying inside feels like a waste of time anyway.

The pool deck will surprise you too. It sits right across a small boardwalk from the sand, and despite the absence of a bar, still feels like a beachfront resort. You’ll even see the odd wedding taking place – definitely the only time I’ve seen that at a Holiday Inn Express. When it comes to a low-key, cool suggestion for the best hotels in Gulf Shores, this is always the place I recommend.

The Beach Club is Gulf Shores’ most complete resort, where you can stay in a condo towering above the Gulf of Mexico or a cozy beach cottage on a private lake. It’s quiet and secluded, set several miles west of the main drag down Highway 180 towards Fort Morgan.

I book this place when I want a beach vacation that’s totally secluded, where I can get anything I want on property and totally disappear from the world. It's as close to staying in a Gulf Shores beach condo as you’ll find, with the amenities of a full-service hotel.

You’ll get a full kitchen in both the condos and cottages, and while the on-site restaurants are pretty good, it’s definitely worth stocking up on some essentials before you check in. There’s also a private tennis club, beach club, and other sports only open to guests.

This Hampton Inn is a short drive north of the beach on Gulf Shores Parkway. Because it’s not right on the shore, you’ll find rooms markedly more affordable, with no drop off in quality, making this one of the best hotels in Gulf Shores for those traveling on a budget.

The drive to the beach is only about five to 10 minutes, depending on traffic, and it’s very convenient if you’re planning to visit the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, the Wharf at Orange Beach, and other area attractions.

It's a Hampton Inn, so you know what you’re getting here. Nothing remarkable but the rooms are large and the breakfast is always worth getting up for. And because it’s cheaper than staying by the beach, I’ll go for this hotel as a money-saving play if I want a quick weekend in Gulf Shores when prices are high.