Bellingrath Gardens

Bellingrath Gardens in Theodore, Alabama, has 65 acres of year-round blooms, a twice-awarded Top Public Rose Garden, a tropical conservatory, historic home tour, and Magic Christmas in Lights every winter. 20 miles south of Mobile and worth every minute.

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Bellingrath Gardens

Sixty-five acres of gardens that bloom every single day of the year. That is not a marketing line; Bellingrath is genuinely designed so that something is always in season, no matter when you visit. Spring brings the azaleas that made the gardens famous. Summer and fall bring roses, chrysanthemums, and tropical plantings. Winter brings camellias.

The rose garden near the entrance was named the Top Public Rose Garden in the United States by All-America Rose Selections in both 1987 and 2004. It is circular in design. Bellingrath was a founding member of the Mobile Rotary Club, and the garden echoes the Rotary gearwheel. Beyond the rose garden, you move through the Conservatory, the Camellia Parterre, across a bridge over Mirror Lake and eventually to an observation deck overlooking the bayou.

The plants throughout the gardens will make you pause. The size of some of the plants that have been growing and tended here for decades is genuinely impressive.

When you pay for your entrance fee, they will give you a map of the gardens! Hold onto this map and take it with you!

While there are signs all over the gardens letting you know which direction to turn and what you are looking at, I found it incredibly helpful to be able to look at this map and see where I was in spatial reference to the entire garden.

It is a WALK to the end and back, and you are going to wonder how far you have gone and if you are close to a bathroom at some point.

There is a cell phone audio tour you can enjoy as you wander Bellingrath Gardens. This is a great way to learn more about specific parts of the garden.

The Conservatory

The Conservatory houses a wide range of tropical flowers and plants that are grown to a scale most people have never seen outside of a botanical garden. Walking through here is the moment you realize your houseplants have been underachieving.

The plants in the conservatory/greenhouse made me want to have a conversation with my plants and let them know they have not reached their potential.

Honestly, the size of the plants in the garden makes you pause for a minute and stand in awe. They do sell plants in the gift shop if you want to bring a few home that have been started by a clearly amazing gardener.

Historic Home Tour

The Bellingrath Home is a 15-room, 10,500 square foot English Renaissance mansion completed in 1935 and designed by prominent Mobile architect George B. Rogers. It sits at the center of the estate, about a 20-minute walk from the entrance. All of the original furnishings are still in place, including antique furniture, art, fine silver, and gold serving sets.

Home tours run on the hour with knowledgeable guides who cover the history of both the gardens and their remarkable founders. Last tickets for Home tours are sold at 3:30 PM during the regular season. Plan your walk through the gardens accordingly. If you want the noon tour, arrive at the gardens at least 15 to 20 minutes before noon to make the walk to the Home in time.

The Gardens Only admission and the Gardens and Home admission are two separate ticket prices. If you want to do the Home tour, make sure you select the right ticket when you buy.

The Mobile Area Multi Attraction Pass includes the National Maritime Museum along with Bellingrath Gardens, Bragg-Mitchell Museum, Dauphin Island Aquarium, Conde Charlotte Museum, Historic Blakely State Park, Historic Oakleigh House, the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, and more!

The Bayou Boardwalk

The Ecological Bayou Boardwalk takes you out over the water on the northern edge of the grounds for views of the bayou and the surrounding landscape. A different pace and perspective from the formal garden sections and a great spot for bird watching. The observation deck at the end overlooks the bayou and is worth the walk out.

Special Events

Magic Christmas in Lights - Bellingrath's annual holiday light display runs November 20 through January 9 (closed November 25, 26, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day) from 5 PM to 9 PM nightly.

It is consistently rated one of the best holiday light displays in the entire South. Last tickets sold at 9 PM. Last Home tour tickets during this event sold at 8 PM. Book early for popular weekend dates.

Gulf Coast Chinese Lantern Festival - Runs April 16 through June 21, 2026 on Thursday through Sunday evenings from 5 PM to 10 PM, including Memorial Day.

An evening event separate from daytime garden admission. During this event, last daytime Home tour tickets are sold at 2 PM and last daytime garden admission tickets at 3 PM.

Check the events calendar for current programming, adult workshops, and special seasonal events throughout the year.

Magnolia Café and Gift Shop

The Magnolia Café on-site is a good stop mid-visit. There is also a hydration station there for refilling water bottles. The gift shop carries plants that have been started by the Bellingrath gardening team. If you want to bring a little of the conservatory home, this is the place. The Garden Center on the grounds is also worth a look for plant enthusiasts.

Why you will love Bellingrath Gardens

• 65 acres of gardens with blooms every day of the year
• Rose garden named Top Public Rose Garden in the US twice
• Conservatory and tropical plantings that will make you rethink your houseplants
• Ecological Bayou Boardwalk with bayou views and bird watching
• Historic 15-room Home tour with all original furnishings in place
• Magic Christmas in Lights - one of the best holiday displays in the South
• Gulf Coast Chinese Lantern Festival evenings April through June
• Free cell phone audio tour as you walk
• Map provided at entrance - keep it with you
• Plants for sale in the gift shop started by the Bellingrath gardeners
• Open year-round, 8 AM to 5 PM daily
• Military discount on Mondays (25% off general admission with valid ID)

The Mobile Area Multi Attraction Pass includes the National Maritime Museum along with Bellingrath Gardens, Bragg-Mitchell Museum, Dauphin Island Aquarium, Conde Charlotte Museum, Historic Blakely State Park, Historic Oakleigh House, the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, and more!

Things to know when planning a visit to Bellingrath Gardens

Address - 12401 Bellingrath Gardens Road, Theodore, Alabama 36582 (located approximately 20 miles south of Mobile)

Phone - (251) 973-2217

Hours - Open daily 8 AM to 5 PM. Last Garden admission tickets sold at 4 PM. Last Home tour tickets sold at 3:30 PM. Closed New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

Accessibility - Bellingrath is mobility accessible with ramps, automatic doors, accessible restrooms, seating areas for wheelchair users, wheelchairs available on site, and designated accessible parking spaces.

Plus Size Seating - Benches and seating areas are available throughout the gardens.

Dress Code/Suggestions - Casual and comfortable. Wear comfortable walking shoes - you will cover significant ground. Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and a refillable water bottle. There is a hydration station at the Magnolia Café.

Pets - Pets are not permitted. Only ADA service dogs are allowed.

Parking  - There is a large parking lot at the entrance.

Mobile Restaurants and Attractions nearby

USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park - The most visited attraction in Mobile and one of the best military museums on the Gulf Coast.

New in Mobile Alabama - New restaurants, attractions, and things to do in Mobile updated regularly.

Callaghan's Irish Social Club - A Mobile institution worth knowing about.

Nova Espresso - Great coffee in Mobile for your morning start.

Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel - Our top hotel pick in Mobile, great base for exploring the city and day trips to Bellingrath.

USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park - A full day experience with the USS Alabama, USS Drum submarine, and aircraft exhibits. One of the best attractions in Mobile.

National Maritime Museum of the Gulf - A great Mobile waterfront museum.

Exploreum Science Center - Hands-on science and exploration right in downtown Mobile.

Mobile History Museum - Covers the full sweep of Mobile's history from French colonial days forward.

Colonial Fort Condé - A reconstructed 18th century French fort in downtown Mobile with free admission.

Perdido Queen - A riverboat cruise along the Mobile waterfront.

Mobile Mardi Gras - Mobile actually invented Mardi Gras before New Orleans. Worth knowing about if you are visiting in season.

Mobile Tours

3 Day Mobile City Attraction Pass - Visit some of the top attractions in Mobile with this great attraction pass. Find out more here

USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park - pre-purchase your entrance tickets to the USS Alabama here

Downtown Mobile Food Tour- Join an amazing food tour of Mobile's LoDa neighborhood with stops at some truly fantastic local restaurants. Book your tour here

Mobile Ghost Tour - An expert local guide will take you through the historic district of Mobile learning about the spine-chilling stories of spirits and the cities past. Book your tour here

Mobile Smartphone guided walking tour - Learn more about the historic of Mobile and the iconic attractions of downtown Mobile from this great walking tour app you can do at your own pace. Download the tour here