Lakeside Cabins - Gulf State Park

Lakeside Cabins in Gulf State Park are the perfect getaway for families, couples, or anyone looking to enjoy the Alabama Gulf Coast while surrounded by nature.

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Lakeside Cabins at Gulf State Park

I'm writing this while sitting on the screened porch of Lakeside Cabin #17 in Gulf State Park. Birds are chirping all around me, the lake is glimmering in the sunshine, and I am completely relaxed.

After one night in a lakeside cabin I am wondering why we didn't book a longer trip. Waking up to the sun rising over Lake Shelby was unbelievable.

We crawled out of bed and wandered over to the pier to watch the sunrise while the Purple Martins and other birds chirped away. The pelicans were splashing into Lake Shelby as we stood in awe of the bird sounds and gorgeous views.

Sitting on the screened-in porch, you feel miles away from the hustle of spring break, traffic, and stress. Even knowing that we are minutes away from the beach, it feels like a secluded bubble of nature.

Cabin Types

There are three cabin options available at the Lakeside and Parkside area of Gulf State Park:

Lakeside Two Bedroom Cabin (12 available) Located directly along the shoreline of Lake Shelby. One king bedroom, one queen bedroom, a bunkroom, and two bathrooms. Living room, fully equipped kitchen, and screened-in front porch. Laundry room, Wi-Fi, satellite TV, BBQ grill, picnic table, and fire pit. Bed linens and eight bath towels provided. Sleeps up to 7 comfortably with the bunkroom.

Accessible Lakeside Two Bedroom Cabin (3 available) Built for accessibility with a ramp instead of stairs. Magnificent Lake Shelby views. One king bedroom, one queen bedroom, and two bathrooms with roll-in showers. Living room with queen sleeper sofa, fully equipped kitchen with pull-down cabinet shelving and top-load microwave, and laundry room. Private picnic area with BBQ grill, picnic table, and fire pit. Bed linens and eight bath towels provided.

Parkside Two Bedroom Cabin (5 available) Tucked against the tree line with a one-minute walk to the shore of Lake Shelby. One king bedroom, one queen bedroom, a bunkroom, queen sleeper sofa in the living room, and a kitchen. Front porch, laundry room, Wi-Fi, satellite TV, BBQ grill, picnic table, and fire pit. Bed linens and eight bath towels provided.

Check cabin availability and book your stay here.

Inside the Cabin

There are stairs leading up to the cabin unless you book an accessible cabin with a ramp. The stairs lead up to a screened-in porch with a table and chairs, a fan overhead, and a light, perfect for relaxing with dinner or a glass of wine and a view of the water.

Inside the cabin you will find a comfortable living room with a couch and chairs, coffee table and flat screen tv. The open concept room leads into the fully stocked kitchen.

The kitchen has a complete set of dishes, a microwave, a stove, a dishwasher, and a fridge/freezer, so you can cook a gourmet meal or heat a frozen pizza or microwave meal.

If you don't feel like cooking, don't worry. There are plenty of Gulf Shores Restaurants right down the street. Gulf State Park has Woodside, Foodcraft, and Perch in the park.

The cabin has two bedrooms and a fantastic bunk room. When I read the online description,

I wasn't sure what a bunk room would be like, but it is a kid's dream come true.

The bunk room has a set of bunk beds, a flat-screen TV, and a sliding barn door, creating a sanctuary for kids to enjoy.

The primary suite has a private bathroom with a walk-in shower. The king bed is firm but comfortable, with lots of pillows. A nice-sized flat-screen TV is above the bed, so you can relax in bed with your favorite shows.

The second bedroom is at the front of the cabin. It has a comfortable bed, closet, and attached bathroom that is shared with the bunkroom.

This is the perfect cabin for a Gulf Coast family vacation.

Book your Gulf State Park Cabin stay here.

Fire Pit and Stargazing

One of our favorite amenities at the Lakeside Cabin is the fire ring in the cabin's backyard.

We brought our camp chairs and a camp table with us so we could enjoy an epic fire by the lake.

You can request firewood bundles from the park for an additional fee. It is so worth it! We spent hours sitting by the lake with the fire going enjoying smores, watching the moon, and staring in awe at all of the stars and constellations we could see.

I really want to learn astrophotography now so we can book another stay and take pictures of the night sky. As we relaxed by the fire, we watched the constellation Orion move through the sky.

This may have been the first time we have slowed down enough to realize how much the stars had moved while we were relaxing.

We finally had to drag ourselves to bed so we didn't fall asleep outside next to the fire.

Birdwatching at the Lakeside Cabins

After a great night's sleep, we woke up to sunrise over Lake Shelby and hundreds of bird calls. I turned on the Merlin App, and it picked up a ton of birds, including Purple Martins, eastern Bluebirds, Yellow-rumped warblers, Tufted Titmouses, White-eyed vireos, and more.

In 10 minutes, my phone picked up more than 20 bird calls surrounding the Lakeside Cabin. It is a birders dream come true!

Book your Gulf State Park Cabin stay here.

Lakeside Cabin Amenities

• Laundry Room (downstairs in a separate area)
• Wi-Fi - Really fast
• Satellite Television
• BBQ Grill
• Picnic Table
• Fire Pit
• Bed linen and bath towels
• Kitchen (Stove, microwave, refrigerator, coffee maker, toaster, plates, cups, pots and pans, utensils)
• Comfortable living room space

Lakeside Cabin Amenities

One of the best amenities at the Lakeside Cabins is waking up in Gulf State Park. You are steps away from the trails, right on Lake Shelby, and can easily reach the beach via your own car or the park shuttle bus.

Bike Trails and Bike Share

A bike share stand is set up right on the Lakeside Cabin road so you can check out a complimentary bike and hit the 28 miles of Gulf State Park backcountry trails without driving anywhere. The trails wind through multiple Gulf Coast ecosystems - dunes, forests, freshwater lakes, marshes, and more. One of the best ways to spend a morning at the park.

Park Shuttle

One really cool amenity within the park is the Gulf State Park shuttle. You can park at your cabin and have a driver take you to the beach pavilion, Lodge at Gulf State Park, Woodside restaurant, or the nature center and pool.

The shuttle is operated throughout the day and does a running loop through the park.

Outdoor Pool

The parking pass for the Lakeside Cabins gives you access to the campground area with an outdoor pool.

The outdoor pool is fantastic and great for anyone who doesn't want to swim in the Gulf.

Why You Will Love the Lakeside Cabins at Gulf State Park

• Waking up to sunrise over Lake Shelby is something you will not forget
• Modern stilt house design with all the comforts of home and none of the noise
• Bunkroom with sliding barn door - a kid's dream come true (specific cabins)
• Screened-in porch with lake views for morning coffee and evening wine
• Fire pit right on the lake for s'mores and stargazing that will keep you up past your bedtime
• Over 20 bird species picked up by the Merlin App in 10 minutes from the porch
• Complimentary bike share access to 28 miles of Gulf State Park trails
• Gulf State Park shuttle to the beach, Lodge, and Woodside Restaurant
• Campground outdoor pool access
• Complimentary beach pavilion parking
• Pet-friendly with a fee - pets under 50 pounds welcome
• Accessible cabin option with ramp, roll-in shower, pull-down cabinet shelving, and queen sleeper sofa
• Minutes from the Gulf of Mexico beach and all of Gulf Shores
• Woodside Restaurant, Foodcraft, and Perch all accessible inside the park

Things to know when planning your stay in a Lakeside Cabin at Gulf State Park

Reservations - Book your Gulf State Park Cabin stay here.

Hotel Address - Cabin check-in is located across from the Gulf State Park administrative offices near the front of the park. There is a small cabin with easy parking just for cabin guests.

You will need to check in at the cabin to get the gate code to enter the cabin area, along with the cabin key and door code.

Check-in Time - 4 pm

Check-Out Time - 11 am

Minimum check-in age -

Pets - Pets under 50 pounds can join you at the Lakeside Cabin. There is a non-refundable, pet fee of $175.00 plus tax. When outside the cabins pets must be on a leash.

Smoking - The cabins are non-smoking

Parking - Reservation includes waived parking at the Gulf State Park Beach Pavillion for easy access to the beach.

Distance from nearby airports:

• Gulf Shores International Airport (JKA/GUF) - approximately 2.3 miles, about 5-7 minutes
• Pensacola International Airport (PNS) - approximately 37.6 miles, about 50-60 minutes
• Mobile Regional Airport (MOB) - approximately 68.6 miles, about 1 hour 20 minutes

Book your Lakeside Cabin at Gulf State Park here.

Nearby Gulf Shores Restaurants and Attractions

Inside Gulf State Park

Woodside Restaurant - Great food, live music, fun backyard games, and a menu inspired by the park's trail names. Accessible by the park shuttle from the cabin area. The Armadillo Trail Biscuits and Gravy and Beach Mouse Trail breakfast sandwich are exactly as fun as they sound.

Foodcraft - Our go-to breakfast buffet when we have friends in town. Epic Gulf views, fresh seasonal ingredients, and a menu that works for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Perch - Elevated dinner above Foodcraft with Gulf of Mexico views, fresh seafood, premium steaks, and handcrafted cocktails. Dinner only. Reservations recommended.

Gulf State Park - 6,150 acres of Gulf Coast wilderness with 28 miles of trails, Lake Shelby, the Nature Center, Learning Campus, Interpretive Center, and 2.5 miles of beach. The new Executive Campground is coming to the park in 2026 on the former golf course site.

The Lodge at Gulf State Park - The full-service Hilton hotel inside the park with a brand new infinity pool, Roasted Oak coffee and wine bar, and the best chai tea at the beach.

Near the Park

Sea N Suds - A Gulf Shores family tradition for fresh seafood right on the sugar-white sand beach. A short drive from the cabins.

Pink Pony Pub - Beachfront bar with great drinks and a waterfront porch right in Gulf Shores.

The Hangout Gulf Shores - Live music, foam parties, award-winning wings, and Gulf seafood right on the beach.

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo - Amazing animal encounters including lemurs, kangaroos, giraffe feeding, and sloths. A great family activity minutes from the park.

Island Pancake House - Build-your-own pancakes and great breakfast options with Gulf views.

Book your Lakeside Cabin stay here.

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