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.
Lakeside Cabins at Gulf State Park
I'm typing 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.
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Cabin Types
- Lakeside Two Bedroom Cabin (12)
- Accessible Lakeside Two Bedroom Cabin (3)
The park also offers 5 Parkside cabins a minute walk from the shoreline of Lake Shelby. They are up against the trees instead of the lake but on the same road.
All of the lakeside cabins are built against the shores of Lake Shelby. They are not the typical state park cabins you may have experienced in other parks.
The cabins are modern stilt houses with all of the amenities you need to never have to leave the cabin if you want to hide out in nature.
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.
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.
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
A bike share stand is set up on the Lakeside Cabin road, so you can check out a bike and easily hit the backcountry trails.
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.
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 - 2.3 miles
Pensacola International Airport - 37.6 miles
Mobile Regional Airport - 68.6 miles
Additional Gulf Shores Articles
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What's New in Gulf Shores - All of the fun new restaurants, shopping, and things to do in town.
Gulf Shores Restaurants on the Beach - The best restaurants in Gulf Shores for gorgeous water views! Enjoy waterfront views or marina views at these great restaurants.
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Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tours
These are some of our favorite tours available in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama.
Dolphin Tours - Book a dolphin cruise here
Check out our experiences on Hammock Time Tiki Tours, Explorer Dolphin Cruise, Southern Rose Dolphin cruise, Cruise OB (Orange Beach), Sail Wild Hearts, Sunset Sail and Dolphin Tour, and the Sunny Lady Dolphin Cruise.
Slingshot Rentals - Use code GULFJOURNEY To save 10% off a Slingshot Rental with Gulf Coast Rental Co in Orange Beach
Pontoon Boat Rentals - Enjoy cruising the waters of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach on a Pontoon. Check out the pontoon boats with slides for extra fun. Book your Boat Rental Here
Parasailing - Check out the epic views as you parasail in the Gulf of Mexico. Look for wildlife and you float high above the water. Book your Parasailing Trip Here
Jet Ski Rentals - Jet Ski Tours and rentals are a great way to explore the back bays of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Book your Jet Ski Rental Here
Click here to see all of the top rated tours and activities available in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.
Don't miss our other Gulf Coast destinations, including Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Dauphin Island, Fairhope, Fort Morgan, Foley, Mobile, Bayou La Batre, Alabama, and so many more!
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