The Lodge at Gulf State Park

The Lodge at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores is one of the most unique hotels on the Alabama Gulf Coast. It is a full-service resort built on the principles of sustainable tourism, tucked inside 6,150 acres of Gulf State Park with 2.5 miles of beach access, on-site dining options, a new coast-facing infinity pool, complimentary bikes, and interpretive programming

TL;DR Don't have time to read the full article? Here are my top finds:
🏨Hotels and Vacation Rentals
📍Tours
✨What's New in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach

The Lodge at Gulf State Park

One of the really cool things about staying here is the commitment to sustainability that goes into every corner of the property. The Lodge holds LEED Gold, SITES Platinum, and FORTIFIED Commercial certifications.

I highly suggest reading the interpretive panels spread throughout the property, they explain how every design decision ties back to ecotourism principles and it changes how you look at the building around you.

Room Types

There are 350 guest rooms at the Gulf State Park Lodge. Half of the rooms have Gulf of Mexico views from a private balcony, while the others look out towards Lake Shelby and Gulf State Park.

Guest Room options:

• Rooms with private balconies available across all configurations
• One King Bed
• Two Queen Beds
• One King Bed with a Bunk Bed
• Two Bunk Beds

Suite options

• Junior Suites
• Two-Room Suites
• Meeting Suites

Accessible rooms

The Lodge has a full range of accessible room options including hearing accessible and mobility accessible rooms with roll-in showers, accessible bathtubs, audio and strobe alarms, doorbells, and telephones. Specific accessible room types include:

• Hearing accessible one king and one bunk bed Gulf front balcony studio
• Hearing accessible one king bed
• Hearing Accessible one king bed 2 room Gulf Front balcony suite
• Hearing accessible one king and one bunk bed Gulf Front Balcony
• Mobility accessible one king bed and a Gulf front balcony with roll-in shower
• Mobility accessible one king 2 room Gulf Front balcony suite with roll-in shower
• Mobility accessible one king and one bunk bed Gulf Front Balcony with mobility access tub
• Mobility accessible two bunk bed Gulf Front Balcony with mobility access tub.

Check room availability and book your stay here.

Room Amenities

• Coffee maker
• Hair dryer
• Small refrigerator
• Iron and ironing board
• Small safes (will fit a small laptop)
• 50" flat screen tv HDTV
• Air conditioning
• Private bathroom
• Eco-friendly bath amenities from BeeKind Products (Shampoo, conditioner, shower gel)
• There were 2 bottles of water available in our room for purchase.

We stayed in a King Room with a balcony view of the Gulf of Mexico. One thing to know is the beds are firm.

The shower was a great walk in shower with room to move around. There is quite a bit of storage in the room so you can easily bring your beach accessories if you want them.

The room had a couple of chairs that were great for getting ready.

If you plan to stay in a balcony room one thing to know is the Adirondack chairs are low, low, low to the ground!

If you have any mobility restrictions they may be hard to get in and out of. There is a communal balcony with higher chair options in the middle of the building.

We tend to bring our camp chairs with us that we know are comfortable but it does take some maneuvering to get them to fit with the size of the balcony.

Hotel Amenities

The entire family will love all of the amenities at The Lodge at Gulf State Park. This full-service hotel has something for all ages.

The hotel facilities are gorgeous and so well maintained! I am always amazed at the views from the lobby.

• New coast-facing outdoor infinity pool - NOW OPEN - with lounging chairs, large umbrellas, pool games, and poolside bar
• 24-hour fitness center
• 2.5 miles of Gulf State Park beach access
• Complimentary bike rentals through the bike share program - 28 miles of trails in Gulf State Park
• Beach chair and umbrella rentals through Ike's Rentals (third-party - two chairs and umbrella)
• Complimentary free Wi-Fi for all guests
• Water bottle filling stations near elevators and meeting rooms
• On-site dining options - Perch, Foodcraft, Roasted Oak, Dragonfly Bar and Grill, Barnacle Bills Beach & Pool Bar, Woodside Restaurant accessible by shuttle inside Gulf State Park
• 24-hour front desk
• Over 40,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space
• Gulf State Park tram service
• EV charging stations in the self-parking area
• Shop on property for Lodge merchandise and gifts

I find myself looking around the hotel and lobby at the coastal decorations, wondering how we can fit them into our house.

The outside terrace right off of the lobby is one of my favorite places on the entire property. Grab a coffee/tea or glass of wine from The Roasted Oak and you can savor the epic water views from the back terrace.

There is over 40,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space at the Lodge. I have been to a few events and conferences at the lodge and they were amazing.

Make a Lodge at Gulf State Park Reservation HERE

Outdoor Pool

One of my favorite things about the outdoor pool at The Lodge is knowing that the pool water comes from the HVAC Systems.

The HVAC systems collect and recycle condensation which is used to replace the water in the pool. How cool is that!

Towels are available near the pool.

New Outdoor Infinity Pool

The Lodge's major pool upgrade is NOW OPEN as of 2026. The new coast-facing infinity pool is open year-round and dramatically expanded the pool size and lounging area from the original setup. The view from the new pool looking out toward the Gulf is one of the best pool views on the Alabama Gulf Coast.

Onsite Restaurants/Bar

If you are looking for a unique dining experience you will love these in-house restaurants available at Gulf State Park Lodge.

Perch - Located above Foodcraft on the 2nd floor with epic views of the Gulf of Mexico you will find elevated food and cocktails at Perch. Fresh seafood, premium steaks, and handcrafted cocktails await you.

FoodCraft - We absolutely LOVE FoodCraft! This is our go to breakfast buffet when we have friends in town. The breakfast buffet is honestly delicious. Truly every meal is fantastic and the views are spectacular.

Roasted Oak (Coffee and Wine Bar) - You can get the best of two worlds at Roasted Oak. In the morning grab an amazing coffee or tea drink. Including one of the best chai teas I have had at the beach. In the evening, grab a glass of wine and enjoy sunset over the beach.

The Dragonfly Bar & Grill - Casual dining and refreshing beverages by the pool.

Barnacle Bill's - A new addition to the Lodge's diningoptions serving drinks by the new infinity pool.

Woodside Restaurant - Located inside Gulf State Park and accessible by shuttle from the Lodge. Great food, live music, and fun backyard games in a setting that feels completely removed from the resort world. Worth the short trip.

Exercise Room/Gym

The fitness center has elliptical machines, stationary bike, Peloton bike, treadmills, free weights and machines weights. It is open 24 hours

Gulf State Park Activities

Staying at the Lodge gives you direct access to 6,150 acres of Gulf State Park and 2.5 miles of beach. Here is what is available:

• 2.5 miles of pristine Gulf beach access
• 28 miles of hiking and biking trails - complimentary bikes from the Lodge bike share program (you can also rent e-bikes, manual bikes, and e-trikes and 20" kids bike rentals that can be used to explore the park trails.)
• Lake Shelby - freshwater fishing, and you can rent paddle boards, single kayaks, or double kayaks and cruise around Lake Shelby!
• Nature Center at Gulf State Park
• Learning Campus and Interpretive Center
• Segway Tours

Sustainability and Ecotourism

The Lodge is a leader in sustainable tourism and holds three major certifications - LEED Gold, SITES Platinum, and FORTIFIED Commercial. Here are a few of the highlights:

• 15% of building materials are recycled
• 70 to 75% of construction waste was recycled
• 32% reduction in energy use by design
• 35% reduction in water usage compared to a typical hotel
• Energy efficient lighting and motion sensors throughout
• Native species landscaping around the property requiring no irrigation, chemical pesticides, or fertilizers
• Pool water sourced from HVAC condensation recycling
• Interpretive panels throughout the property explaining sustainability practices

When you stay at the Lodge you are supporting a property that has built environmental responsibility into every operational decision.

Why you will enjoy staying at the Lodge at Gulf State Park

• NEW coast-facing infinity pool now open with poolside bar, lounge chairs, and pool games
• 2.5 miles of pristine Gulf State Park beach access
• Five on-site dining options including Perch for elevated dinner and Foodcraft for the best breakfast buffet on the Alabama Gulf Coast
• Complimentary bike rentals with access to 28 miles of Gulf State Park trails
• 350 rooms with Gulf views or Lake Shelby views available
• Full range of accessible rooms including hearing and mobility accessible options
• LEED Gold, SITES Platinum, and FORTIFIED Commercial certified
• 24-hour fitness center with Peloton
• Roasted Oak coffee and wine bar - great chai tea and perfect for sunset wine on the terrace
• 40,000-plus square feet of meeting and event space
• Ecotourism programming and interpretive panels throughout the property
• EV charging stations in the self-parking area

Things to know when planning your stay

Make sure to bring your photo identification and credit card for checking into the hotel.

Reservations - Book your hotel stay here.

Hotel Address - 21196 East Beach Blvd., Gulf Shores, Al 36542
United States

Check-in Time - 4 pm

Check-Out Time - 11 am

Minimum check-in age - 25

Pets - Pets are not allowed at this hotel. The Lodge is not pet-friendly, with the exception of service animals

Smoking - The Lodge is a smoke-free facility

Parking -  There is a parking fee at The Lodge at Gulf State Park. Self-parking is $12 per day and valet parking is $22 per day. You will need to let them know which parking option you want when checking in.

EV Charging - Four electric vehicle charging stations are located in the self-parking area

Distance from nearest airport to the Lodge at Gulf State Park a Hilton Hotel

• Gulf Shores International Airport (JKA/GUF) - approximately 5.3 miles, about 10-12 minutes
• Pensacola International Airport (PNS) - approximately 37 miles, about 50-60 minutes
• Mobile Regional Airport (MOB) - approximately 48 miles, about 1 hour

Beach Gear, Baby Gear, Slingshot Rentals Discount Code

Our readers get a 10% discount with Gulf Coast Rental Co. by using code GULFJOURNEY when you set up a beach gear, baby gear, Polaris Slingshot, Jeep, Golf Cart, or Boat Rental.

Gulf Coast Rental Co. offers free delivery to your condo or vacation rental with a minimum rental amount. Rental gear options include:

• Baby Rentals - Baby Beach Packages, Baby Day to Day gear (crib, high chair, video baby monitor, bouncer, and pack n play), Baby tent for the beach, baby gates, car steats, booster seats, jogging strollers, bed rail sets, and more.
• Beach Gear Rentals - Beach packages (beach cart, chairs, beach table, beach mat, a cooler, and umbrella), Water sports & game package (beach umbrella, backpack beach chairs, beach table, boogie boards, skim board, bocce ball, inflatable paddle board, life jacket), pool party packages (Yeti flip cooler, pool loungers, noodles, water hammock, ring toss), sports ball package.
• Polaris Slingshot Rentals - Manual or Automatic transmission
• Jeep Rentals - 4 door Jeep Wrangler rental
• Bronco Rentals - 4 Door Ford Bronco rental
• Boat Rentals - Pontoon Boat Rentals

Make sure to use code GULFJOURNEY to save 10% off your rentals.

Gulf Shores Restaurants and Attractions Nearby

Sea N Suds - A Gulf Shores family tradition for fresh seafood right on the sugar-white sand beach. The view from the deck is one of the best in Gulf Shores. A short drive down East Beach Boulevard from the Lodge.

Pink Pony Pub - Epic views from the beachfront porch, great drinks, and a beloved Gulf Shores atmosphere. A short drive down the beach.

The Hangout Gulf Shores - Live music, foam parties, award-winning wings, and Gulf seafood right on the beach at Gulf Shores Public Beach. A fun family or group stop.

Island Pancake House - A great breakfast option a short drive from the Lodge with Gulf views and a menu full of build-your-own pancakes and great omelettes.

Gulf Shores Diner - Classic diner breakfast starting at 6 AM with affordable prices and great comfort food. A local favorite for an early morning start before hitting the trails or the beach.

Additional Gulf Shores Articles

The Lodge at Gulf State Park is located near popular points of interest in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama!

Gulf Shores Public Beach - Check out the world-famous white sands of Gulf Shores at our favorite public beach.

Gulf State Park Fishing Pier - Currently closed. When open the pier is a fantastic place to watch for sharks, fish, and enjoy epic sunrise and sunset views.

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo - Check out all of the amazing animal encounters and fun!

Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge - Another great bird-watching spot just down the road.

Wade Ward Nature Park - Located across the street from the restaurant is a great elevated boardwalk over marsh lands. Great for walking a little before or after you enjoy Papa Rocco's.