Things to do in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach in April

April Things to Do

April is a fantastic month to explore the Gulf Coast! The weather is lovely, attractions are open and ready for visitors, and there are so many great tours to enjoy.

Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Dolphin Cruises

We are blessed to live in an area with an amazing Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin population. One of our favorite day dates is to book a tour to see our local dolphins.

You can also book an amazing sunset cruise. Sail through the back bays, enjoy great music, a cocktail, and, hopefully, lots of dolphins.

Here are a few of the dolphin tours we have done so you can see photos and video of what to expect.

Cruise OB - We were amazed at how many dolphin we saw leaping from the water on this dolphin tour. Book HERE

Explorer Dolphin Boat - This is a great option for families. The boat is one level with easy bench seating. Book this dolphin cruise here 

Southern Rose Dolphin Tour - They guarantee you will see dolphins on your tour. Book this dolphin cruise here

Hammock Time Tiki Tours - You can talk with Captain Glenn and set up a private dolphin tour for the family.

Sunny Lady Dolphin Cruise - Leaves from the Wharf making it a really easy cruise to hop on. They have a two story boat with indoor and outdoor seating. Book this dolphin cruise here

Sail Wild Hearts - Enjoy a gorgeous sailboat tour while looking for dolphins.

Check out additional dolphin cruises here.

There are also private charter boats available if you want to set up a family dolphin tour on a private boat.

 Orange Beach and Gulf Shores Weather in April

 The weather in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach continues to warm up in April.

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach enjoy amazing Spring weather in April with temperatures ranging from 62 degrees to 83 degrees.

Daylight hours increase in April with the shortest day of the month on April 1, with 12 hours, 31 minutes of daylight and the longest day is April 30, with 13 hours, 20 minutes of daylight.

The latest sunrise of the month in Gulf Shores is 6:39 AM on April 1 and the earliest sunrise is 31 minutes earlier at 6:07 AM on April 30

The earliest sunset is 7:10 PM on March 1 and the latest sunset is 18 minutes later at 7:22 PM on March 31.

Water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico continue to rise by 6 degrees. Going from 67°F to 73°F, over the course of the month.

Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Lodging

If you are visiting and need to book accommodations, here are our recommendations. We have personally stayed at each of these lodging options (except Margaritaville, coming 2027!):

Use code GULFJOURNEY at checkout with Spectrum Resorts and Beachball Properties and Lucky Bird Vacations for an exclusive discount!

🏖️ Beachball Properties - Vacation houses and condos throughout Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Use Code GULFJOURNEY for a discount. Book with Beachball Properties

🏖️ The Beach Club Resort and Spa (Fort Morgan) - Beachfront condos with amazing amenities, a spa, and the incredible Coast Restaurant on-site. Use Code GULFJOURNEY for a discount with Spectrum Resorts. Book The Beach Club

🏖️ Turquoise Place (Orange Beach) - Our favorite resort in the area! Luxury amenities, epic Gulf-front views, and stunning condos. Truly unforgettable. Use Code GULFJOURNEY for a discount with Spectrum Resorts. Book Turquoise Place

🏨 The Tides Hotel (Orange Beach) - Gorgeous beachfront hotel with a great breakfast buffet, outdoor pool, and top-notch customer service. Book The Tides

🏨 Island House Hotel (Orange Beach) - Right on the beach with epic views from every room. Book Island House

⛺ Timberline Glamping (Orange Beach) - Stay in an amazing glamping tent with a private bathroom, right next to Gulf State Park. Book Timberline

🏨 The Lodge at Gulf State Park - Beachfront Hilton hotel in Gulf State Park offering epic views, sustainable practices, and great on-site restaurants. Book The Lodge

🏨 Springhill Suites Orange Beach - Located next to The Wharf with a gorgeous pool. Perfect location for shopping and dining. Book Springhill Suites

🔜 Margaritaville Resort Orange Beach (Coming 2027) - The highly anticipated Margaritaville resort is coming to Orange Beach! The first phase opens in 2027 and will include beachfront cottages, bungalows, condos, pickleball courts, and an entertainment district.

The map below shows the current hotels and vacation rentals available in the area. You can select the dates you are visiting to see current availability.

Additional Gulf Coast Travel Guides

Things to do in Gulf Shores/Orange Beach when it Rains - Don't let a little rain ruin your trip to the Gulf Coast! These activities are perfect for rainy days.

Things to do in Foley, AL - Don't miss all of the fun to be had in nearby Foley including the amazing Homes Medical Museum and the Railroad Museum.

Things to do in Fairhope, AL - The top things to do in Fairhope, Alabama, include attractions, dining, sunset, wildlife, nature preserves, and so much more!

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo - They offer amazing animal encounters (Lemurs, Kangaroos, Giraffe Feeding, and Sloths)! This little zoo is packed with fun. They have a great petting zoo area with goats, donkeys, and more.

Gulf Shores & Orange Beach restaurants with a view - Check out all of the great restaurants that have epic water views.

What's New in Foley, AL - Check out the new restaurants, attractions, things to do, events, and more in town

Looking ahead make sure to check out our January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December Guides to 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!

We also have articles on the Emerald Coast of Florida, including Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Pensacola Beach, Navarre Beach, Panama City Beach, Perdido Key, Pensacola, and more.

Keep an eye out for articles on the Gulf Coast of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and Florida!

Check out our Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok pages for more great ideas for the Gulf Coast.