Here are the best things to do in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach in May! The weather is warming up, and it is the perfect time to explore the Alabama Gulf Coast.
Things to do in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach in May
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
May Events in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach
There are so many great events for May 2026
May 1-2, 2026 Events, Festivals and Things to Do
- Friday May 1 - 2, 22nd Annual Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival, OWA
- Friday May 1 - 2 - Gulf Coast Classic Fly Fishing Festival, Learning Campus at Gulf State Park
- Friday May 1 - 3 - NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship, Gulf Place Beach
- Saturday May 2 - Kentucky Derby Day, Coastal
- Saturday May 2 - Given to Fly, The Pearl Jam Experience, OWA Theater
May 3 - 9, 2026 Events, Festivals and Things to Do
- Sunday May 3, 10 am - 2 pm, Orange Beach Pop-Up Farmers Market, Waterfront Park
- Tuesday May 5 - Cinco de Mayo
- Friday May 8 & Saturday May 9 - White Tie Rock Ensemble, Bohemian Stardust, OWA Theater
May 10 - 16, 2026 Events, Festivals and Things to Do
- Sunday May 10 - Mother's Day
- Friday May 15 & Saturday May 16 - Orange Beach Billfish Classic, The Wharf
- Saturday May 16, 830am - 1:30pm - Armed Forces Day Celebration, USS Alabama
- Saturday May 16 - Waterville USA Waterpark opens
- Saturday May 16 - Willie Nelson, The Wharf Amphitheater
May 17 - 23, 2026 Events, Festivals and Things to Do
- Mondy May 18 - The Village Lawn reopens, The Beach Club Resort
- Monday May 18, 5:30pm - 8 pm - Alabama Seafood Cookoff, The Wharf
- Saturday May 22 - Hardy, The Wharf Amphitheater
- Saturday May 22, 6-9pm - Spark into Summer, The Wharf
- Sunday May 23 - The Rocky Horror Picture (Summer) Show, with the shadow cast by the Mystic Society of Rocky Horror, OWA Theater
May 24 - 30, 2026 Events, Festivals and Things to Do
- Sunday May 24 - Godsmack, The Wharf Amphitheater
- Monday May 25 - Memorial Day
- Monday May 25 - Dave Matthews Band, The Wharf Amphitheater
- Monday May 25, 6pm - Memorial Day Concert with the Baldwin Pops, Henry George Park at Fairhope Pier
- Wednesday, May 27 - The Black Crowes and Whiskey Myers, The Wharf Amphitheater
- Thursday May 28, 6-9pm - Bubbles + Beats, The Wharf
- Friday, May 29 - Don Louis Returns, OWA Theater
- Saturday, May 30 - Bushwackers 51st Birthday Party, Flora Bama
- Saturday May 30 - Commedian Marvi Lee, OWA Theater
May 31, 2026 Events, Festivals and Things to Do
Additional May Events along the Gulf Coast
Blue Angels Practice
Dates - May 5, 6*, 12, 13*, 26, 27*
Location - Pensacola Naval Air Station
Gates open at 9:30 am
The Blue Angels are scheduled to take off at 10:30 am
The dates with a * includes an autograph day in the museum following the Blue Angels Practice.
Practices last approximately 55 minutes. There are open bleacher seats for 500 people. You can also rent a chair for $6 (there are limited quantities of chairs).
Please note that backpacks, daypacks, luggage, or similar items are NOT allowed on the flight line during Blue Angel practice air shows.
You will need to have your ID to enter onto the Naval Air Station. Public access to NAS Pensacola is available only from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. through the West Gate on Blue Angel Parkway.
Make sure to plan time to visit the National Naval Aviation Museum after practice.
May Things to do in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach
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.
Sunset Dolphin Sail
May is the perfect time to enjoy a sunset dolphin sail on the back bays of Orange Beach. This sailing tour leaves from the Wharf making it really easy to get to.
You can relax with a cold drink while watching dolphins frolicking nearby. As the sun goes down you can savor the warm weather and epic views from the sailboat.
This is one of our favorite date night activities on the water. It is so relaxing and the views are amazing.
Book your sunset dolphin sail here
Rent a Polaris Slingshot
Drive around town in style with a sleek three wheeled Slingshot! The perfect way to cruise the beach and enjoy the gorgeous weather!
Manual or automatic transmission vehicles are available. Rent for a day or the week.
Check out the Slingshot Rentals
Parasailing
See the beach and Gulf Coast from a new perspective! Why not try Parasailing while on your Gulf Coast Vacation.
You can Parasail in both Gulf Shores and Orange Beach! Check out these great Parasailing Options.
Rent a Pontoon Boat
Captain your own pontoon boat and enjoy the waters of Orange Beach! Grab your friends and family and plan a day out on the water.
Some of the pontoon boats have slides so you can slide right into the cool waters of the Gulf. Cruise the scenic Orange Beach islands of Bird Island, Robinson Island, and Rabbit Island.
Check out great Pontoon Boat Rentals
Orange Beach and Gulf Shores Weather in May
The weather in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach continues to warm up in May.
Gulf Shores and Orange Beach enjoy amazing Spring and early summer weather in May with temperatures ranging from 70 degrees to 85 degrees.
Daylight hours increase in May with the shortest day of the month is May 1, with 13 hours, 22 minutes of daylight and the longest day is May 31, with 13 hours, 58 minutes of daylight.
The earliest sunset is 7:28 PM on May 1, and the latest sunset is 19 minutes later at 7:47 PM on May 31.
The latest sunrise of the month in Gulf Shores is 6:07 AM on May 1 and the earliest sunrise is 17 minutes earlier at 5:49 AM on May 31.
Water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico continue to rise by 7 degrees. Going from 73°F to 80°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 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
Top breakfast restaurants in Gulf Shores - The best places to grab breakfast in Gulf Shores.
Donut Shops in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach - The best places to grab a doughnut!
Coffee Shops in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach - The best places to grab a cup of coffee, lattes, or tea in town.
Best Pizza in Gulf Shores - Check out all of the epic pizza in Gulf Shores.
Great Bars in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach - the best bars in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama, that we think have great drinks, a fun atmosphere, and live music.
Orange Beach and Gulf Shores Restaurants on the Beach - All of the epic places you can enjoy a meal with a gorgeous view!
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.
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