Day Trippin' › Alabama › From Gulf Shores
From Gulf Shores, Gulf State Park and the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo are under 10 minutes away, Bon Secour about 10, OWA about 25, Perdido Key under half an hour, Weeks Bay about 35, and Fairhope and the National Naval Aviation Museum under an hour. The best day trips from Gulf Shores, by drive time.
77 places within a 3-hour drive, by real roads.
Wildlife · 33 min northwest
A free nature center with live animals and boardwalks through marsh, forest and a pitcher plant bog where Fish River meets Weeks Bay.
Small town · 47 min northwest
A walkable bayside town full of shops, flowers and cafes, with a municipal pier, rose garden and beach park at the end of Fairhope Avenue.
State park · 56 min north
A small park on the Mobile-Tensaw Delta with a long fishing pier and a boardwalk over the wetlands. Great sunset views over the bay.
Beach · 29 min east
A quiet barrier island beach with tall dunes and boardwalks, much less crowded than Pensacola Beach.
Museum · 56 min east
Over a hundred historic Navy and Marine aircraft under one roof, from early biplanes to jets. One of the best free museums in the South.
State park · 37 min east
Salt marsh, boardwalks and a tall observation tower over Big Lagoon and Perdido Key. Calm shallow water for paddling and wading.
Historic site · 57 min west
A Civil War era fort on the east end of Dauphin Island with cannons, a blacksmith shop and views across the mouth of Mobile Bay.
Wildlife · 56 min west
A 164-acre maritime forest, marsh and dune preserve with trails and a boardwalk to Gaillard Lake. One of the best spots in the state for spring bird migration.
Small town · 1 hr 52 min west
Artsy, walkable downtown under live oaks, with galleries, cafes and shops. One of the best small towns on the coast.
Garden · 1 hr 24 min northwest
A 1930s estate on the Fowl River with big formal gardens, azaleas in spring and a famous holiday lights show. The historic home is open for tours.
Island · 1 hr 59 min west
A ferry ride from Gulfport to clear water, white sand and Fort Massachusetts. The best beach day on the Mississippi coast.
Family fun · 1 hr 59 min east
A lively harbor walk with fishing boats, cruises, restaurants and sunset views in Destin.
Museum · 1 hr 1 min northwest
Costumes, crowns and floats tell the story of Mobile's Mardi Gras, which is older than New Orleans'. Bright, fun and quick.
Zoo · 1 hr 20 min east
A drive-out zoo with giraffe feeding, a safari train and hundreds of animals on green grounds.
State park · 1 hr 37 min northeast
A tea-colored river with bright white sandbars, perfect for floating, paddling and swimming. Home of a giant Atlantic white cedar trail.
National park · 1 hr 58 min west
The only drive-in part of the Mississippi seashore. Bayou trails, bird watching, fishing and ranger programs a few minutes from downtown Ocean Springs.
Beach · 2 hr 42 min east
Often named one of the best beaches in the country, with a rare coastal dune lake right behind the sand.
Wildlife · 2 hr 5 min west
Wet pine savanna that protects rare Mississippi sandhill cranes. Short trails and an observation deck near Gautier.
Small town · 2 hr 30 min west
Laid-back beach town with Old Town shops, a harbor and local restaurants.
Food town · 2 hr 36 min northwest
College town with a walkable downtown, a brewery scene and nearly 200 local places to eat.
Bike trail · 2 hr 46 min northwest
A 44-mile paved rail trail from Hattiesburg to Prentiss, with a separate horse trail.
Museum · 2 hr 58 min northwest
Excellent art museum in Laurel, free since 1923.
Water park · 2 hr 4 min east
A big water park in Destin with wave pools, slides, a lazy river, mini golf and a Skycoaster.
State park · 2 hr 36 min west
Beachside park in Waveland with a seasonal water park, nature trail, disc golf and big campground.
Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP 36542 (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.