Aerial view of Jack Edwards Airport in Gulf Shores

Getting here

Airports for Gulf Shores and Orange Beach

Gulf Shores International (GUF) is right in town, about 12 minutes from the beach, with nonstop flights to a dozen cities in the Midwest and South. Pensacola International (PNS) in Florida is the nearest large airport, about 38 miles and 68 minutes by car from Gulf Shores and 31 miles from Orange Beach. Destin–Fort Walton Beach (VPS) is about two hours away but has more cities nonstop.

Compare airports

Checked November 5, 2026GUF 12 minutes, PNS about 1 hourAllegiant at GUF

Gulf Shores, Alabama · Photo: USDA Farm Service Agency / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain · Credits

Which airport

Drive times to the beach

Times are for an empty road; with traffic they are longer.

Gulf Shores International (GUF)
To Gulf Shores (Gulf Place)About 4 miles, 12 minutesTo Orange Beach (Cotton Bayou)About 11 miles, 22 minutes
Pensacola (PNS)
To Gulf Shores (Gulf Place)About 38 miles, 68 minutesTo Orange Beach (Cotton Bayou)About 31 miles, 56 minutes
Mobile, downtown terminal (BFM), expected to open in spring 2027
To Gulf Shores (Gulf Place)About 51 miles, 75 minutesTo Orange Beach (Cotton Bayou)About 59 miles, 81 minutes
Mobile Regional (MOB)
To Gulf Shores (Gulf Place)About 65 miles, 97 minutesTo Orange Beach (Cotton Bayou)About 73 miles, 102 minutes
Destin–Fort Walton Beach (VPS)
To Gulf Shores (Gulf Place)About 99 miles, 137 minutesTo Orange Beach (Cotton Bayou)About 93 miles, 125 minutes

Gulf Shores (GUF)

Gulf Shores International, 12 minutes from the beach

The airport in town has nonstop Allegiant flights to 12 cities. Search for flights with the code GUF.

Sources: Gulf Shores International Airport, before you fly, Allegiant.

Terminal: 1155 Commerce Dr, Gulf Shores; airport office 251-967-3968
Airline: Allegiant; customer care 24/7 at +1-702-505-8888; the ticket counter is open Saturdays 11 am–1 pm
Nonstop cities: Nashville, Des Moines, Huntsville, Springfield (Missouri), Oklahoma City, Omaha, Louisville, Appleton, Belleville (St. Louis area), Kansas City, Fayetteville (Arkansas), Cincinnati
Arrive: 2 hours before your flight
ID: Travelers 18 and up need a REAL ID or passport; without one, TSA ConfirmID costs $45

Getting from GUF to your hotel

Two rental counters, Uber and Lyft, nine taxi companies and four shuttles.

Sources: ground transportation, parking.

Getting around without a car

Rental cars: Alamo and Enterprise, counters at baggage claim; Budget and Turo are listed too. Reserve before you arrive
Ride share: Uber and Lyft
Taxis: Nine local companies, among them Coast Cab (251-968-8294) and A1 Taxi (251-981-9300)
Shuttles: Coastal Express Shuttle (251-923-8336), Surfside Shuttle (251-215-1919), A & R Group (800-905-0953), A Wave We Go & Jola Transportation (251-986-1211)
Parking: ParkMobile app; first 3 minutes free, then $1.50 per 30 minutes, at most $10 a day or $60 a week, plus a $0.45 fee per transaction
Pick-ups: The curb is for loading only; wait in the cell phone lot

Pensacola (PNS)

Nonstop flights from Pensacola

Nonstop routes from Pensacola. Routes marked seasonal don't fly all year.

Sources: Pensacola International: nonstop flights, ground transportation, parking.

Distances to other cities

Rental cars: Counters on the first level at baggage claim
Taxi fares (set by city ordinance): $11 minimum for an airport trip; $2.50 for the first 1/10 mile, $0.26 for each further 1/10 mile, $0.50 for each extra passenger 13 and up, $2.50 pick-up fee
Parking per day, at most: Short-term $24, garage $20, surface lot $14, Lots 1 and 2 $9 with a shuttle every 10 minutes
Long stays: Cars parked more than 30 days can be towed; call 850-435-8767 first
Parking shuttle: Free, 24/7, between the airport lots and the terminal; not a shuttle to the beach
Cell phone lot: Free for up to an hour; the driver stays in the car
TSA: Opens at 3:45 am
Information: 850-436-5000

American: Charlotte, Washington National, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami; seasonal: Philadelphia, Chicago O'Hare, New York LaGuardia
Breeze: Tampa, Raleigh-Durham, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale; seasonal: Northwest Arkansas, Memphis, San Antonio
Contour: Seasonal: Muscle Shoals, Cape Girardeau
Delta: Atlanta, New York LaGuardia; seasonal: Detroit
Frontier: Denver, Orlando
Southwest: Nashville, Dallas Love Field, Houston Hobby, Kansas City, St. Louis; seasonal: Denver, Chicago Midway, Austin
United: Denver, Houston Intercontinental, Chicago O'Hare

Destin–Fort Walton Beach (VPS)

More cities, a longer drive

VPS lists more nonstop cities than Pensacola, many of them on Allegiant. The drive to Orange Beach is about two hours without traffic. The airport's list doesn't mark seasonal routes.

Source: Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport: airlines. Phone 850-651-7160.

Allegiant: 35 cities, among them Boston, Newark, Baltimore, Washington Dulles, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Las Vegas and Denver
American: Charlotte, Chicago O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, Philadelphia, Washington National
Delta: Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Detroit, New York LaGuardia, Minneapolis
JetBlue: Boston, New York JFK
Southwest: Baltimore, Dallas Love Field, Denver, Houston Hobby, Kansas City, Nashville, Pittsburgh, St. Louis
Sun Country: Minneapolis

Gulf Shores and Mobile

Mobile: a new terminal downtown

From either Mobile terminal it's more than an hour to the beach by car.

Sources: Mobile Regional, Mobile Airport Authority, May 21, 2026.

Mobile: The new Mobile International Airport downtown (BFM) is expected to open in spring 2027. Check which Mobile airport your ticket shows

Private planes

Flying in yourself: Jack Edwards Field

General aviation uses the same field as the airline flights, with a full-service FBO on site.

Sources: Gulf Shores International: general aviation, airport information.

Codes: FAA JKA, ICAO KJKA
FBO: Gulf Air Center, full service, (251) 968-5200; hangar rentals there too
Customs: Local CBP contact (251) 378-7600, ext. 3
Tower: Air traffic control tower since November 17, 2021
Runway: Runway 9/27, extended in 2003
History: Opened in 1942 as Canal Field, a Navy training field; Jack Edwards Airport from 1977; Gulf Shores International Airport – Jack Edwards Field since November 2021

What people ask

Quick answers

Is there an airport in Gulf Shores, Alabama?

Yes. Gulf Shores International Airport (GUF) is at 1155 Commerce Dr, about 4 miles and 12 minutes from Gulf Place, with Allegiant flights to 12 cities.

Which airlines fly to Gulf Shores?

Allegiant flies into Gulf Shores International (GUF). Pensacola, about an hour away, has American, Breeze, Contour, Delta, Frontier, Southwest and United.

Is Gulf Shores International the same as Jack Edwards Field?

Yes. The airport was Jack Edwards Airport from 1977 and has been Gulf Shores International Airport – Jack Edwards Field since November 2021. Its FAA code is JKA; flights are booked under GUF.