The Marissa Mae Nicole ferry between Fort Morgan and Dauphin Island

Day trips

Day trips from Gulf Shores and Orange Beach

Mobile, Dauphin Island and Pensacola are all within about two hours. The USS Alabama battleship is roughly 75 minutes from the beach, and Bellingrath Gardens close to two hours. From Gulf Shores, the car ferry at Fort Morgan gets you to Dauphin Island's aquarium and fort in about an hour. The Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola is free, but it sits on a Navy base with strict ID rules.

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Checked November 1, 20265 day trips compared45 min to 2 hours

Mobile Bay, Alabama · Photo: Joe Schneid / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0 · Credits

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How far, what it costs, when it's open

Drive times are from Gulf Place in Gulf Shores and Cotton Bayou in Orange Beach, without traffic. For Dauphin Island both routes are shown: with the Fort Morgan ferry (crossing included, the wait at the dock not) and the long way around Mobile Bay.

USS Alabama Battleship Park, Mobile
From Gulf Shores46 mi, about 1 h 12 minFrom Orange Beach52 mi, about 1 h 14 minAdmission$18 adults, $15 seniors 55+, $6 ages 6–11, under 5 free; parking $5Hours8 am to 5 pm, last tickets 4 pm; closed December 25
Bellingrath Gardens, Theodore
From Gulf Shores70 mi, about 1 h 51 minFrom Orange Beach77 mi, about 1 h 54 minAdmissionGardens $17, ages 5–12 $11; gardens and house $27 and $18; 4 and under freeHours8 am to 4 pm; closed New Year's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas
Alabama Aquarium, Dauphin Island
From Gulf Shores26 mi with the ferry, about 1 h 9 min; 85 mi around the bay, about 2 hFrom Orange Beach32 mi with the ferry, about 1 h 20 min; 91 mi around the bay, about 2 h 4 minAdmission$14 adults, $12 60+, $6 ages 5–18, under 5 free; free parkingHours9 am to 5 pm, last tickets 4 pm
Fort Gaines, Dauphin Island
From Gulf Shores26 mi with the ferry, about 1 h 9 min; 85 mi around the bay, about 2 hFrom Orange Beach32 mi with the ferry, about 1 h 20 min; 92 mi around the bay, about 2 h 5 minAdmission$10 ages 13+, $5 ages 5–12Hours9 am to 5 pm; closed Thanksgiving, December 24 and 25
National Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola
From Gulf Shores32 mi, about 57 minFrom Orange Beach25 mi, about 45 minAdmissionFree, free parkingHours9 am to 4 pm; public gate 9 am to 3 pm

Sources: USS Alabama admissions, Bellingrath Gardens, Alabama Aquarium, Fort Gaines, National Naval Aviation Museum. Routes: OpenStreetMap and OSRM.

Mobile Bay Ferry prices and schedule

Bellingrath Gardens and the Christmas lights

Mobile

Tickets and tours in Mobile

Buy the battleship ticket ahead, or see the ships from the water on the harbor cruise. The attraction pass covers 11 places, Bellingrath and the battleship among them. Prices and ratings checked on November 3, 2026.

USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park

USS Alabama Battleship Park Ticket

2 hours

Walk the decks of the battleship USS Alabama, climb down into the submarine USS Drum and see tanks, artillery and the aircraft pavilion in a 100-acre park on Mobile Bay.

It's self-guided, so you set the pace, and kennels are available if you travel with a dog.

Battleship, submarine and aircraft pavilion
Self-guided, at your own pace
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

Good to know

Parking $5 on site; flight simulator $7 and virtual reality $9 per person extra

4.8 · 541 reviews on Viator

From $18 on Viator

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The entrance to Fort Morgan — Photo: Altairisfar / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

Perdido Queen Cruises

Mobile Harbor Cruise

1 hour

See Mobile's working port from the water aboard the Perdido Queen. You'll pass cargo ships, naval vessels and shipyards while the guide tells the story of the city's maritime past.

The route takes in the skyline, the USS Alabama and the Mobile River Delta, with seats, a restroom and a cash bar on board.

Cargo ships, navy vessels and the USS Alabama
Restroom and cash bar on board
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

Good to know

Meets: Behind the Mobile Convention Center on the Mobile River; board 30 minutes early

4.8 · 216 reviews on Viator

From $50 on Viator

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Perdido Pass seen from the east jetty — Photo: Joey Eads / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

Mobile Carnival Museum

Mobile Carnival Museum Ticket

1 hour

Mobile held Mardi Gras before New Orleans, and this museum shows how: 14 gallery rooms of royal gowns, trains and parade history in a historic downtown house.

14 gallery rooms and a theater
Free parking on site
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

5.0 · 42 reviews on Viator

From $8.21 on Viator

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Alabama Tourism

Mobile Area Attraction Pass

24 hours

One ticket for 11 attractions around Mobile Bay, including Bellingrath Gardens, the USS Alabama Battleship Park, GulfQuest and the Alabama Aquarium on Dauphin Island.

You don't have to pick your stops in advance, which helps when the weather changes your plans.

11 attractions on one ticket
Bellingrath Gardens and USS Alabama included
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

4.0 · 68 reviews on Viator

From $25 on Viator

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Fairhope

Lunch in Fairhope

Fairhope sits on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay, on the way to Mobile. A walking food tour turns lunch into a three-hour tour of downtown.

Downtown Foley at US 98 and Highway 59 — Photo: Dofftoubab / Wikimedia Commons, CC0 1.0

Taste of Fairhope Food Tour

Fairhope Walking Food Tour

3 hours

Taste your way through downtown Fairhope with six stops at local restaurants, and hear how the town was founded along the way.

Lunch and drinks are part of the tour, so plan it as your main meal of the day.

Six tasting stops
Lunch and alcoholic drinks included
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

Good to know

Meets: Inside Provision, downtown Fairhope

4.9 · 135 reviews on Viator

From $116 on Viator

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Pensacola

Getting onto the base for the Naval Aviation Museum

The museum is inside Naval Air Station Pensacola. Bring the right ID, or you won't get past the gate. International visitors need a US citizen escort; questions to the museum, 850-452-8450.

Source: National Naval Aviation Museum: plan your visit (current base access guidance; an older FAQ on the same page mentions any government ID).

US visitors 18 and up: REAL ID or a valid US passport
Non-US visitors: Must come with a US citizen in the same vehicle; the escort is checked on arrival. Without that, a green card or a passport with a temporary I-551 stamp
Entrance: West Gate at the south end of Blue Angel Parkway
Uber and Lyft: Not allowed on the base; taxis need a base pass
Bags: Clear bags only; small clutch up to 4.5 × 6.5 inches; diaper and medical bags allowed