Orange Beach seen from a plane
Where to stay

Gulf Shores or Orange Beach?

The two towns share one beach, with Gulf State Park between them. Gulf Shores centers on the public beach at Gulf Place, with paid city parking and no alcohol on the public sand. Orange Beach has more condo towers, The Wharf, and city beaches where alcohol is allowed without glass. Both charge 16% lodging tax.

Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them, we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It doesn't change the order we show places in or what we say about them. How we make money

Compare
Checked November 3, 2026Same beach, two cities16% lodging tax

Orange Beach, Alabama · Photo: divemasterking2000 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 · Credits

Side by side

How the two towns differ

Pick Gulf Shores if you want to walk to the main public beach and its restaurants. Pick Orange Beach if you want a beachfront condo tower, The Wharf or the Flora-Bama nearby, or a beer on the city beach.

  • Center

    Gulf ShoresGulf Place, the public beach in the middle of townOrange BeachThe Wharf on Canal Road, a marina and entertainment district away from the beach

  • Hotels in our guide

    Gulf Shores6 on the beach side and in the state park, 4 of them directly on the beachOrange Beach12, 8 of them directly on the beach

  • Condo complexes

    Gulf Shores4, 1 with a lazy riverOrange Beach15, 9 with a lazy river

  • Alcohol on the beach

    Gulf ShoresBanned on the public beach all year and on all beach sand March 1 to mid or late AprilOrange BeachAllowed on city beaches without glass; banned at the state park accesses

  • Beach parking

    Gulf ShoresCity lots $2–$3 an hour, March to NovemberOrange BeachState park accesses $15 a day; the city lot is for residents

  • Lifeguards

    Gulf ShoresProtected swimming areas at Gulf Place, West 6th Street and Lagoon Pass, March to OctoberOrange BeachSeven towers from the Flora-Bama to the Gulf State Park Pavilion, March 1 to October 31

  • Lodging tax

    Gulf Shores16% inside city limitsOrange Beach16%; cleaning fees and parking passes are taxed too

  • Gulf State Park

    Gulf ShoresThe Lodge, the pier and the PavilionOrange BeachFour park beach accesses: Romar, Cotton Bayou, Alabama Point East and Shell Beach

  • To Pensacola

    Gulf ShoresAbout 33 miles from Gulf Place, 58 minutesOrange BeachAbout 26 miles from Cotton Bayou, 46 minutes

  • To Mobile

    Gulf ShoresAbout 48 miles from Gulf Place, 70 minutesOrange BeachAbout 54 miles from Cotton Bayou, 72 minutes

All nine areas, from Fort Morgan to Perdido Pass

Gulf Shores

Beachfront hotels in Gulf Shores

  1. Phoenix All Suites HotelGulf Shores beach · 201 East Beach Blvd, Gulf ShoresBeachfrontTo Gulf Place5 min walkBeachDirectly on the beachParkingFree covered garagePrices
  2. Best Western On The BeachGulf Shores beach · 337 E Beach Blvd, Gulf ShoresBeachfrontTo Gulf Place8 min walkBeachDirectly on the beachParkingFreePrices
  3. Phoenix All Suites West HotelGulf Shores beach · 533 W Beach Blvd, Gulf ShoresBeachfrontTo Gulf Place16 min walkBeachDirectly on the beachParkingOne covered space per suitePrices
  4. The Lodge at Gulf State ParkGulf State Park · 21196 E Beach Blvd, Gulf ShoresBeachfrontTo Gulf Place39 min walkBeachBoardwalks to the sandParkingSelf-parking $15 a day, valet $22Prices
Orange Beach

Beachfront hotels in Orange Beach

  1. Hilton Garden Inn Orange BeachOrange Beach West · 23092 Perdido Beach Blvd, Orange BeachLazy riverTo The Wharf8 mi driveBeachDirectly on the beachParkingSelf-parking $10 a dayPrices
  2. The Original Romar House B&B InnOrange Beach West · 23500 Perdido Beach Blvd, Orange BeachBeachfrontTo The Wharf7.5 mi driveBeachDirectly on the beachPrices
  3. Hampton Inn & Suites Orange Beach/Gulf FrontOrange Beach East · 25518 Perdido Beach Blvd, Orange BeachBeachfrontTo The Wharf5.4 mi driveBeachDirectly on the beachParkingCovered garage, $15 a dayPrices
  4. Best Western Premier The TidesOrange Beach East · 26032 Perdido Beach Blvd, Orange BeachBeachfrontTo The Wharf5.1 mi driveBeachDirectly on the beachParking$10 a day per vehiclePrices
  5. Sleep Inn Orange BeachOrange Beach East · 25400 Perdido Beach Blvd, Orange BeachBeachfrontTo The Wharf5.5 mi driveBeachDirectly on the beachParkingFree, one car per roomPrices
  6. Island House Hotel Orange Beach, a DoubleTreeOrange Beach East · 26650 Perdido Beach Blvd, Orange BeachBeachfrontTo The Wharf5.8 mi driveBeachDirectly on the beachParkingFree, one car per roomPrices
  7. Holiday Inn Express Orange BeachOrange Beach East · 24700 Perdido Beach Blvd, Orange BeachBeachfrontTo The Wharf6.2 mi driveBeachDirectly on the beachPrices
  8. Perdido Beach ResortOrange Beach East · 27200 Perdido Beach Blvd, Orange BeachBeachfrontTo The Wharf6.4 mi driveBeachDirectly on the beachParkingFree self-parkingPrices

Condo complexes in both towns