Busy beach in Gulf Shores during spring break
Plan your trip

Spring break in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach

From March 1 to mid or late April (April 28 in 2026), Gulf Shores bans alcohol on all of its beach sand, not only the public beach. Gulf State Park beaches are dry all year, while Orange Beach city beaches allow alcohol without glass. Most hotels need you to be 21 to check in. Hampton Inn & Suites Orange Beach takes guests from 18, also at spring break, while The Lodge, Perdido Beach Resort, Hotel Indigo and the Phoenix All Suites hotels need 25.

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

Age limits
Checked November 3, 2026Alcohol ban from Mar 1Check-in 18 to 25

Gulf Shores, Alabama · Photo: DiscoverWithDima / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Credits

Rules

Where you can drink on the beach in spring

These standing rules matter most in March and April.

Sources: Gulf Shores city code, Gulf Shores beach rules, Orange Beach beach FAQ, Gulf Shores beach safety.

All beach rules

Gulf Shores, all beach sand
No alcohol from March 1, 12:01 am. City code ends the ban on April 17 at 11:59 pm, and the council sets each year's dates by resolution; in 2026 it ran to April 28
Gulf Shores public beach
No alcohol all year, and no glass or breakable plastic
Gulf State Park beaches
No alcohol all year, including the Orange Beach park accesses
Orange Beach city beaches
Alcohol allowed, but no glass
Curfew, Gulf Shores
Under 18s off the public beach and city parks from midnight to 6 am unless with a parent
Double red flag
Going into the water is illegal in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, with a fine of up to $500 or jail
Fines
Up to $500 under the Gulf Shores city code
Age limits

Minimum check-in age by hotel

These are the general house rules on each hotel's or manager's page, sorted from Gulf Place outward. The Gulf State Park campground needs the renter to be at least 18 and stay on the site.

  • Embassy Suites Gulf Shores Beach Resort

    Minimum age21 to check in

  • Phoenix All Suites Hotel

    Minimum age25 to check inRule for minorsGuests under 18 only with a parent staying in the suite for the whole stay

  • Best Western On The Beach

    Minimum age21 to check in

  • Phoenix All Suites West Hotel

    Minimum age25 for single travelersRule for minorsGuests under 18 only with a parent staying in the suite for the whole stay

  • Holiday Inn Express & Suites Gulf Shores

    Minimum age21 to check in

  • Hampton Inn Gulf Shores

    Minimum age21 to check in

  • The Lodge at Gulf State Park

    Minimum age25 to check in

  • Hotel Indigo Orange Beach - Gulf Shores

    Minimum age25 to check in

  • Hilton Garden Inn Orange Beach

    Minimum age21 to check in

  • Staybridge Suites Gulf Shores

    Minimum age21 to check in

  • SpringHill Suites Orange Beach Gulf Shores

    Minimum age21 to check in

  • SpringHill Suites Orange Beach at The Wharf

    Minimum age21 to check in

  • Sleep Inn Orange Beach

    Minimum age21 to check in

  • Fairfield Inn & Suites Orange Beach

    Minimum age21 to check in

  • Hampton Inn & Suites Orange Beach/Gulf Front

    Minimum age18 to check in

  • Best Western Premier The Tides

    Minimum age21 to check inRule for minorsMinors must stay with a parent or guardian in a private room; no separate 2027 rule published

  • Island House Hotel Orange Beach, a DoubleTree

    Minimum age21 to check in

  • Perdido Beach Resort

    Minimum age25 to check in

  • Hampton Inn Foley

    Minimum age21 to check in

  • Home2 Suites Foley

    Minimum age21 to check in

  • TownePlace Suites Foley at OWA

    Minimum age21 to check in

  • Phoenix Gulf Towers (condos)

    Minimum age25+ for singles traveling alone; parents must stay with young guests (Brett/Robinson units)

  • Phoenix Orange Beach (condos)

    Minimum age25+ for singles traveling alone; parents must stay with young guests (Brett/Robinson units)

  • Phoenix Orange Beach II (condos)

    Minimum age25+ for singles traveling alone; parents must stay with young guests (Brett/Robinson units)

  • Phoenix East (condos)

    Minimum age25+ for singles traveling alone; parents must stay with young guests (Brett/Robinson units)

  • Phoenix East II (condos)

    Minimum age25+ for singles traveling alone; parents must stay with young guests (Brett/Robinson units)

  • Phoenix Gulf Shores (condos)

    Minimum age25+ for singles traveling alone; parents must stay with young guests (Brett/Robinson units)

  • Phoenix Gulf Shores II (condos)

    Minimum age25+ for singles traveling alone; parents must stay with young guests (Brett/Robinson units)

  • Lighthouse on the Bay (condos)

    Minimum age25+ for singles traveling alone; parents must stay with young guests (Brett/Robinson units)

  • The Beach Club (condos)

    Minimum age25 (Spectrum units)

  • Kiva Dunes (condos)

    Minimum age25; the renter must stay for the whole visit
Hotels

Hotels near Gulf Place

Gulf Place is the center of the Gulf Shores public beach. Hotels with a minimum check-in age, closest first.

  1. Embassy Suites Gulf Shores Beach ResortGulf Shores beach · 112 West Beach Blvd, Gulf ShoresTo Gulf Place4 min walkBeachShort walk to the beachParkingSelf-parking $30, valet $35Prices
  2. Phoenix All Suites HotelGulf Shores beach · 201 East Beach Blvd, Gulf ShoresBeachfrontTo Gulf Place5 min walkBeachDirectly on the beachParkingFree covered garagePrices
  3. Best Western On The BeachGulf Shores beach · 337 E Beach Blvd, Gulf ShoresBeachfrontTo Gulf Place8 min walkBeachDirectly on the beachParkingFreePrices
  4. Phoenix All Suites West HotelGulf Shores beach · 533 W Beach Blvd, Gulf ShoresBeachfrontTo Gulf Place16 min walkBeachDirectly on the beachParkingOne covered space per suitePrices
  5. Holiday Inn Express & Suites Gulf ShoresGulf Shores Parkway · 160 W Commerce Avenue, Gulf ShoresTo Gulf Place34 min walkBeachNot on the beachParkingFree for registered guestsPrices
  6. Hampton Inn Gulf ShoresGulf Shores Parkway · 1701 Gulf Shores Parkway, Gulf ShoresTo Gulf Place35 min walkBeachNot on the beachParkingFreePrices
  7. 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
  8. Hotel Indigo Orange Beach - Gulf ShoresOrange Beach West · 22843 Perdido Beach Blvd, Orange BeachTo Gulf Place3.6 mi driveBeachShort walk to the beachPrices

Phoenix condos in spring 2027

Spring break 2027 rates at Brett/Robinson start at these amounts a night, before taxes and fees.

Phoenix I
From $115 a night
Phoenix II
From $135 a night
Phoenix III
From $130 a night
Phoenix IV
From $125 a night
Phoenix V
From $165 a night