The Lodge at Gulf State Park

The Lodge at Gulf State Park sits right on the sand inside Gulf State Park, the 6,150-acre state park that anchors the east side of Gulf Shores. It is run by Hilton, so you get the polish of a big beach hotel with dunes, lakes and trail systems all around you instead of a strip of condo towers.

The current building opened in 2018, replacing the original park lodge that Hurricane Ivan destroyed in 2004. It was built with the coast in mind: the Lodge is LEED Gold certified and was built to the IBHS Fortified Commercial standard. You notice it in the design, with boardwalks over the dunes, outdoor terraces and fire pits, and a lot of glass pointed at the water. It feels more like a modern park lodge than a typical resort.

Rooms and Amenities

There are 350 rooms, all non-smoking, with views of either the Gulf or Lake Shelby on the park side. Room types range from standard king and double queen rooms to king rooms with bunk beds (handy for families), Murphy bed suites and studio suites. Connecting rooms are available.

• Beach access: two boardwalks lead from the hotel straight to the beach.
• Pool: an outdoor pool with a seasonal poolside restaurant.
• Fitness: an on-site fitness room.
• Learning Campus: naturalist-led programs on the park’s ecosystems, run from the park’s Learning Campus.
• Meetings: more than 40,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space.

Dining

Perch is the main restaurant and bar, with views over the Gulf. Foodcraft is the coffee bar for espresso, pastries and a light lunch, and Woodside is another sit-down option on property. A seasonal poolside spot covers lunch in warmer months, and room service is available. There is a kids menu, which matters if you are traveling with little ones.

Location

The Lodge is on East Beach Boulevard (Highway 182), about three miles east of the center of Gulf Shores. The big draw is the park itself. Gulf State Park has 28 miles of hiking and biking trails on the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail system, about 800 acres of freshwater lakes, a nature center with native wildlife and a fishing and education pier. Lodge guests can use the free bike share program, and a key card gets you sightseeing access to the pier.

Outside the park, distances from the hotel are short:

• Waterville USA: about 3 miles
• The Wharf in Orange Beach: about 7 miles
• Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo: about 7 miles
• Gulf Shores airport (Jack Edwards): about 5 miles
• Pensacola International Airport: about 35 miles

Good to Know Before You Book

Check-in is at 4 p.m. and checkout is at 11 a.m. Parking carries a daily charge for both self-parking and valet, so budget for it. Pets are not allowed. There is no spa on site, so if spa time is part of your plan, look at a resort that has one or book a treatment off property.

The Lodge works especially well for families and anyone who likes to be outside. Plan at least one morning on the trails, either on foot or on a share bike, and you will get more out of the stay than a standard beach hotel can offer. For the best views, ask about Gulf-facing rooms when you book.