Orange Beach is one of several resort type towns along the small are of Alabama coast. The beaches are white and there is always a lot of activity and interesting things to see. Orange Beach has a lot of camping options. Whether you prefer tent camping in a remote setting or an RV in the middle of all the action, you can find something to your liking here.
Considerations
The Gulf State Park has the most extensive camping in the area with 496 sites, and almost all of them have electricity and water. Modern bathrooms, showers and a dump station are available. The campgrounds are about a mile from the beach and are along lakes and streams. The park has Orange Beach on one side and Gulf Shores on the other. A person could spend a week at the park and never leave while staying active and having fun.
Features
The Gulf State Park has 11 trails, ranging from paved trails to dirt trails through the back country. Hike along streams, bayous, rivers, wetlands and the beach and never leave the park. Some trails do leave the park however, as a system of trails on the coast continues to be developed. Limited primitive camping is allowed on the trails, and many of them are in easy reach of the large campgrounds.
Park Pier
The Park Pier was destroyed by a hurricane in 2004, and rebuilt and reopened in 2009. It is now the longest one on the gulf at 1,540 feet. The new pier has 2,448 feet of fishing space, and pier houses at the middle and at the end. Fishing is a major attraction, but it is also a good base for beach activities. Recreational equipment, such as bicycles, kayaks and other equipment may be rented at the pier. The pier is easily accessed from the state park, or from private campgrounds nearby.
RV Campgrounds
Several private RV campgrounds are on Perdido Key and the island that makes up Orange Beach, but none of them are actually on the beach. Some allow tent camping and some do not. These parks are family oriented and have full hookups for your RV. These campgrounds have swimming pools and playgrounds. They may have volleyball courts, basketball courts or tennis courts. Most have planned activities.
These campgrounds usually offer bicycle rentals and beach equipment. They may also offer to connect you with outfitters for ocean fishing or other activities.
Beech's Camping, Southport Campgrounds and Sun-Runners RV Park are examples of this type campground.
RV Resorts
RV Resorts are very similar to the beach type campgrounds, but there are some key differences. The resorts try to have an all-inclusive vacation, where you would not have to leave the campground if you did not want to. They have full hookups, bathrooms, showers, pools and laundry. They usually do not allow tent camping.
RV Resorts usually have a clubhouse, maybe a restaurant and a lot of planned activities.
Playa del Rio RV Resort and Gulf Breeze Resort are two examples of this type of camping facility.
Private Resorts
There are a few private resorts that have private campsites that are owned by individuals. These are communities and generally made up of retirees. Sometimes they rent RVs by the week or month. This is usually done privately by the owner and local chambers of commerce or real estate agencies have listings.
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