Dog Friendly Vacations Alabama – You are here: Home / Blog / Alabama / Pet-friendly beach vacations in Alabama – away from the crowds
When choosing a non-business beach getaway that can be driven for us from Tennessee, I find it difficult to go anywhere other than South Walton, Florida. But sometimes I want to be as far away from people as possible, and that’s just impossible along 30A. So I Googled my heart out one evening and came across Dauphin Island in Mobile County and thus the perfect beach getaway for pets in Alabama on the Gulf.
Dog Friendly Vacations Alabama
I still love Florida, but sometimes it’s expensive and very crowded. Let’s discuss the options, shall we?
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We go to Alabama regularly; My dad is from Birmingham so we have family there and we are big fans of Huntsville and visit as often as we can. However, as a 30A girl, I have spent very little time on the Alabama coast and knew nothing about Dauphin Island before my visit; I’ve actually never heard of it and consider myself an expert on southern travel.
It was definitely an internet rabbit hole that led me there. And when I saw that I could rent a house right on the beach – because the whole island is actually a beach –
Dauphin Island is a 14-mile-long barrier island that measures less than two miles at its widest point. The species is also threatened with extinction in the coming years as climate change causes sea levels to rise.
. You’ll cross Mobile Bay via a long, winding bridge and when you get to the other side, don’t blink or you’ll miss the city itself completely. I can’t tell you about the food and bar options as we headed out of town, other than to pop into the Lighthouse Bakery for breakfast.
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We loaded my SUV in Tennessee with refrigerated and non-perishable food and alcohol (duh) and brought it.
With us. It was the cheapest holiday I’ve ever had! We spent $40 on gas on the way back, $40 on the way back and $2 on ice at the outside vending machine, in addition to the overnight stay, which cost us $1,285 for our stay. It’s funny how much money you save when you don’t eat out for every meal on vacation.
A three-mile bridge over Mobile Bay takes you to the heart of downtown. There is also the opportunity to take a scenic boat ride on the Mobile Bay Ferry, which runs between Fort Gaines on Dauphin Island and Fort Morgan on Mobile Point.
Once in Dauphin, there is only one main road that crosses the island for eleven miles: Bienville Boulevard, plus a dedicated bike path on the south side of the road. We saw many runners and cyclists passing by our house all day, every day. Although Dauphin Island is 14 miles long, its habitable portion is only half that. The rest of the barrier island is undeveloped coastline.
Montgomery Pet-friendly Vacation Rentals
Our beach vacations are usually a mix of resorts, condos and rentals, but Dauphin Island is chain-free. There are a few motels further along, but the island is mainly holiday homes – and we wanted a kitchen and could seclude ourselves on a patch of sand while we went for a walk with Ella – which was perfect for us. We found a great pet-friendly house on Dauphin Island and quickly booked it for four days.
Dauphin Island has a population of about 1,300, although every house we saw was a cottage, so I imagine less than half of them live there year-round. Most people rent out their homes on Airbnb, so we have found our cozy A-frame. The decor was certainly dated, but the house had three bedrooms and two bathrooms, was pet-friendly, and would be perfect for a family with children. It was also right across from the main entrance to the beach.
Rental rates on Dauphin Island were approximately $202 per night, excluding fees; However, there are a lot of Airbnb rentals on Dauphin Island, so I recommend adjusting your search based on number of travelers, duration, and price and see what you find.
Is the water around Dauphin Island as beautiful as the Florida Panhandle? Of course not. Although the southern end is on the Gulf of Mexico, the gulf flows into it at the northern border; so it has all the dark Atlantic Ocean and lacks the sparkle of the Emerald Coast, although some drone shots make it look a little nicer out there. Did it affect our time there? Not at all.
Pet-friendly Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Rentals
We didn’t even make it to the east side of the island – I mean it when I say we barely left the rental other than going to the empty beach in front of our rental – but Dauphin Island East End Public Beach looks great. They charge $2 per entry. I can’t say how busy it was, but there weren’t many people anywhere on the island. We flew a drone so we could see parts of the island we hadn’t seen before, and even though it was a balmy 80 degrees and sunny, we barely saw a soul there.
There is another family-run public beach at the west end of the park. They charge $3 per person and have no amenities (mainly parking). One day we tried to leave, but Ella wouldn’t let us, so we turned around and headed back to our shores.
One thing Dauphin Island has in common with the Florida Panhandle is an epic sunset. We were not disappointed there.
Absolute. It’s a lovely, sleepy little cove, and when it’s safer to be in public, I’d love to see more wildlife and visit the waterfront restaurants and bars, as well as the 137-acre Audubon Bird Sanctuary. The island is one of the best places in the country to witness bird migration in spring.
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While I’m not a fisherman, Dauphin Island is clearly a fishing hotspot, and where we saw some was at Dauphin Island Beach and Pier, although there are plenty of spots with benches and tables along the 800-foot stretch. building. .
It was a pure vacation, so our main goal was to just relax, but the Dauphin Island Park & Beach Board has a helpful website full of ideas for outdoor activities on the small barrier island. Are you planning to go to the beach this summer?
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Taking your dog on holiday is better than leaving him in a kennel or with a sitter, but not all holiday destinations are dog-friendly. If you’re in Alabama and planning a trip to the Gulf Coast or surrounding areas, you’re in luck! There are several dog-friendly beaches in Alabama that you and your beloved furry friend can visit.
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Check out the seven best dog-friendly beaches in Alabama below and see where your next vacation takes you!
The reserve is open 7 days a week from sunset to sunrise; The nature center is open from 10am to 4pm, Mon-Fri, Sat from 10am to 2pm and closed on Sundays.
Gulf Shores is one of the best places to go to the beach in Alabama. Unfortunately, they have several dog-friendly beach areas that you can visit.
Fort costs $8 for adults, $5 for children 6 to 12 and older, children 6 and under are free; the beach is free
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As you can see, Alabama has quite a few dog-friendly beaches (or beach areas)! Whether you want to spend a day or two on the sandy beaches of Dauphin Island or hike and swim along the nature trails, you’ll find a little bit of everything. So the next time you’re planning a beach vacation, head to the Gulf Coast and surrounding areas to find a dog-friendly place where you can bring your furry friend.
Misty Layne lives in the woods in a small town in Alabama with her two Siamese dogs, Serafina and Jasper. She also has a number of stray cats, raccoons and cats that love to call her porch their home. When she’s not writing about animals, she’s writing poetry, stories, and movie reviews (animals are her favorite subject!). In her free time, Misty enjoys hanging out with her cats, playing piano, watching indie and foreign films, photographing abandoned places, and working on her endless TBR list. This page contains affiliate links. If you click on the product links and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to me! Thank you for your support and I hope you find value in it
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