Where is Gulf Shores, Alabama, USA?

Written and Fact-checked by | Updated On: April 28, 2026 | 14:51 ET

Where is Gulf Shores Located? - Gulf Shores is a city located in the Baldwin County of Alabama, United States. Gulf Shores lies between 61.5809 Degrees North latitudes and 149.4411 Degrees West longitudes.

Location Map of Gulf Shores, Alabama

Where is Gulf Shores, Alabama

Gulf Shores Map, Alabama, USA

Where is Gulf Shores?: The Google Map showing the location of Gulf Shores in the U.S. state of Alabama.

Where is Gulf Shores Located?

Gulf Shores is a city located in the Baldwin County of Alabama, United States. Gulf Shores lies between 61.5809 Degrees North latitudes and 149.4411 Degrees West longitudes. According to 2020 U.S.census, the population of Gulf Shores city is 15014 people and the city has a total area of 28.18 sq mi. The city has numerous parks and recreational facilities.

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Gulf Shores, Alabama Quick Facts

PropertyInformation
CityGulf Shores
CountyBaldwin County
StateAlabama
State CapitalMontgomery
US RegionSouthern United States
Latitude30.2460°N
Longitude87.7008°W
Elevation10 ft (3 m)
Land Area28.69 sq mi
Water Area4.38 sq mi
Total Area33.07 sq mi
Population (latest Census year)15,014 (Census 2020)
Population DensityApproximately 523 per sq mi
ZIP Codes36542, 36547
Area Code251
Time Zone StandardCentral Standard Time (CST, UTC−6)
Time Zone DaylightCentral Daylight Time (CDT, UTC−5)
CurrencyUS Dollar (USD)
FIPS Code01-31720
Congressional DistrictAlabama's 1st Congressional District

Nearby Cities to Gulf Shores, Alabama

  • Orange Beach, Alabama — 7 mi East
  • Foley, Alabama — 13 mi North
  • Pensacola, Florida — 34 mi East
  • Fairhope, Alabama — 37 mi North
  • Daphne, Alabama — 41 mi North
  • Bay Minette, Alabama — 49 mi North
  • Mobile, Alabama — 54 mi Northwest
  • Robertsdale, Alabama — 27 mi North
  • Lillian, Alabama — 24 mi Northeast
  • Elberta, Alabama — 17 mi North

Driving Distances from Gulf Shores, Alabama

CityStateDistance (mi)Approx. Drive Time
Orange BeachAlabama715 minutes
FoleyAlabama1320 minutes
PensacolaFlorida3450 minutes
FairhopeAlabama3755 minutes
DaphneAlabama411 hour
MobileAlabama541 hour 10 minutes
Bay MinetteAlabama491 hour
BiloxiMississippi881 hour 35 minutes
MontgomeryAlabama1943 hours
New OrleansLouisiana1773 hours

Transportation and Connectivity in Gulf Shores, Alabama

TransportationDetails
Airport NameGulf Shores International Airport
IATA CodeGUF
PortPort of Gulf Shores Marina
Major HighwaysAlabama State Route 59, Alabama State Route 182, Baldwin Beach Express (nearby)
Train/Amtrak ServiceNo Amtrak service; nearest station is Mobile (planned future service)
Local Bus/Transit ServiceBaldwin Regional Area Transit System (BRATS)
  • Alabama State Route 59 is the main north-south highway connecting Gulf Shores with Foley and Interstate 10.
  • Alabama State Route 182 (Beach Boulevard) runs along the Gulf Coast and links Gulf Shores with Orange Beach and Perdido Key.
  • The Baldwin Beach Express provides a faster route to Interstate 10 and inland Baldwin County.
  • County Road 6 offers an alternate east-west connection between Gulf Shores and neighboring coastal communities.
  • BRATS provides regional public transportation connecting Gulf Shores with nearby cities in Baldwin County.

What are top Places to Visit in Gulf Shores, Alabama

Landmark NameType
Gulf State ParkState Park
Gulf Shores Public BeachBeach
Alabama Gulf Coast ZooZoo
Waterville USAWater Park
Bon Secour National Wildlife RefugeWildlife Refuge
Gulf State Park PierFishing Pier
Little LagoonNatural Attraction
The Wharf at Orange BeachEntertainment District
Fort Morgan Historic SiteHistoric Site
Bon Secour BayNatural Attraction

Colleges and Universities in Gulf Shores, Alabama

Institution NameTypeLevelNotable For
Columbia Southern UniversityPrivateUniversityOnline degree programs
Coastal Alabama Community College – Gulf Shores CampusPublicCommunity CollegeCareer and workforce education
University of South Alabama – Baldwin County ProgramsPublicUniversityUndergraduate and graduate education
Troy University – Baldwin County Support CenterPublicUniversityAdult and continuing education
Baldwin County Public School SystemPublicK–12 DistrictPublic education serving Gulf Shores

Waterbodies in Gulf Shores, Alabama

Gulf of Mexico, Little Lagoon, Bon Secour Bay, Bon Secour River, Oyster Bay, Mobile Bay, Perdido Bay, Intracoastal Waterway, Wolf Bay, Lake Shelby

Golf Courses in Gulf Shores, Alabama

Kiva Dunes Golf Course, Gulf Shores Golf Club, Craft Farms Golf Resort, Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club, Cotton Creek at Craft Farms, Cypress Bend at Craft Farms, GlenLakes Golf Club, Soldier's Creek Golf Club

Gulf Shores, Alabama — Key Historical Facts

  • Gulf Shores began as a small fishing and vacation community during the early twentieth century, attracting visitors with its white-sand beaches and Gulf Coast scenery.
  • The city was officially incorporated in 1956 and steadily developed into one of Alabama's premier coastal tourism destinations.
  • Construction of modern highways and bridges significantly improved access, encouraging residential growth and year-round tourism.
  • Hurricanes, including Hurricane Frederic in 1979 and Hurricane Sally in 2020, caused substantial damage but also led to major rebuilding and coastal resilience projects.
  • Today, Gulf Shores is internationally recognized for its beaches, outdoor recreation, family attractions, and thriving tourism industry, making it one of the Gulf Coast's most popular vacation destinations.

References

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