There is something for everyone at Gulf State Park. The beach pavilion provides picnic tables as an escape from the beach, the nature center is a great place for the kids to learn, the swimming pool provides refreshment for our guests and the Lake Shelby day-use area offers kayaking and canoeing.
For a change of pace while visiting, check out the fishing and education pier, miles of biking on the Backcountry trail, beautiful flowers in the butterfly garden, and additional education at the Learning Campus or Interpretive Center. Gulf State Park has a multitude of activities to participate in that includes hiking.
Beach vendors are available to plan activities such as parasailing and kayaking. Use this park map to help you make your plans. Reconstruction of The Lodge at Gulf State Park, a Hilton Hotel, is complete, and new hostel-style accommodations are available nearby as well.
The Lakeside Cabins and Eagle Cottages are also available for overnight stays. And with recent trail enhancements, waking up to jog or bike ride is easier than ever.
Guests choose to stay at Eagle Cottages because of all the fishing, swimming, boating, and other activities found along the shores of Lake Shelby. This acre freshwater lake is one of the closest to saltwater along the Gulf of Mexico. From canvas tents to full hook-up RV sites, camping comes naturally to our guests. We offer a site improved campground including 11 modern bathhouses, pull-thru sites, back-in sites, waterfront campsites, and ADA accessible sites.
