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Dauphin Island is a city on Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Many local attractions are available for visitors, like Fort Gaines, with ties to American military history and the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, a marine research and education center. As of 2020, about 1,500 people lived in the town limits of Dauphin Island, and many thousands more live in the Mobile metropolitan area.
The Dauphin Island Bridge stretches across Mobile Bay and connects the island to the mainland. Choosing a hotel, the inn, or a rental property is one of the first choices vacationers must make when planning a trip to Dauphin Island.
If you are looking for the best places to stay on Dauphin Island, review our comprehensive list of the best neighborhoods and areas to stay in during your next vacation.
Dauphin Beach on Pelican Cove
Dauphin Beach on Pelican Cove is a beautiful area for visitors to stay. The long stretches of sand and the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico make this one of the best vacation locations on Dauphin Island.
The waves at the beach are minimal, so it is a great swimming spot for families. Adjacent to Dauphin Beach is a restaurant, the Pirate’s Bar and Grill, a waterfront eatery focusing on local seafood. The neighborhood also boasts a public golf course; the Isle Dauphine Golf Club offers beautiful views and an affordable round of golf.
Dauphin Island Town Hall
The Dauphin Island Town Hall area is close to a traditional downtown area, which visitors will find on the island. Various eateries like a bakery, bar and grill, and pub are within walking distance from most available lodgings. Bienville Boulevard is the primary thoroughfare in the neighborhood around Town Hall.
Additionally, Salt Creek Park is adjacent to the city center area and is an excellent place for children to play and dogs to stretch their legs. This neighborhood is a great place to find a dog-friendly place to stay on Dauphin Island.
Fairhope
Fairhope, Alabama, is about an hour’s drive from Dauphin Island and is a great place to stay when making plans to visit the island. Fairhope is a larger city with many options for accommodations with amenities like swimming pools, outdoor pools, and Wi-Fi.
Felix’s Fish Camp Restaurant is an excellent place to stop for a casual lunch or dinner on the drive between Fairhope and Dauphin Island.
Indian Shell Mound Park
Indian Shell Mound Park is known for its prehistoric shell mounds, abundant birdlife, and ancient trees. The park is adjacent to Coronado Cove and offers vast green spaces and a water view.
Gulf Shores
Gulf Shores, Alabama, is its own vacation location, but it is also a convenient place to stay if you plan to visit Dauphin Island–especially if you have a boat. Boaters can cross Mobile Bay and visit Dauphin Island in about forty minutes.
There is also a ferry that takes guests from Fort Morgan, near Gulf Shores, over to Dauphin Island for visitors to the area. The ferry is a great option to travel to Dauphin Island from more affordable and budget-friendly accommodations near Gulf Shores.
Notably, check out Gulf Shores’ city center for lots of local restaurants, cafes, and shops.
Fort Morgan
Adjacent to Gulf Shores is the Fort Morgan area. Fort Morgan offers various historical sites like Quarantine Wharf and the Fort’s battery. The ferry takes guests back and forth between Dauphin Island and Fort Morgan.
Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines are only separated by a strait of water, which makes for a fun adventure to travel via that waterway.
Hernando Beach
Hernando Beach is located in the southern portion of Dauphin Island, and the beach overlooks Pelican Bay. Various rentable beach houses and other lodgings are within walking distance of the beach itself.
Notably, Hernando Beach is a private area, an asset for those vacationing near the community by the beach.
Blue Heron Park
Blue Heron Park is a great place for picnicking, setting a hammock, and feeding the ducks. The park offers a dock where kayaks and paddleboards can launch. Staying in a vacation rental house near Blue Heron Park is an excellent option for the vacationer that enjoys adventure and activity.
One of the best local pizzerias, Island Rainbow, is near Blue Heron Park. Also, check out The Silver Pearl Gifts, a store that sells beautiful, local souvenirs. Across Bienville Boulevard from Blue Heron Park is the Public Beach with a boardwalk and covered picnic shelters. The beach is pet-friendly! Holiday Isle is central in the Blue Heron Park area.
Orange Beach
Orange Beach, Alabama, is known for fantastic access to Gulf Coast beaches and a live music venue called The Wharf. Other Orange Beach attractions include the Waterfront Park’s fishing pier and picnic areas, and the Orange Beach Indian and Sea Museum, which explores Native American and fishing history in the area.
Spending some time in Orange Beach and on Dauphin Island would be warranted and exciting for a multiday vacation. Orange Beach is adjacent to Gulf Shores to the east, and it is about an hour and a half from Dauphin Island by car. The drive to Fort Morgan and ferry to Dauphin Island is another travel option.
Orange Beach offers an abundance of vacation homes for rent in the area with beach views, hot tubs, swimming pools, and other family-friendly amenities.
West End Public Beach
Many beachfront Dauphin Island hotels are available at West End Public Beach. The public beach has showers, a picnic area, and a waterslide! This Dauphin Island beach is a perfect getaway.
Many Dauphin Island condos offer free Wi-Fi to help make your stay enjoyable. Staying on the island allows quick access to the city center and is an excellent use of limited vacation time.
Tillmans Corner
Tillmans Corner, Alabama, is a small town a short drive from Dauphin Island. It’s a great place to find some of the lowest-priced accommodations. The thirty-minute drive between Tillmans Corner and Dauphin Island follows along the Mobile Bay for a lovely view and pleasant travel experience.
What’s great about renting a home in Tillmans Corner is the variety of local grocery stores to stock up for a more extended stay. The stores include a Rouse’s, an Aldi, and a Walmart.
Tillmans Corner is a great place to stay for a family vacation, and finding a vacation home is more exciting than a traditional Holiday Inn.
Final Thoughts
Finding the perfect accommodations with a hot tub or gorgeous ocean views is accessible in the Dauphin Island area. Many vacation homes in the community have various amenities like access to local coffee shops, plenty of bedrooms, and outdoor pools.
Whether you stay on the island, in Fairhope, or Tillmans Corner, visiting Dauphin Island is a fun and exciting vacation opportunity.
Most attractions around Dauphin Island are within walking distance and are also very bike-friendly. The experiences highlighting the lovely natural habitat are apparent; visit a bird sanctuary or the Estuarium.
Securing a Dauphin Island condo or rental home for your vacation can be stress-free. Set up your getaway with access to public beaches, free Wi-Fi, and pools within a moderate USD budget. Book your visit to Dauphin Island, Alabama, today!
