Austin, TX to Orlando, FL

I drive Tampa to Yuma 4 times a year (2 round trips). All the info provided is correct - especially the Mississippi River bridge being a PIA.
I am not sure if Gulf Shores is your half way point or only stop enroute. If this is your only planned stop then the following comments apply.
My first thought is I think you are a bit agressive on driving Orlando to Gulf Shores in 1 day. I usually drive Tampa to Pensacola on day 1 - though I could continue to drive but I stop around 4:00 PM.
Not sure where you are coming from in the Texas Hill country but - San Antonio and Houston are absolute nitemares to drive! Especially if you hit them in or near rush hour traffic. I always time it so the first city I hit will be around 6:00 AM which makes the second city around 10:00 AM. If you do hit trafiic - I think Gulf Shores is way to agressive in one day.
My most favorite rest stop in the U.S. is the Stenner Rest Stop on the Mississippi side of the Mississippi/Louisana state line. It has dump stations and wonderful parking for RV's.

It depends on you idea of a short walk. I don't know of any RV campgrounds between Galveston, TX and Florida that have sites on the beach. A number have sites within 1500' or so.

I don't know if you have a park picked out in Orlando but I have stayed here several times and it in the right location, it is near all the attractions. It is a city park. Here is the link Bill Frederick Park There are not a lot of sites and they fill quickly. The times I was there it was during spring break.

You may not of heard of this website:

RV Park Reviews

Just go there, select Alabama, and then scroll down to Gulf Shores, and then you will find descriptions of the CG in that town. With ratings too.

Thanks, folks. Appreciate the good feedback. For our stopover (in Gulf Shores or wherever we finally decide) we really prefer a campground with beachfront access on the Gulf (not lake, lagoon, etc.). Do RV campgrounds exist where you can walk a very short distance from your campsite to the beach on the Gulf side?

I believe the Garlits museum is on I-75 ????

I expect you will take Florida's Turnpike from I-75 over to I-4. It is a toll road as are several others in the Orlando area (408, 417, and 528). If you're going to be driving around the area on those roads (and they are absolutely the best way to get around), you may want to consider getting an 'E-Pass', available at any Publix grocery store. Lived in the Orlando area for over 15 years and never understood why folks would wait in those long lines to pay cash at the toll booths. I had an E-Pass within a week of moving there.

Drop me a note if you have E-Pass questions.

Tim

Gulf State Park has been our stopping spot many times on your same route, but we've been lucky to stay not having reservations. The Gulf is clear and blue, beaches almost too white...you can see our feet when the water is up to your neck. Battleship Alabama is a blast for kids (and adults), but it takes awhile to get em off...near the Gulf Shores exit. Search for Lambert's Restaurant in Gulf Shores, but that's a thread all it's on. The rest is just interstate, but some parts look like East TX. If the drag racer Don Garlits is familiar, he lives on I95 and has a super museum. Oh my, he's still the kid at 82!

Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores is right in Gulf Shores. It even has its own section of beach. Good park, but I would suggest early reservations, especially during Spring break.

I've done it many times, down I-10. We did it both ways this summer. We've never stopped at Gulf Shore tho, thought about doing the state park one year but they had a three day minimum stay. I-10 itself is fine. LA or MS always, one or the other or both, have the road torn up near the Mississippi river bridge. So it seems like there is always a traffic jam, the east bound lane was backed up for miles when we went thru going west.

Stay on I-12 when you get near New Orleans, it connects back into I-10 on the other side. I-10 thru Florida is flat as a board and a straight board at that. The most exciting part of the trip is the tunnel at Mobile.

You are doing the most boring part of our summer trips out west. I usually just go as fast as possible not expecting anything good until we get past San Antonio. We tried a couple of days in Louisiana the summer on the way back. Took the Tabasco tour and so on. Ate some gumbo at a highly rated restaurant. But we both felt it was not worth repeating.

BK