Gulf State Park

[jlee745]

I just booked a site at Gulf State Park for June 7-11. This is our first time down to this area. We will be coming in Thursday a little before lunch should we have a good choice of sites or are they usually full this time of the week. Will they allow you to drive thru and pick a site or do you decide at the gate? I would love to hear of any recommendations of places to see and places to eat. I have a 15 & 13 year old kids so I hope there is something in the area for them.
Thanks

[craigt]

yes, we are always there before then.

[jlee745]

I just read online Gulf Shores check in time is 4. Will they let you check in earlier than that?

[Chiefcpo]

the zip is on the main street (59) and wha we call the main park road (west of state park road #2) looks great here now. best if you get reservation now and have the other person have your TV tag # and maybe he can get you a site if hey pay at same time and meet you with the pass ( just a guess on my part)

[Taplep]

Inside the park. You can get info when you register to camp. Google it or go to Alabama State Park to get pricing

[reubenray]

Where is the zip line at? We are heading to GSP at the end of the month for 10 nights.

[Taplep]

Just spent a week there over spring break. Awesome!! I had reservations and when I had arrived, I asked if I could change my spot. I was given a choice of campsites, but I had to choose one before I could set up. I picked one and had the other open site numbers with me in case the other site was better. I did chang sites with no problem other than going back and having my car pass and post sign changed--super easy. I really wanted a lake site but none were available. Next morning several campers left the lake sites, so I rode my bike back to registration and paid the upgrade and changed my site--again super easy! There are really no 'bad' sites, unless you are by the dump station and trash area.
Lots to do in the area. Great bike/walking trails all over the campground and beyond. GSP has a new zip line to try--looked like fun. Went to Ft Morgan and found that interesting, including my 2 teenaged boys. Gotta go to Lambert's cafe to eat. Lots off food and fun. Be prepared for a long waits.
You will have a blast there--we are trying to go back again over the summer!!

[2gypsies1]

jlee745 wrote:
One more question. We will not be arriving until eleven or twelve that night. When we arrive to the gate house at that time of night if you don't know the sites will they let you drive around to see what you want or will they tell you what sites they suggest. I have wrote several no. down that I liked from your pictures but thats only like ten out of the almost 500 sites. I'm am new to not having a specific site booked.

We have a teacup rat terrier thats around 4 lbs.

Why don't you just call the park for your answers on parking/choosing a site after dark? Rules always change from year to year.... Also, there are alligators in the lake so watch you dog carefully.

[Trlrboy]

No Blue Angels airshows or practice sessions at this time.

[Major_Dad]

Trlrboy wrote:
Take the boys to the Naval Air Museum in Pensacola on the day that the Blue Angels practice. Very cool for everyone. Bring a hat as you'll be out in the sun.
Check out my signature photolink and you'll find an album with 80+ pictures of the park.

X2 on the Naval Air Museum. It's free, and the second best one in the country (after the Air Force museum, naturally!)

I don't know how much the Blue Angels are practicing, since the executive branch canceled all their airshow appearances. Same for the Thunderbirds at Nellis AFB (Las Vegas).

[craigt]

Probably won't let you grab it unless you register and pay for the site separately when you get there.

As I remember, they have you go in and pick a site, do all the paperwork and pay for it before you go drive around looking for empty sites. If you decide on a different available site, you have to go through the entire process again, e.g. paperwork and payment (different sites have different rates). Seems kind of dumb to me, but that is how they do it.

Most Alabama State Parks require/want some equipment set up on the site immediately, so someone else driving through doesn't think the site is vacant and try to register for it.

A reservation really doesn't guarantee you anything other than that they will have a space available (out of 500) when you come in. Makes it sort of tough if you are trying to get your friends on the site next to yours.

Great park. We will probably be there mid to late June.

[jlee745]

Going back to Gulf Shores this summer. We have friends heading down earlier that day. We have reservations and I was wondering if the park would let them grab us a site in advance.

[Dixiechick]

The office is staffed 24/7 and they can recommend sites based on your preferences when you check in. Don't know that you can see very much after dark.

[jlee745]

One more question. We will not be arriving until eleven or twelve that night. When we arrive to the gate house at that time of night if you don't know the sites will they let you drive around to see what you want or will they tell you what sites they suggest. I have wrote several no. down that I liked from your pictures but thats only like ten out of the almost 500 sites. I'm am new to not having a specific site booked.

We have a teacup rat terrier thats around 4 lbs.

[B_s_Bunch]

If you get a site lake side and have a pet dont leave it un attended:E have fun and enjoy the area. Larry