Best Beaches Near Mobile, Alabama

Dauphin Island Beaches

Dauphin Island offers the closest beaches to the city of Mobile and a great spot for a weekend getaway. Dauphin Island is actually a barrier island that is connected to the mainland by a long bridge.

• Here is everything you need to know about beach access parking on Dauphin Island.
• If you'd prefer to leave the car and enjoy a different route, ferry services also connect the coast with Dauphin Island.
• When you get there, you'll be blown away by the sheer beauty of this location. The historical Fort Gaines was constructed back in the 1800s and still remains standing to this day. Dauphin Island’s beaches can be found running all around the outside of the fort and stretching along the full length of the island's coastline, offering a lot of space for everyone to enjoy.
• There are several piers for fishing. You can purchase your fishing license online.
• Dauphin Island can be a nice spot to spend a weekend, with various condos and holiday homes available for rent in the local area.
• Be sure to check out the The Estuarium at Dauphin Island Sea Lab and the Audubon Bird Sanctuary (Video).
• Here is a quick summary of the best beaches to visit, including Dauphin Island Public Beach, East End Beach and more.

Dauphin Island is 45 minutes from Mobile (36.9 miles via AL-193 S).

Fairhope

The little arts and crafts town of Fairhope can be found on the eastern side of Mobile Bay, just a short drive away from the city of Mobile. It's a small, tranquil town with a lot of charm. Beautiful flowerbeds and trees line the streets and a warm welcome awaits you in every store and eatery, with Fairhope being a great place to stop off and spend a day at any time of year.

There are actually three unique beaches to be found in Fairhope, but they're all quite similar, providing lovely views out over the bar and relatively calm, warm waters that are just right for swimming and other fun activities. If you're looking for a pure, simple beach experience near Mobile, Alabama, this is definitely a great place to be. Fairhope is a 30- minute day trip from Mobile (20.4 minutes via I-10 E and US-98 E).

West Beach - Gulf Shores

Often ranked as the finest beach in all of Alabama, West Beach at the Gulf Shores area is found a relatively short distance from the city of Mobile, just south of Mobile Bay.

This beach runs for around six miles in total, providing more than enough space for everyone to enjoy a lot of privacy and find their own little spot of sandy paradise to sit back and relax.

Offering the cleanest, whitest sands and warmest waters, this fully public beach is a perfect place to spend a day. As soon as you arrive, the first views of the beach and Gulf waters will blow you away, and when you dip your toes in those waters on a sunny summer day, you won’t be able to resist heading further out to sea for a soothing soak.

A good tip for this beach is to take the time to walk west a little; as you head further along in this direction, the crowds will thin out and you’ll have even more intimacy. Gulf Shores is 1 hr 7 min (55.5 miles via I-10 E) from Mobile.

Point Clear

This is actually one of the closest beaches to Mobile, Alabama, but there's a catch: Point Clear is a private beach, with access exclusively reserved for guests of the Grand Hotel Marriott Resort. If you do happen to stay at the hotel, which is one of the oldest resorts in the city, this beach is definitely worth checking out.

The soft, white sand sinks beneath your feet and the waters are just right in this part of the bay. Not only that, but the resort also organizes lots of beach and water activities, with various equipment and sporting items available for rent and giving you a dozen different ways to while away the day.

The drive takes 39 minutes (23.9 miles via I-10 E and US-98 E).