93°
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
27%
32
Baldwin County, AL · Gulf of Mexico
Gulf Shores Public Beach
101 E Beach Blvd, Gulf Shores, AL 36542
Alabama's flagship public beach — wide sugar-white quartz sand at the south end of AL-59. The Hangout (the local landmark restaurant/concert venue) is on the beach. Family Gulf coast in classic form; the boardwalk is short but the beach goes for miles east and west.
Today's Conditions
Skip the beach today.
Thunderstorms · 86°F water
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93. Heat index values as high as 107. West wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 79. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Weather
- 93°F air — hot — hydrate and seek shade
- 27% rain — pop-up showers possible
Water
- 86°F water — warm — full-day swim weather
Safety
- Thunderstorms — stay off the water when storms approach
- UV 11 (extreme) — spf 50+ mandatory, limit mid-day exposure
29 /100
skip
22 Swim
45 Sunbathe
23 Walk
31 Fish
28 Photo
Best for sunbathing today
Atmosphere
Air Temp
93°F
Mostly Cloudy
Wind
10 mph
W
Rain
27%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
11 Extreme
High 10 AM–02 PM · burn in ~18m
Burn-free before 08 AM & after 05 PM
Tomorrow
91°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Water
Water Temp
86°F
Swimming weather
Next Low Tide
11:13 PM
0.5 ft · in 2.1h
Wave Height
1.0 ft
5s · SE swell
Barometer
30.00 inHg
1016 hPa
Water Quality
Clean
10 MPN/100mL · Enterococcus
USGS · sampled 7mo ago
Rip Current Risk · Regional Reference
No zone-specific NWS forecast for this beach (GMZ650)
The MOB office's Surf Zone Forecast doesn't cover this beach's forecast zone directly. Nearby coastal zones it does cover are listed below — regional reference only, not a substitute for the conditions at this specific beach.
- ALZ265 Mobile Coastal-Baldwin Coastal — Dauphin Island, Fort Morgan, Gulf Shores, n/a
- FLZ202 Escambia Coastal-Santa Rosa Coastal-Okaloosa Coastal — Pensacola Beach, Gulf Breeze, Navarre Beach, n/a
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
7:00 AM
Sunset
8:52 PM
Moon · 18%
Waxing Crescent
Neap tides — smaller range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:18 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 1:36 PM | High | 0.9 ft |
| 11:13 PM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 9:48 AM | High | 0.7 ft |
| 8:02 PM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4:52 AM | High | 0.9 ft |
| 4:12 PM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4:55 AM | High | 1.1 ft |
| 4:42 PM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 5:23 AM | High | 1.3 ft |
| 5:22 PM | Low | 0.0 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 6:02 AM | High | 1.4 ft |
| 6:05 PM | Low | -0.0 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 6:48 AM | High | 1.5 ft |
| 6:51 PM | Low | -0.1 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 8735180, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
91°
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
61%
17
91°
Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
55%
20
90°
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
50%
21
91°
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
39%
25
92°
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
20%
38
91°
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
22%
40
What to Bring Today
- critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 11 — very high
- recommended Umbrella or shade warm day, light wind
- optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 86°F
- critical Extra water / electrolytes 93°F - heat risk
- recommended Cooling towel or hat sustained heat
Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).
Best Fishing Times Today
Solunar theory: fish activity peaks at moon transits (major) and moonrise/moonset (minor). All times local.
Minor
11:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Major
4:20 AM - 6:20 AM
Minor
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Major
4:40 PM - 6:40 PM
Beach Info
Parking
Paid public lot at Gulf Place; free lots at Gulf State Park further east. Metered street parking on Beach Blvd.
Dogs
Pets prohibited on Gulf Shores sand beaches year-round (not seasonal). Off-leash dog beach at Lake Shelby in Gulf State Park year-round.
Entry Fee
Free
Address
101 E Beach Blvd, Gulf Shores, AL 36542
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Gulf Shores Public Beach today?
Gulf Shores Public Beach shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. Seasonal lifeguards patrol the swim area in summer — follow their flags. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.
Is Gulf Shores Public Beach dog-friendly?
Pets prohibited on Gulf Shores sand beaches year-round (not seasonal). Off-leash dog beach at Lake Shelby in Gulf State Park year-round.
Is there an entry fee at Gulf Shores Public Beach?
Entry to Gulf Shores Public Beach is free.
Are there lifeguards at Gulf Shores Public Beach?
Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Gulf Shores Public Beach during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.
What amenities are at Gulf Shores Public Beach?
Amenities at Gulf Shores Public Beach include lifeguards, restaurants, restrooms, showers, shops, pavilion.
When is the water warmest at Gulf Shores Public Beach?
The Gulf of Mexico is bathwater-warm by mid-summer — 84-88°F is typical from July through September on the FL Gulf, TX coast, and AL/MS coast. Swimming comfortable from April through October on most of the Gulf.
Where is Gulf Shores Public Beach located?
Gulf Shores Public Beach is in Baldwin County, AL, at 101 E Beach Blvd, Gulf Shores, AL 36542.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS