This star-shaped Civil War fort guards the mouth of Mobile Bay. Climb the ramparts, tour the museum, and catch the ferry to Dauphin Island. The venue names active, reserve, and retired military as free. It says nothing about non-retired veterans, so budget the $8 and ask at the gate. It is a long drive, so make it a full Gulf Shores day.
Before you go
- Fort 8–5, museum 9–4 daily
- Active/reserve/retired mil free: vet status ask
- ~1h50 drive: full Gulf Shores day
What we checked, and when
Read off the venue's own page on 2026-09-02.
Fort Morgan charges $8 for an adult and $5 for a child 6-18, college student, or senior, but the venue's own Family of Four package, covering 2 adults and 2 children, is $20, a $6 saving over paying separately. The site does not publish a rate for children under 6; call ahead to confirm they are free. Active, reserve, and retired military with ID get in free, and the site does not extend that to veterans generally. Blue Star Museums separately gives free admission to active-duty personnel and their families between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Boat launch is a separate optional fee ($2/day, $10/week, or $25/month).
~1h50 drive: bundle the day
Free military entry is for active, reserve and retired with ID. A veteran without a retiree card should ask at the gate
Where this came from
- Fort Morgan hours: “Fort and Grounds: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, daily”, “Museum: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm, daily” (read 09/02/2026)
- Fort Morgan admission, read 09/02/2026: adult “$8”, child 6-18 “$5”, senior “$5”, college students “$5”, “Military (Active, Reserve, or Retired with ID): FREE”, family of four (2 adults, 2 children) “$20”, school groups “$3”