A long Gulf-front fishing pier, a wide beach, and 28 miles of the Backcountry Trail fill a whole day, and a service member or veteran parks free and walks the pier free with proof of service.
Before you go
- Walk the pier for dolphins
- Or swap sand for the bike trail
What we checked, and when
Read off the venue's own page on 2026-09-02.
Parking is $15 all day for a personal vehicle and $35 for anything towing a trailer. The pier runs on an honor box: fishing is $10 an adult, $7 for a veteran or a campground guest, and sightseeing is $3 an adult and free for a veteran. Children 11 and under pay nothing either way. Anyone who paid the daily parking gets one fishing permit or three sightseeing admissions with it, so a family that parks once has most of the pier covered.
Where this came from
- Alabama State Parks, Gulf State Park pier page, read 09/02/2026: “The pier is open 24 hours per day.”; “Fishing and Sightseeing Hours 7 days a week, 24 hours a day”; “$15.00 - All day for personal vehicles $35.00 - All day for vehicles with a trailer, buses”; fishing “Adult - $10.00 Veteran - $7.00 Campground/Lodge Guest - $7.00 Children 11 years and under - Free”; sightseeing “Adult - $3.00 Veteran - Free Children 11 years and under - Free”; “United States Military Service Member Parking Free for active, former, and veteran service members”.
- Alabama State Parks, Gulf State Park, same read: “HOURS Trails and Picnic Areas: Sunrise to Sunset Headquarters Offices: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM”.