Waterside camping near Orange Beach with campfires

Camp near Orange Beach for ocean relaxation, trail system exploration, and unique wildlife.

98% (458 reviews)

United States
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Alabama
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Orange Beach

98% (458 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Orange Beach

Top waterside campgrounds near orange beach with campfires

97%

(292)

Bay Forest Retreat

7 sites · Lodging, Tents11 acres · Navarre, FL

Explore 11+ acres of rustic and untamed woods. We are two military veteran families who enjoy the land as a place for family and friends to explore, camp, and relax at the 250+ feet of the East Bay beach. Primitive camping is permitted at designated wooded high grounds in the middle of the property. It is a 5 and 10-minute rugged hike in to the middle ground and waterfront, respectively. The trail remains under development, so please bring close-toed shoes or boots for hiking throughout the property (depending on rainfall, there may be mud and water). Our Glamper is a 10x12 canvas furnished tent located a short but rugged 2-minute hike from parking. It provides the opportunity to go camping without having to pack all the gear. Our location is minutes from the Emerald Coast - 7 mins to Navarre Beach, - 30 mins to Pensacola Beach, - 15 mins to Naval Live Oaks, - 45 mins to Fort Pickens, - 50 mins to NAS Pensacola, - 45 mins to Santa Rosa Island, - 35 mins to Okaloosa Island, - 40 mins to Destin. Recommended local restaurants: St. Michael's Brewery which has rotating food trucks and is family friendly, Ye Olde Brothers Brewery, Dewey Destin’s, Windjammers, TC’s Front Porch, Deb’s Coffee, The Eatery food truck park, Top’s Burgers, and New York Pizza Depot. Other sightseeing in the area includes: Museums: National Naval Aviation Museum, Air Force Armament Museum, Fort Pickens, Indian Temple Mound Museum, Pensacola Museum of Art, Museum of Industry, and Destin History & Fishing Museum Additional activities include: Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center, HH Arts Gallery, Emerald Coast Science Center, Gulf Breeze Zoo, and Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park.

Nearby parks

Explore the area’s public lands.

Meaher State Park

Daphne, Alabama

Waterside camping near Orange Beach with campfires guide

Overview

Sandy beaches and sparkling turquoise water in Orange Beach, Alabama, invite Gulf Coast campers to fish for trout, watch dolphins, and hike backcountry trails. Local accommodations from RV parks to seaside cottage rentals right in Orange Beach are available all along the coast, as well. Set sights on Gulf State Park, home to one of the best recreational trails in the country. From there, travel to Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge to view songbirds and nesting sea turtles in some of the most complex habitats in the region. Then spend the night at Big Lagoon State Park and partake in its singular sea kayaking and birding opportunities.

Where to go

Gulf State Park

Encompassing 6,150 acres of land, Gulf State Park is an ideal beach experience for any camper. Two miles of sandy beaches make way for swimming, sunbathing, and picnics. Move inland to Lake Shelby, a 900-acre freshwater lake, for boating, water skiing, canoeing, and kayaking. One of the true gems of the park is Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail, a trail system comprising over 28 miles of paved paths for both hiking and cycling. The park’s campground has 496 campsites for tents and RVs with full hookups, modern bathhouses, back-in and pull-through sites, as well as 11 primitive campsites and three glamping campsites.

Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge

Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge is one of the last remaining areas of undisturbed coastal barrier habitat in the state. The refuge’s diverse landscape includes 7,000 acres of beach dunes, scrub forest, swamps, and marshes. It’s home to over 370 species of migratory songbirds, and the park’s beaches are important nesting sites for loggerhead, green, and Kemp’s ridley sea turtles. Staff and volunteers offer regular dune hikes, bird walks, and night prowls. Camping is not allowed within the refuge to maintain habitats, but campers can stay in nearby private RV parks and cottage rentals.

Big Lagoon State Park

A short drive west across the Alabama-Florida border is Big Lagoon State Park. Enjoy the beach along Florida’s Big Lagoon before kayaking along Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail, a 1,515-mile sea kayaking path that goes around the entire state of Florida. Or, hike or bike the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, a network of sites that showcases wildlife native to Florida. The park’s 75 designated campsites are equipped with 30/50 electrical hookups, picnic tables, and fire rings, along with nearby dump stations and full-service restrooms.

When to go

Summer tends to be the busiest time of year in Ocean Beach as crowds rush to enjoy the sand, surf, and nearby state parks. July is the hottest month with an average high of 89°F. Campers looking for smaller crowds can visit in fall. Although winter is considered the offseason, low precipitation and temperate weather makes Orange Beach a solid, year-round destination.