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The Lodge at Gulf State Park Review: Eco-Friendly Stay

ByPaige Watts

Want to wake up to the sound of waves and step onto a balcony overlooking miles of protected shoreline? That’s what staying at The Lodge at Gulf State Park is like! This eco-friendly Hilton hotel in Gulf Shores, Alabama and is the perfect place to stay on your beach vacation!

If you want direct beach access, on-site restaurants, and a private balcony with ocean views (without the usual coastal crowds), then you’re going to love The Lodge at Gulf State Park! It’s one of the most unique places to stay in Gulf Shores thanks to its stunning location inside Gulf State Park and its commitment to environmentally responsible travel.

I had such a great stay at The Lodge at Gulf State Park, and I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to stay on the beach in Gulf Shores. Here’s my full review of The Lodge at Gulf State Park and what you can expect.

#1 Pick
Modern hotel room at The Lodge at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama, featuring a king-size bed with white linens and a light wood headboard, flanked by minimalist bedside lamps on rustic wooden tables. A cozy seating area with a gray chair, yellow accent pillow, and small round table sits near large sheer-draped windows, alongside a wooden dining table and desk setup.

The Lodge at Gulf State Park Overview

  • Certified eco-friendly
  • Beachfront property with direct beach access
  • Comfortable rooms & suites
  • Private balconies with gulf-views or lake-views
  • 4 on-site restaurants
  • Infinity edge pool open year-round
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The Lodge at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama, a beachfront hotel with a modern, rectangular design featuring multiple floors of balconies, each furnished with bright blue chairs facing the ocean. The building sits just beyond sandy dunes with sparse grasses under a clear blue sky, giving the scene a relaxed coastal atmosphere.

The Lodge at Gulf State Park Review

The Lodge at Gulf State Park is a Hilton hotel located within Alabama’s Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores.

The state park opened its original lodge in 1974 and was great for increasing tourism in the area. But after being battered by hurricanes and an oil spill, the state park and the old lodge were in desperate need of restoration.

The new Lodge was opened in 2018, funded by the Gulf State Park Enhancement Project that came out of the 2010 BP oil spill. To combat the damage done by the oil spill, the Lodge was made to be a model of environmentally friendly coastal development, using cutting edge sustainable construction and daily eco-friendly practices.

Here’s everything you need to know about staying at The Lodge at Gulf State Park.

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The Guest Room

Cozy modern hotel room at The Lodge at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama, with a large bed made up in crisp white linens and a light wood headboard, softly lit by wall-mounted bedside lamps. A small rustic nightstand holds a blue alarm clock, while a gray accent chair with a yellow pillow and a round side table sit by floor-to-ceiling curtains.
Cozy hotel room workspace at The Lodge at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama, with a round wooden table, a red-woven chair, and a black desk phone under a large modern floor lamp. A wood-framed mirror and artwork—including a “Enjoy Gulf State Park, Gulf Shores Alabama” poster—hang on the wall beside a small cabinet with glasses and an ice bucket.
Two bright blue Adirondack chairs and a small black side table sit on a hotel balcony overlooking sandy dunes and the shimmering ocean at The Lodge at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Morning sunlight casts long shadows through the railing as clouds drift across the sky.

The Lodge at Gulf State Park has 350 guest rooms. You have your choice of rooms with a king-sized bed, two queen-sized beds, or a room with bunk beds. They also have king suites and suites with bunk beds. Rooms either face the Gulf or the state park with views of Lake Shelby.

I stayed in a King Room with a balcony Gulf-front view. I was on the first floor, so my beach view was mostly of the sand dunes. I could see a little bit of the ocean. The balcony had a couple chairs on it and a partition separating me from the balcony next door.

The room had a king-sized bed, a 50″ TV, a mini fridge, a coffee maker, a dresser, a table and chair, another chair with a side table, and a nice large wardrobe with cubbies attached.

The bathroom was spacious with a large shower. It came with eco-friendly bath amenities and BeeKind products. I loved the scent of the shower gel that was made with honey and lemongrass.

The decor was simple and beachy. There were a few prints with a Gulf State Park theme, wood for the tables, sandy browns for the carpet and headboard, and a pop of color from the chairs and prints.

The Amenities

A tranquil pool deck at dusk overlooks dunes and the calm ocean at The Lodge at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama. A few modern white lounge chairs sit near the pool, with closed umbrellas and softly glowing lights lining the edge. The sky fades from pale blue to warm peach as the sun sets beyond the water.
A large, sparkling blue resort pool at The Lodge at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama stretches toward a modern hotel building with rows of balconies. White umbrellas provide shade around the poolside seating area, and a restaurant called “Dragonfly” sits just beyond the pool steps. The scene is bright and sunny, with clean, contemporary architecture and inviting water.
A serene beachside scene at sunset, showing a long pier stretching into the ocean with an offshore platform visible in the distance. Below, a resort pool area with lounge chairs and white umbrellas sits beside sandy dunes at The Lodge at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The sky glows in soft shades of orange and pink as the sun sets over the water.

The Lodge at Gulf State Park has some great amenities: beach access, on-site dining, a pool, state park access, and a bike share program.

The hotel is on 2.5 miles of Gulf Shores’ famous sugar-white beaches. There are two boardwalks that provide direct access to the beach from each side of the hotel property.

The infinity-edge pool faces the beach and is the perfect spot to hang out. The pool is open year-round, though it is not heated. There are poolside lounge chairs, hammocks, umbrellas, games, and a bar.

If you want to explore the state park by bike, the hotel offers a complimentary bike rental program. You can rent a bike for 3 hours for free using the Bloom app (available to those 16+).

Sustainability Practices

A wide, open-air walkway at The Lodge at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama features tall wooden pillars supporting a roof strung with warm, hanging lights. Large glass doors line the building on the right, while two people walk along a fenced path on the left near sandy dunes. The atmosphere is bright with a light coastal haze in the background.

The Lodge at Gulf State Park is LEED-certified and is designed to maximize its energy efficiency and minimalize its impact on the environment. The property is LEED Gold, SITES Platinum, and FORTIFIED Commercial certified.

During construction, they protected the coastal dunes and native plant life. The new lodge takes up less of a footprint than the original, and it was moved further from the Gulf to protect the dunes.

The buildings were designed to conserve energy with motion sensor lights and AC units that cut off when the balcony door is open, take advantage of the gulf breeze for natural ventilation, and incorporate natural lighting.

The Lodge repurposes water from condensation from the HVAC system to replace the water in the pool. The parking lot is designed to allow rainwater to drain into the ground.

The lighting of the hotel is designed with nesting sea turtles in mind: all the lights are pointed away from the beach, and lights on the beachside of the property are warmer so as not to confuse the turtles.

Other sustainability practices include eco-friendly bath amenities, waste reduction and recycling programs, and conscientious menus for their restaurants. You can read more about the Lodge’s environmentally friendly practices here.

The Restaurants and Bars

A breakfast plate with scrambled eggs, a slice of crispy bacon, roasted potatoes, pineapple chunks, raspberries, blackberries, and a drink in a clear glass sits on a table with a woven blue placemat from Foodcraft at The Lodge at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
A hand holds up a golden-brown muffin with a dusting of sugar on top, set against a softly blurred lounge area with couches and large windows letting in natural light at Roasted Oak at The Lodge at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

The Lodge at Gulf State Park has 4 delicious on-site restaurants for everything from breakfast to a nightcap.

Foodcraft is the hotel’s casual breakfast, lunch, and dinner restaurant. They serve fresh coastal favorites with beachfront views from both indoor and outdoor seating.

Perch is the hotel’s rooftop dining, located upstairs of Foodcraft. This more upscale dining option features premium steaks, fresh seafood, handcrafted cocktails, and open-air beach views. This is a great spot to watch the sunset!

Roasted Oak is the hotel’s coffee shop / wine bar located in the lobby. During the day, you can grab baked goods and coffee for breakfast, and light bites and grab-and-go for lunch. At night, you can get wine, beer, and cocktails.

The Dragonfly is the poolside bar and grill that offers casual dining and refreshing cocktails without having to leave the pool deck.

Gulf State Park

A long wooden boardwalk and a winding paved path stretch across a grassy landscape beside the calm Lake Shelby at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Scattered trees, a few buildings, and distant cars sit under a bright blue sky filled with large, fluffy white clouds.
A calm lakeside scene over Lake Shelby at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama features tall golden reeds along the water’s edge and a long wooden boardwalk stretching across the lake. Sparse trees and low vegetation sit under a clear blue sky, creating a peaceful, open landscape.
A long wooden boardwalk stretches over a calm Lake Shelby toward a small tree-covered island, bordered by tall reeds, at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama. A wide expanse of bright blue sky filled with fluffy white clouds dominates the scene, giving it an open, peaceful feel.

Gulf State Park is over 6,150 acres of protected parkland with three scenic lakes: Lake Shelby, Middle Lake, and Little Lake.

The park has 28 miles of hiking and biking trails, Segway tours, water activities, fishing, and birdwatching.

The Lodge at Gulf State Park provides easy access to the park’s fun activities. It’s just a short walk across a pedestrian bridge connecting the Lodge with the state park across the street.

You can go for a walk or a bike ride along the paved trails around the lake, visit the Nature Center, check out the Interoperative Center, or go fishing on the pier. There’s a lot to do at this Alabama state park!

Benefits of Staying at The Lodge

A spacious, sunlit lounge at The Lodge at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama features a mix of cozy sofas, woven armchairs, and modern seating arranged around a rustic wooden coffee table topped with a checkerboard. Large windows line the room, letting in natural light, while a sleek fireplace and decorative pillows add to the relaxed, coastal atmosphere.

The Lodge at Gulf State Park is the perfect place to stay in Gulf Shores!

The location within the state park is ideal for those who are interested in exploring more of Gulf Shores’ outdoor activities. The hotel’s beachfront location is unbeatable, with direct access to pristine white sand beaches.

With the pool, private balconies, and on-site restaurants, you won’t have to leave the property if you’re just looking for a relaxing weekend on the beach.

And the Lodge is a Hilton hotel, so you can earn points with your stay.

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What I didn’t love

While I had a great stay at The Lodge at Gulf State Park, there were a few drawbacks I wanted to mention.

First, I’m very particular about my room being dark when I’m trying to sleep. I’m very sensitive to light. The curtains were really good and thick, but the ceiling was so tall that it was hard to get the curtains to close all the way. I had to stand on a chair to pull at them because the curtain rod was bending as I tried to pull it.

There was also a good bit of light coming from the electronic throughout the room. So I had to break out my eye mask at this hotel in order to sleep.

The layout of the hotel was a little confusing when I arrived, especially as I arrived in the dark. Talking to other people, it apparently wasn’t any more clear during the daytime.

There’s something about how the roads are laid out that make you feel like you’re turning into a service entrance to the hotel. They also aren’t very clear if they’re one way or two way.

There are three separate buildings, and if you’re room is at the end of one of the guest room buildings, you’ll have a long walk to go!

A quiet beach scene at dusk at The Lodge at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama shows sandy dunes with sparse grasses in the foreground, calm ocean waves in the distance, and a wooden pier extending from the right where a few people stand under a small shelter, all beneath a pastel sky fading from blue to pink.

Good To Know

  • The hotel is entirely non-smoking
  • There is free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel
  • Both self-parking and valet parking are paid
  • The Gulf State Park Tram is available for rides within Gulf State Park

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A long wooden boardwalk stretches forward toward modern beachside buildings that make up The Lodge at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama, with sandy dunes and sparse vegetation on either side under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.

My Experience at The Lodge at Gulf State Park

Overall, I had a wonderful stay at The Lodge at Gulf State Park!

I loved having direct access to the beach and easy access to the state park. The pool, though a little chilly when I visited, was a lovely place to relax. And the sunsets from this hotel are some of the best!

Who Should Stay at The Lodge

The Lodge at Gulf State Park is perfect for couples and solo travelers who don’t need a whole beach condo to themselves.

Families will also enjoy staying here with the hotel’s bunk bed guest rooms.

I would say this hotel is best for shorter beach stays and weekend trips. Whereas if you’re staying longer, you may want the space a condo can provide.

FAQs About The Lodge at Gulf State Park

Does The Lodge at Gulf State Park have beach chairs?

You can rent beach chairs through third party companies. The Lodge does not provide beach chairs through the hotel.

Does The Lodge at Gulf State Park have parking?

Yes, the hotel provides both valet and self-parking for a fee.

Is The Lodge at Gulf State Park pet friendly?

No, the hotel does not allow pets. The hotel does allow service animals.

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More Alabama Itineraries

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Cheers!

Paige

The Lodge at Gulf State Park Review: Eco-Friendly Stay

Would you stay at The Lodge of Gulf State Park? Let me know what you think of this Gulf Shores hotel in the comments!

Paige Watts is a travel expert and author of What's With Atlanta?, a guide to the quirks and charm of the ATL. A life-long traveler, Paige is dedicated to helping you discover the best things to do in the Southern USA and around the world. Her work has been featured in The Culture Trip, Matador, Newsbreak, MSN, NPR, and countless other interviews and podcasts.

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