Facts

Population: 5,044 year round residents, and 40,944 tourists.

Location: On the Gulf of Mexico’s Pleasure Island, in southwestern Alabama.

Time Zone: Gulf Shores is in the central time zone. When it is noon in New York City; it is 11:00 AM in Gulf Shores.

Elevation: 2 feet

Weather:

Average Temperatures:

Month

High

Low

January

61F

41F

February

58F

37F

March

65F

42F

April

74F

50F

May

82F

58F

June

89F

67F

July

91F

70F

August

90F

69F

September

86F

63F

October

76F

51F

November

64F

40F

December

56F

35F

When to Go

The gulf coast area has a mild climate with an average annual temperature of 67.4 degrees. The average annual precipitation is 67 inches, and the growing season is 292 days. The beaches are pleasant for sunning and walking year round. Watersports begin in the spring and are at their peak in summer and early fall. Festivals and fantastic scenery occur year round.

Business Hours

Banks are usually open weekdays 9 to 3 and some Saturday mornings; the post office from 8 to 5 weekdays and often on Saturday mornings. Shops in urban and suburban areas, particularly in indoor and smaller malls, typically open at 9 or 10 daily and stay open until anywhere from 6 to 10 PM on weekdays and Saturdays, and until 5 or 6 on Sundays.

Holidays

New Year's Day Jan. 1

Martin Luther King, Jr., Day and Robert E. Lee’s birthday: 3rd Mon. in Jan.

Washington’s Birthday: 3rd Mon. in Feb.

Confederate Day: 4th Mon. in April

Memorial Day last Mon. in May

Jefferson Davis’s Birthday: 1st Mon. in June

Independence Day July 4

Labor Day 1st Mon. in Sept.

Columbus Day: 2nd Mon. in October

Veteran’s Day: Nov. 11

Thanksgiving Day 4th Thurs. in Nov.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Dec. 24 and 25

New Year's Eve Dec. 31.

Emergencies

Ambulance, Fire , Police ( 911).

The Nearest Hospital Is South Baldwin Regional Medical Center (800-580-Docs) Located In Foley.

South Baldwin Hospital offers 24 hour emergency services (334-952-3400). Numerous medical professionals practice in the area providing both family practice and specialized care.

Taxes

The sales tax in Alabama is 4% with local options to impose additional increments.

In Gulf Shores, lodgings are taxed 5% and meals in a restaurant 9.5%.

Tipping

At restaurants, a 15% tip is standard for waiters; up to 20% may be expected at more expensive establishments. The same goes for taxi drivers, bartenders, and hairdressers.

Telephones

The country code for the United States is 1. The area code in Gulf Shores is 251.

Getting There

By Air

Airports

Municipal air service is available in Gulf Shores from the Jack Edwards Municipal Airport, with the longest paved runway being 6500 feet. The closest commercial air service is available in Pensacola (30 Miles) at The Pensacola Regional Airport (850-435-1746). Major Carriers serving the Airport are Continental, Us Air, Delta, Northwest and American. Other Commercial Airports are located in Mobile (334-633-0313) and Gulf Port, Mississippi (228-863-5951).

Mobile Regional Airport

www.mobairport.com

251-633-0313

Pensacola Regional Airport

www.flypensacola.com

850-435-1746

Jack Edwards Airport—Gulf Shores

www.gulfshoresairport.com

251-968-6380

Foley Municipal Airport

251-943-5214

By Sea

Arriving by sea is easy, too. Travel the Intracoastal Waterway to the Gulf Coast. The Tennessee-Tombigbee links the Intracoastal Waterway to several river ports in the Midwest.

By Land

The Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area is close to Atlanta, Chattanooga, Memphis, Nashville and Houston. If you live in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Birmingham, Montgomery or Jackson, you can be there in a few hours.

Once you exit I-65, I-10 or Highway 98, the Gulf Shores Parkway and Foley Beach Express make it easy to drive straight to the beach.

Ferry Transportation

Mobile Bay Ferry Schedule

Mobile Bay Ferry Ticket Booth

251-540-7787

Ground Transportation

Baldwin Rural Area Transportation System (BRATS)

251-947-2728

Luxury Limo, LLC

251-968-6994

Mobile Bay Transportation Co., Inc.

(Airport shuttle) 251-981-1988

Car Rentals

Jack Edwards Airport Car Rentals—Gulf Shores

251-968-6380