Alabama Gulf Coast · Alabama

Cotton Bayou Beach

State: Alabama
County: Baldwin County
City / community: Orange Beach

US-AL-gulf-coast · Alabama Gulf Coast

A named Gulf beach access in Orange Beach, separate from Cotton Bayou’s boat launches and neighboring private venues. Use the state-park arrival and check posted beach rules.

Good fit: A named Gulf beach access in Orange Beach, separate from Cotton Bayou’s boat launches and neighboring private venues. Use the state-park arrival and check posted beach rules.

Plan around: Check named entrance facilities, paid parking and any remaining sand gaps.

Get directions ↗Compare this beach View saved beaches

PLAN THE BASICS

At a glance

Parking: Parking & entry · see routeDetails & restrictions
Dogs: NoDetails & restrictions
Restrooms: YesDetails & restrictions
Lifeguards: SeasonalDetails & restrictions
Public access: Public accessDetails & restrictions
Beach driving: NoDetails & restrictions
Accessibility: Route & sand gaps · see detailsDetails & restrictions

Choose an entrance

Cotton Bayou Beach access

25900 Perdido Beach Blvd Authority listing is separate from a same-day opening report. authoritative arrival pin unconfirmed

Official route / restriction details ↗

Parking, route & accessibility evidence

Parking & entry: Parking & entry · see route. State beach parking is $15 per personal vehicle per day; the paid day pass works at all six state beach accesses. Trailer/bus/large-RV parking is $35 and limited to Pavilion/Pier; overnight camping is prohibited.

Parking source ↗

Accessibility: Route & sand gaps · see details. The park manager identifies Cotton Bayou as handicap accessible; the individual official tourism listing identifies an ADA beach access mat at the east ramp. These sources do not establish a continuous accessible route into the water or a precise mat endpoint.

Accessibility source ↗

Open the county entrance directory ↗

Use the directory to check each entrance’s identity and status. Guide map pins are approximate shoreline locations, not turn-by-turn entrance directions or proof of current opening.

Known for

A named public arrival to Gulf State Park’s white-sand Gulf shoreline; beach access and parking listed by the park.

Sources & review dates

known for
Source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-07

Rules & facilities

Check before you go

Check current park notices and the on-site water-condition flag. Confirm restroom availability and the accessible route you need.

Sources & review dates

check before you go
Source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-07

Admission, payment & passes

Daily parking15 dollars for a personal vehicle; one daypass works at all six park accesses. Trailer/bus/largeRV35 dollars, permitted only at Pavilion/Pier. Annual200 dollars per registered vehicle, calendar year. QR payment registers licenseplate; no windshield receipt required. Military and Orange Beach resident programs have their own eligibility rules.

Sources & review dates

admission payment passes
Source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-07

What to bring & supporting visit details

Plan your visit

Use the named beach-access address and check current parking charges. A day parking purchase is valid at all six park beach accesses; bus/trailer/largeRV parking is confined to Pier/Pavilion. Confirm equipment-specific accessible route where needed.

Sources & review dates

plan your visit
Source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-07

Public or private?

Public access

Who can visit: Visitors using the named lawful public route, subject to the manager’s restrictions and current notices.

Entry route, fees & access boundaries

Manager / access authority: Alabama State Parks
Access basis: The state park lists this named beach access. Use its public entrance; parking admission is separate from shore status.
Where to enter: The state park lists this named beach access. Use its public entrance; parking admission is separate from shore status.
Fees & reservations: See the entrance section for parking and entry details and sources.
Restrictions & exceptions: Public access rules details are unconfirmed for this shore. Check with the manager before relying on them.
What this label covers: Named public route and destination only; no surveyed outer boundary or right across adjacent private property.

Beach ownership, the route across land, public shoreline-use rights and access to facilities are separate questions. Rules vary by state and location. Use the identified public entrance or documented permission; neither a nearby resort nor an admission fee by itself establishes that a beach is private. A mapped beach is not permission to cross private property.

Cotton Bayou Beach · public access ↗

Access policy reviewed 2026-10-07. Not a live closure report or a property-boundary survey.

Allowed & prohibited activities

Alcohol: State park code prohibits possessing or consuming alcohol in all Gulf State Park beach areas and adjacent beach parking, pavilion, pier and picnic areas unless written permission is granted by the Commissioner/designee.

Fires and grills: Fires are limited to provided stoves, grills, fireplaces or other designated places; attended continuously and completely extinguished after use. No general permission for beach bonfires.

Overnight camping: Tents/trailers/camping equipment may only be placed in designated camping areas. Beach parking is not overnight camping; the beachfront access listing expressly excludes overnight camping.

Shore fishing: Follow Alabama fishing laws and license requirements. State park public beaches prohibit shark fishing and shark gear unless a specific regulation provides otherwise. No water activity—including wading, swimming, surfing, fishing, boating or scuba—within100 yards of the Gulf State Park saltwater pier.

Sources & review dates

Alcohol · Fires and grills · Overnight camping · Shore fishing
Source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-07

Hours: Hours · check named route
Hours details are unconfirmed for this shore. Check with the manager before relying on them.
Dogs on the beach: No ordinary beach pets
State park beach/swimming areas prohibit pets. Helping/service animals have the stated disability exception; dog-friendly park trails are a different scope.
Cotton Bayou Beach · dogs ↗
Lifeguards: Seasonal service · not live duty
Orange Beach posts seasonal service March1–October31. Mar–May and Sep–Oct10 am–6 pm; Memorial–Labor Day10 am–8 pm with reduced staffing after6 pm. Weather can alter hours. This named access has a static tower.
Cotton Bayou Beach · lifeguards ↗
Restrooms: Restrooms · see entrance
The individual official destination listing identifies restrooms and outdoor showers at this named beach access. Opening status on the day of a visit still requires checking.
Cotton Bayou Beach · restrooms showers ↗
Access & beach rules: Named manager rules
Public access rules details are unconfirmed for this shore. Check with the manager before relying on them.
Cotton Bayou Beach · public access rules ↗
Beach driving: Beach driving · see rules
Motorized vehicles and bicycles are prohibited in state park beach areas except where specifically permitted; disability mobility devices have the stated ADA exception.
Cotton Bayou Beach · driving ↗

Conditions & activities Surf, sand, wildlife and suitability

Conditions at the beach

ADEM named sampling shoreline coordinates; not entrance coordinates. Weather forecasts use this separate land point; this is a named shoreline planning or sampling reference, not proof of a public entrance. Airport observations are regional, not beach sensors.

Saved reports below are dated snapshots, not live conditions. JavaScript refreshes them from official sources when available. Source timestamps and tide times identify their time zone.

Weather observation

Saved report · not live. This dated snapshot may be out of date. Check the official source before your visit.

Temperature unavailable

Pensacola Naval Air Station · nearby reporting station, not a beach sensor.

Observation: 2026-10-07T02:56:00+00:00.
Retrieved: 2026-10-07T03:15:36.294Z.
Live-use expiration: 2026-10-07T04:56:00.000Z. This static copy never certifies current conditions.

NWS station observation ↗

UV forecast

No current-hour UV estimate is shown in this saved page. Use sun protection; the live forecast loads when available.

EPA UV scale & sun protection ↗

National Weather Service ↗

Daily forecast

Saved report · not live. This dated snapshot may be out of date. Check the official source before your visit.

Saved forecast for ADEM named sampling shoreline coordinates; not entrance coordinates

2026-10-06T22:00:00-05:00–2026-10-07T06:00:00-05:00: Tonight · 70°F · Mostly Cloudy · wind 15 to 20 mph NE
2026-10-07T06:00:00-05:00–2026-10-07T18:00:00-05:00: Wednesday · 83°F · Partly Sunny · wind 15 to 20 mph NE

Source issued/updated: 2026-10-07T02:41:43+00:00.
Retrieved: 2026-10-07T03:15:36.579Z.
Live-use expiration: 2026-10-07T11:00:00.000Z. This static copy never certifies current conditions.

NWS grid forecast ↗

High & low tides

Saved prediction · not live. This dated snapshot may be out of date. Check the official source before your visit.

Gulf State Park Pier. Regional Gulf reference; Alabama Point station is inside inlet and not silently substituted Predictions, not measured water levels or safe crossing times.

2026-10-06 06:48 · High tide
2026-10-06 16:18 · Low tide
2026-10-07 08:00 · High tide
2026-10-07 16:02 · Low tide
2026-10-07 21:46 · High tide

Prediction dates: 2026-10-06–2026-10-07 · station local time.
Retrieved: 2026-10-07T03:15:35.927Z.
Live-use expiration: 2026-10-08T03:15:35.927Z. This static copy never certifies current conditions.

NOAA tide predictions ↗

Gulf State Park Pier. Regional Gulf reference; Alabama Point station is inside inlet and not silently substituted Predictions, not measured water levels or safe crossing times.

NOAA tide station ↗

NOAA swim & rip-current forecast

Saved report · not live. This dated snapshot may be out of date. Check the official source before your visit.

Forecast rip-current risk: High · Baldwin Coastal

3 to 4 feet.
In the lower 80s.
Northeast winds around 15 mph.
Regional open-Gulf forecast, not an observed flag or sheltered-bay assessment.

Source issued/updated: 2026-10-07T02:43:00+00:00.
Retrieved: 2026-10-07T03:15:36.148Z.
Live-use expiration: 2026-10-08T02:00:00.000Z. This static copy never certifies current conditions.

NWS Mobile Baldwin Coastal ALZ266 forecast ↗

Forecast risk is not the flag flying at this beach. Conditions can vary within the forecast area.

Official local flag & condition status

Flag color: not currently verified

Check the named managing authority and posted flags on arrival. No current observed flag is established by a forecast.

Cotton Bayou Beach official notices ↗NWS Mobile Alabama beach forecast ↗ADEM coastal beach monitoring ↗

The Beach Database does not convert weather or a rip-current forecast into a colored flag. Check flags and signs on arrival and ask a lifeguard where available.

Weather warnings & alerts

Saved report · not live. This dated snapshot may be out of date. Check the official source before your visit.

Alerts returned at the recorded check

Rip Current Statement · Rip Current Statement issued October 6 at 6:56PM CDT until October 11 at 6:00AM CDT by NWS Mobile AL · source expiration 2026-10-11T06:00:00-05:00

Source issued/updated: 2026-10-07T03:13:38+00:00.
Retrieved: 2026-10-07T03:15:36.486Z.
Live-use expiration: 2026-10-07T05:13:38.000Z. This static copy never certifies current conditions.

NWS area alert feed ↗

Weather alerts do not confirm swimming safety, lifeguard staffing, water quality or beach closures. No alert does not mean safe water.

Water quality

Saved laboratory result · not a current advisory check

Cotton Bayou · sample 2026-09-21: <10 Count/100 ml (Enterococcus Count/100 ml *).

Source status dated 2026-09-21. Retrieved 2026-10-07T02:38:15.910735+00:00. Publication/advisory issuance time not established. This result applies to its named sampling point and date, rather than every entrance or current swimming safety.

Laboratory bacteria results are separate from typical water clarity, snorkeling visibility, forecast rip risk and observed warning flags.

Official named station report / monitoring map ↗

Crowd meter

Crowd patterns are unconfirmed; allow flexibility on busy weekends and event days.

Sources & review dates

crowds
· reviewed Date not recorded

Sand & sandcastles

Part of the state park Gulf coastline with white sand; no numeric sand suitability score established.

Sources & review dates

sand shoreline
Source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-07

Surfing profile

Gulf surf conditions vary. NWS warns life-threatening rip currents may occur near groins, jetties, reefs and piers even in its LowRisk category. Use the issued regional forecast and local water flags; a static guide does not establish safe swimming or typical wave height.

Sources & review dates

surf
Source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-07

Beachcombing

Shelling conditions and collection rules are unconfirmed; leave living animals and protected natural materials undisturbed.

Natural shark-tooth finds and collecting rules have not been confirmed here.

Sources & review dates

shelling · shark teeth
· reviewed Date not recorded

Snorkeling & scuba diving

A shore-entry snorkeling location has not been confirmed here; boat trips are a separate activity.

Shore-entry scuba access and suitability have not been confirmed here.

Sources & review dates

snorkeling · scuba
· reviewed Date not recorded

Shore & sky wildlife

Gulf State Park protects endangered Alabama beach mouse dune habitat and partners in sea-turtle nesting and shorebird conservation. Keep out of dunes and marked nests; these park habitat facts do not guarantee wildlife sightings at this access.

Sources & review dates

wildlife
Source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-07

History & interesting facts

An April 21, 2021 state-park press release names this access in a 20-year maintenance and service partnership with Orange Beach. This dated history does not establish today’s staffing or grooming schedule.

Sources & review dates

history
Source ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-07

Food, stays & rentals

EXTEND YOUR BEACH DAY

Food & drink nearby

Local dining recommendations

Separate private venues and regional businesses; no walking time or use of private facilities is implied.

restaurant/beach bar

COASTAL Orange Beach

25722 Perdido Beach Blvd, Orange Beach · Separate private business; public beach access does not establish use of its facilities.

Visit COASTAL Orange Beach website ↗

Website & source check

Website checked ↗ · Supporting source 2 ↗ · checked 2026-10-07. Independently reviewed for the narrow identity and location scope recorded in the evidence. Current hours, prices, inventory and availability require confirmation.

restaurant/bar

Shipp’s Dockside Grill

27075 Marina Road Orange Beach · Separate private business; public beach access does not establish use of its facilities.

Visit Shipp’s Dockside Grill website ↗

Website & source check

Website checked ↗ · checked 2026-10-07. Independently reviewed for the narrow identity and location scope recorded in the evidence. Current hours, prices, inventory and availability require confirmation.

Research notes & location scope

See individually sourced regional services; exact onsite service and public-route relationships require their separate review.

· reviewed Date not recorded

These listings are unpaid and contain no affiliate links.

Accommodations by the beach

Separate private lodging; no frontage on this named public beach or use of resort facilities is implied.

Investigated unknown: no individually verified recommendation for this category at this named beach is ready for publication. Reviewed candidate routes are retained in the research record; this does not establish that no service exists.

Before you book

Confirm the exact property or rental unit, view category, beach route, accessibility and total price directly. Nearby lodging does not establish access to a private beach, a boat transfer or permission to camp.

Research notes & location scope

See individually sourced regional services; exact onsite service and public-route relationships require their separate review.

· reviewed Date not recorded

These listings are unpaid and contain no affiliate links.

Activities & rentals

Confirm the exact meeting site and current service with the operator. Regional shops, marina excursions and onsite rentals have different scopes.

Down Under Dive Shop

Regional Gulf Shores dive shop and equipment/service contact at 1129 Gulf Shores Parkway. Confirm the actual guided shore site directly; no kiosk or delivery at this beach is established.

Visit Down Under Dive Shop website ↗

Source and scope check

Operator source ↗ · checked 2026-10-07. Independently reviewed for the narrow identity and location scope recorded in the evidence. Current hours, prices, inventory and availability require confirmation.

Ike’s Beach Service

Chair and umbrella reservations at individually named public access sites: Pavilion, Romar, Cotton Bayou and Shell. Other equipment requires direct confirmation. Alabama Point B/C/D labels have not been reconciled to Alabama Point East.

Visit Ike’s Beach Service website ↗

Source and scope check

Direct operator links; no affiliate arrangement is established. Boat excursions do not establish shore snorkeling or a public launch.

Explore nearby beaches

Sources & review date

Guide desk research reviewed 2026-10-07; this is not a field-by-field current verification or an on-site inspection. Official facts, dated agency evidence and editorial assessments retain their own scope. Unknowns and conflicts remain open. Methodology · Rating explanations · Correction history

An exact-location hero photograph is pending. No photograph of another beach is displayed.

Visitor experiences

Original, moderated reviews and photographs. Visit dates and entrances provide context; visitor ratings and reports do not replace official facts or current conditions.

Read approved visitor experiences here when available.

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