Situated just steps from the emerald-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico, The Lodge at Gulf State Park is a beautifully designed Hilton hotel surrounded by nature. Cozied up to sugar-white sands in the front and miles of trails through pine forests in the back, The Lodge is a unique natural paradise on Alabama’s Gulf Coast.
The colors of The Lodge blend perfectly with the sandy dunes.
My husband and I recently stayed at the hotel and it is now one of my favorite places in Gulf Shores. The location is excellent, the guest rooms are comfortable, the beach is marvelous, and the hotel has many outstanding amenities.
With oceanfront access, an infinity pool, on-site restaurants, and a wine bar, The Lodge is its own destination. I’ll be the first to admit it’s hard to leave, but with its prime location in the heart of a very cool state park and only a few miles away from central Gulf Shores, don’t miss out on the long list of fun things to do in the area. Click here to read our Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Travel Guide with all the best things to help you plan an unforgettable trip!
New and Improved with an Eco-Friendly Design
After accommodating many visitors over the course of a 30-year tenure, the original Lodge was irrevocably damaged in 2004 by Hurricane Ivan.
Fortunately, what emerged after the devasting loss is an environmentally conscious, state-of-the-art facility with 350 guest rooms and over 40,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space.
You don’t have to get a room with a view to enjoy your stay but, wow, is that nice!
The goal from the very beginning was to create an eco-friendly property with low impact. During construction, the majority of their waste was recycled instead of padding a landfill. By utilizing solar energy and treating its own rainwater, the overall design reduces energy usage by 32% and water consumption by 35% compared to similar resorts.
Other important eco-friendly initiatives include using bio-enhanced trash bags, recycling all cooking oil, energy-efficient lighting, coasters made from bamboo, straws made from wheat shafts, biodegradable coffee cups made from corn-based plastics, and the list goes on.
I hope we see more of this forward-thinking in the future.
Full Disclosure: We were hosted on this trip, but all thoughts and opinions are my own. Some of the links included are affiliate links, if you book through it we will receive a small commission at no additional charge to you.
The sunset view looking at the pier from one of the boardwalks at The Lodge.
When you walk into the lobby, you’ll notice a rustic feel with a modern twist. All the art and furniture throughout the hotel are from local craftsmen and artisans and the contemporary design is flawlessly blended with an outdoorsy motif.
You’ll be drawn to the focal point of the room, the large windows presenting the ultimate amenity the hotel offers – the waterfront. Between the welcoming vibes and views on the veranda, I could hang here all day.
Look at the beautifully carved tree table! Doesn’t that fit right in?Comfortable chairs are found throughout the foyer at The Lodge.
A Great Location
The Lodge is located within Gulf State Park giving you direct access to 28 miles of hiking and biking trails and less than two miles away from the main Gulf Shores strip.
The Lodge at Gulf State Park map courtesy of Gulf State Park.
Utilize the free shuttle, with a pick-up spot just outside the main doors, to explore the must-see state park.
It drops off at a few main locations: the Woodside Restaurant, an offsite restaurant with great food and live music; the Nature Center, a good starting point to walk the trails or join a kid-friendly educational program; the Interpretive Center, to learn about the ecosystem and wildlife of the region; and Coastal Segway Adventures, for kayak and paddleboard rentals or segway tours.
If you like the outdoors and nature, head over to walk or bike inside Gulf State Park, you will not be disappointed!Woodside Restaurant is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Or if you prefer to cover more of the 6,500-acre ground, take advantage of the Bike Share Program allowing you to rent bikes for 3 hours FOR FREE. You can find a bike share location right outside the lobby toward the pool. FYI, you’ll need to download the BLOOM app to access the bikes.
Let’s talk accommodations! We were in a King Guest Room with a balcony and were happy to find the room spacious and comfortable. With a Serenity mattress, down-filled comforters and 250 thread-count sheets, it’s no wonder we slept like babies during our visit.
The king-sized bed is super comfortable and huge!
It was fantastic to have a table and chairs with a private balcony, especially in the mornings to enjoy our coffee with a view.
Gulf Shores has pretty beaches, doesn’t it?Morning cup of coffee with a view.
Each room is appointed with a 50-inch TV, in-room safe, coffee maker, mini-fridge, iron, ironing board and a hairdryer. The bathroom has a large glass shower with recyclable BeeKind products, a brand that donates a portion of its net profits to support honey bees.
A coffee maker is a must!It’s always nice to have a roomy shower.Shampoo, Conditioner, and Shower Gel are provided.Be kind to yourself and be kind to the world is the motto for BeeKind, a Gilchrist and Soames brand.
The room is an ideal base for exploring Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.
Last but not least, The Lodge has many wonderful amenities. The outdoor infinity pool, overlooking the Gulf, is a nice place to relax and grab a quick bite to eat. The Dragonfly Pool Bar & Grill is open seasonally and offers snacks, salads, and sandwiches, along with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
The pool or the beach – which one do you prefer?
A poolside piña-colada with that view? Yes, please!
The large pool deck at The Lodge overlooking the ocean.Seating for the Dragonfly Restaurant, a poolside bar & restaurant at The Lodge.
Another highlight at The Lodge is the many outdoor terraces overlooking the water, they provide numerous places to sit back and relax. My suggestion is to grab a cup of coffee or a glass of wine from the Roasted Oak Coffee & Wine Bar inside the lobby and check out a sunrise or sunset. They even have fire pits to keep you warm – if you’re visiting in the winter like us – after the sun goes down.
Enjoying the pastel colors of a sunset on the veranda!Even if you don’t book a room with a view, there are balconies and verandas throughout the hotel.
And since The Lodge is a Hilton Hotel, don’t forget you can use points to book a room if you take advantage of the Hilton Rewards Program. One of the biggest ways we save on hotel spending while on the road is booking free hotel stays through various hotel point programs – click the link to read all about it.
The Restaurants
The Lodge at Gulf Park offers three on-property dining options. Unfortunately, we did not get the opportunity to dine in during our stay because we were jam-packed with a full itinerary but here’s all the info you need.
The Roasted Oak, a coffee and wine bar inside the lobby, is open daily from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM serving breakfast goods and light lunch options. The Perch Bar & Terrace is open Wednesday through Sunday evenings from 5:00 PM to 11 PM offering small plates and appetizers. And Foodcraft is the main restaurant serving coastal fare, steaks, and sandwiches throughout the day from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
The Roasted Oak located in the main lobby at The Lodge offers craft coffee and infused teas in the morning and wine and craft beers in the evening.
The Lodge is a premier beachfront destination that takes sustainable tourism to the next level and it gets our stamp of approval. From arrival to departure, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay.
Pro Tip: If you like to avoid crowds, the fall and winter months are the best time of year to visit – the mild temperatures then are also ideal for hiking and biking.
Angela E. is a travel writer from the Chicagoland area who has visited all 50 states in the US and has traveled extensively around the world. She is passionate about exploring the great outdoors and hiking in particular. Her love for nature has taken her to some of the most beautiful locations on the planet. She has written extensively about her travels on her own website, Dang Travelers, and has been published in collaboration with other travel websites and multiple visitor bureaus around the country.
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