Hanging out at Dauphin Island Campground beach
An interesting and historic stop in a City Park on the Gulf Coast of AL. Monthly rates are a deal!
Link to campground here: Dauphin Island, AL
Link to map location here: Dauphin Island, AL
- Site Quality = 2.5/5
The sites here are not what you write home about. This campground is mostly a grassy-parking-lot type. Some sites are uneven and some are too tightly packed for our liking. There is a selection of 30/50 Amp & water and some full hook-up, and sites do have picnic table, but lots of variation in size and location. - Facilities = 3.5/5
Definitely older facilities here. The showers have a somewhat run-down feel and water pressure is low. However, stalls are large and they’re kept nicely clean. Laundry, playground, fish-cleaning station and dump-station on-site. - Location = 5/5
You come here for island and beach and this place definitely delivers. The campground has its own semi-private (very nice) beach, and is within direct walking distance of Fort Gaines and the Auburn Bird Sanctuary. Lots of opportunity to beach-comb and bike around the area. - Pet Friendliness = 5/5
Fabulous pet location. The campground is fully pet-friendly as is the attached beach. Pooch can also walk around the bird sanctuary and trails. Poop bags provided.
Overall Rating = 4.0
BONUS ALERT = History and paw-friendly beach at your fingertips!
Summary: This was a fun stop-over for us in the Gulf Coast of Alabama. The campground itself is a public operation run by the Dauphin Island Beach Board. It’s somewhat run-down and sites are basically just grassy parking lots, but it’s wonderfully located within walking distance of both Fort Gaines and the bird sanctuary, and has the huge attraction of its own semi-private (fully-paw-friendly!!) beach. The Island itself also offers lots of activities such as fishing, birding, biking and eating out. Sites themselves vary in size and some are too closely packed for my liking, but they do have a selection of various hook-ups. The nightly price for full hook-up at $34 is a tad high for what we like to pay, but the monthly rate is a steal at only $355/mo! As a result it’s very popular with snowbirders. We weren’t overly enthused on the campground itself, but really liked the overall area and I can’t think of anywhere else in the SE where you can stay all winter right next to a paw-friendly beach for this kind of monthly price. For that reason it gets a thumbs up, and we would certainly come back for a longer stop.
Extra Info: Both Verizon aircard and phone worked fine. Sites are reservable $34 for 50Amp/full hook-up ($355 montly rate), $31 50Amp/water ($330 monthly rate), $28 30Amp/full hook-up ($325 monthly rate), $26 30Amp/water ($300 monthly rate). On-site laundry and dump.
Typical site view (#49 shown). Plain grassy spot.
View of RV's parked in central part of campground (site #5-7 left to right)
RV's in back loop (Site #5 left, #8 right)
Larger sites towards ferry-side (Site #44-46 front to back)
View of our site (#59). Next-door RV in #61 is too close for my liking.
View of facilities
Beach access path from the campground
