Things to Do on the Gulf Coast

Take advantage of Dauphin Island’s fabulous location along the Gulf Coast to add a mainland adventure or day trip to your stay.  Dauphin Island is nestled in between New Orleans Louisiana and Pensacola Florida. Spend a day in New Orleans famous French Quarter, try your luck in a Biloxi casino or learn about Pensacola’s famous Blue Angels and sit in the cockpit of a jet fighter at the National Naval Aviation Museum.  Looking for something closer to the Island? You’re less than an hour from Bellingrath Gardens, the USS Alabama, the Mobile Carnival Museum and more!  You’re only minutes away from the Mobile Bay Ferry dock on the Island’s eastern end. Drive aboard the ferry and enjoy a scenic trip to the Ft. Morgan/Gulf Shores area.

Mobile, Alabama  

Colonial Fort Conde 

Go view all the stories and history that Mobile has to offer with over 117,000 objects and artifacts from the area.

• 150 S Royal St, Mobile, AL 36602
• Phone: 251-208-7569
• Open Mon-Sat 9am-4:30pm, Sun 1pm-4:30pm
• Website: www.historymuseumofmobile.com
• 45-minute drive from Dauphin Island

Exploreum Science Center

Have an exciting experience with hands-on activities, educational programs, and IMAX films.

• 65 Government St, Mobile, AL 36602
• Phone: 251-208-6893
• Open 10am-4pm (Days open may vary)
• Website: www.exploreum.com
• 45-minute drive from Dauphin Island

GulfQuest National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico  

Learn and experience the Gulf Coast’s rich maritime heritage through exhibits, programs, and activities.

• 155 S Water St, Mobile, AL 36602
• Phone: 251-436-8901
• Open Wed-Sat 10am-4pm
• Website: www.gulfquestmuseum.com  
• 45-minute drive from Dauphin Island

USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park

Tour the USS Alabama and the USS Drum and take a step back in time to understand how our veterans lived and worked.

• 2703 Battleship Pkwy, Mobile, AL 36602
• Phone: 1-800-426-4929
• Open Daily 8am-5pm
• Website: www.ussalabama.com  
• 45-minute drive from Dauphin Island

Foley & Gulf Shores, Alabama

Average trip time less than 2 hours. Drive time from Dauphin Island varies based on Mobile Bay Ferry or land route.

Buc-ee’s

Experience the famous convenience store filled with snacks, drinks, retail items and knickknacks, right off of Interstate 10.  You’ll also find fresh BBQ, candy, jerky and novelty snacks.  There are dozens of gas pumps as well as the cleanest bathrooms you’ll find.

• 20403 CO Rd 68, Robertsdale, AL 36567
• Phone: 979-238-6390
• Open 24/7
• Website: www.buc-ees.com  
• 1 hour drive from Dauphin Island

OWA

OWA is an entertainment adventure featuring 22 amusement rides, dining, retail, and an indoor water park.

• 101 S OWA Blvd, Foley, AL 36535
• Phone: 251-923-2111
• See website for hours
• Website: www.visitowa.com

Tanger Outlets Foley

Shopping mall chain with many different stores for the whole family

• 2601 Mckenzie St, Foley, AL 36535
• Phone: 251-943-9303
• Open daily 10am-9pm
• Website: www.tangeroutlet.com  

Waterville USA/Escape House

20 acres of pure fun with not only water park fun, but amusement park entertainment as well! Featuring mini golf, go cart racing, and many other activities for the family, all just a ¼ mile from the beach.

• 906 Gulf Shores Pkwy, Gulf Shores, AL, 36542
• Phone: 251-948-2106
• Open Sat-Sun 10am-6pm, Fri 12-8pm
• Website: www.watervilleusa.com

Biloxi, Mississippi

Biloxi attractions average 1 hour, 30-minute drive from Dauphin Island

Beau Rivage Resort & Casino

Hotel, Casino, Spa/pool, dining, and entertainment.

• 875 Beach Blvd, Biloxi, MS
• Phone: 228-386-7111
• Open 24/7
• Website: www.beaurivage.mgmresorts.com

Margaritaville Resort Biloxi

Family-friendly resort featuring the largest arcade in the country, an exciting rooftop water playground, dining, and a pier coming soon featuring a huge Ferris Wheel overlooking the coast.

• 195 Beach Blvd, Biloxi, MS 39530
• Phone: 228-271-6377
• Open 24/7
• Website: www.margaritavilleresortbiloxi.com

Big Play Entertainment Center

Outdoor amusement center with 2 mini golf courses, bumper cars, go carts, arcade and more.

• 1842 Beach Blvd, Biloxi, MS 39530
• Phone: 228-388-7529
• Open Mon-Thurs 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat 11am-12am, Sun 11am-10pm
• Website: www.bigplaybiloxi.com

Pensacola

Pensacola attractions average 2-hour drive from Dauphin Island

National Naval Aviation Museum

Military and aerospace museum with over 150 restored aircrafts representing the branches of military, and teaching the history of the aircrafts.

• 1750 Radford Blvd, Pensacola, FL 32508
• Phone: 850-452-8450
• Open Mon-Sun 9am-4pm (Civilian access is limited, check website or call for availability)
• Website: www.navalaviationmuseum.org
• 1 hour, 45-minute drive from Dauphin Island

AMC Bayou 15 & IMAX Theater

IMAX and IMAX 3D movie theater with jumbo screens for movies, opera productions and sports events.

• 5149 Bayou Blvd, Pensacola, FL 32505
• Phone: 850-475-2240
• Hours and showings vary
• Website:  AMC Bayou

Fort Pickens

Historic Civil War Military fort on Santa Rosa Island

• 1400 Fort Pickens Rd, Pensacola Beach, FL 32561
• Phone: 877-444-6777
• Open March 1^st – October 31^st 5am-8pm, November 1^st – Feb 28^th 5am-6pm
• Website: https://www.nps.gov/guis/learn/historyculture/fort-pickens.htm

New Orleans

New Orleans attractions average 2 to 3 hour drive from Dauphin Island

The National WWII Museum

History, History, History! Formerly known as the National D-day Museum, with replicas and exhibits that show first hand “the war that changed the world”

• 945 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130
• Phone: 504-528-1944
• Open Mon-Sun 9am-5pm
• Website: www.natinoalww2museum.org

Audubon Zoo

Hands on experiences with animals from all over the world

• 6500 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70118
• Phone: 504-861-2537
• Open Wed-Mon 10am-5pm
• Website: www.audubonnatureinstitue.org/zoo