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Dauphin Island Rentals Pet Friendly

Getting across Mobile Bay from Dauphin Island is a breeze via the Mobile Bay Ferry. Board the Dauphin Island ferry near your Boardwalk Realty vacation rental and take a quick trip across the bay to Fort Morgan. Skip the interstate and take a scenic 45-minute trip along the Gulf Coast, viewing birds, sea life, and ships along the way. Read on to learn more about the ferry schedule, pricing, and things to do once you arrive!

Schedule for the Dauphin Island Ferry

The Dauphin Island ferry connects Fort Gaines on Dauphin Island to Fort Morgan at Mobile Point, operating seven days a week. Ferry schedules change throughout the year due to weather or maintenance issues. Two ferries bring passengers across Mobile Bay: the Fort Morgan and the Marissa Mae Nicole. One ferry operates year-round, and both operate during the busier summer months. We recommend heading to the loading docks 30 minutes to one hour before departure:

  • Depart from the Dauphin Island Loading Dock on 112 Bienville Blvd,
  • Return from the Fort Morgan Loading Dock at 110 AL-180 in Gulf Shores 

Please call 251-861-3000 or check Facebook for updated information on ferry schedules. 

Ferry Tickets and Pricing

Tickets for the Mobile Bay Ferry are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. The ticket cost is per person plus vehicle, and people are free on same-day returns as long as they have their receipts. If you have a vehicle over 21 feet long, please call ahead to ensure they can accommodate your vehicle. In general, prices are as follows:

  • Drivers, Passengers, and Pedestrians: $6
  • Children 3 and under: Free
  • Dogs: Free
  • Vehicles, Trailers, & RVS Under 22 Feet One Way: $15
  • Vehicles, Trailers, & RVS Over 22 Feet One Way: $20
  • Motorcycles One Way: $7

Read through Frequently Asked Questions for more information about taking the Dauphin Island Ferry! 

Things to Do Near Fort Morgan

Once you have crossed Mobile Bay, the ferry will drop you off at Fort Morgan, where you can start your journey learning about local history. After visiting the Fort, we recommend checking out the top attractions of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, such as:

Plan Your Alabama Getaway on Dauphin Island

The Dauphin Island Ferry offers the perfect gateway to adventures throughout Alabama’s Gulf Coast! Visit the Gulf Coast with Boardwalk Realty and browse our collection of over 40 vacation rentals on Dauphin Island. Whether you are looking for a couples retreat or a family getaway, we have something for everyone. Check out our Alabama vacation rental specials and book your stay on Dauphin Island today!

No visit to Dauphin Island is complete without visiting the island’s top attraction, the Alabama Aquarium. This aquarium, operated by the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, offers visitors an inside look into the key coastal habitats of Alabama. Plan a visit and learn about the unique ecosystems surrounding our island through the 10,000-square-foot exhibit hall and guided excursions led by local experts. Stay with Boardwalk Realty and discover everything the Alabama Aquarium has to offer during your visit:

Dauphin Island Sea Lab: Alabama Aquarium

The Dauphin Island Sea Lab, a marine research and education center, operates the Alabama Aquarium. Dauphin Island, surrounded by Mobile Bay, the Mississippi Sound, and the Gulf of Mexico, offers the perfect destination for marine research. The lab’s mission is to share information about ocean life and conservation with the public. The aquarium allows visitors to get a firsthand look at local marine life and learn about DISL’s work.

Things to Do at the Alabama Aquarium

Purchase tickets for the Alabama Aquarium and learn about Alabama’s coastal habitats through these attractions:

  • Stroll through the 10,000-square-foot exhibit hall featuring species of Mobile Bay including drum, pipefish, and the diamondback terrapin. 
  • Visit the 7,000-gallon stingray touch pool and pet a live stingray! Species include Atlantic, Blutnose, and Cownose Stingrays. 
  • Explore the Living Marsh Boardwalk.

Alabama Aquarium Education Opportunities

The DISL also offers education opportunities and excursions for an additional fee. Fill out a reservation form or contact excursions@disl.edu for more information!

  • Boardwalk Talks is a series where you can learn about the current projects DISL is working on and a broad range of science topics.
  • Salt Marsh Excursions allows you to become a marine scientist for the day by learning how to collect samples and specimens from a salt marsh. 
  • The Beach, Dune, and Maritime Forest Excursions allow visitors to explore all three ecosystems. Visitors can also get an up-close look at wildlife by using nets and digging for moles and ghost crabs.
  • R/V Alabama Discovery Excursion takes you on a two-hour boat ride around Dauphin Island with a professional DISL educator. 

Book Your Dauphin Island Vacation Rental Today!

There is plenty to do on Dauphin Island beyond the Alabama Aquarium. Enjoy miles of beachfront, exceptional fishing, outdoor exploration, and historic sites. Choose Boardwalk Realty to host your getaway and stay in one of our Dauphin Island vacation rentals. Check out our specials and save on your upcoming Dauphin Island vacation!

When you vacation on Dauphin Island, not only do you have access to exceptional beaches and activities on the island, but you are also a stone’s throw away from some of the top attractions on the Gulf Coast! Boardwalk Realty invites you to plan an Alabama day trip from your Dauphin Island vacation rental to Mobile, Gulf Shores, Biloxi, or Pensacola. Whether you are interested in local history, exploring the great outdoors, or family-friendly amusement parks, there is something for everyone to discover on the Gulf Coast:

Mobile, Alabama

Mobile, Alabama, is just a 40-minute drive north of Dauphin Island on Highway 193. Once you have arrived in Alabama’s oldest city, we recommend checking out these top attractions in Mobile:

Gulf Shores, Alabama

Getting to Gulf Shores is easy with the Mobile Bay Ferry, transporting passengers from Dauphin Island to Mobile Point. The ferry will drop you off at Fort Morgan, where you can explore this National Historic Site before heading out to explore what Gulf Shores has to offer:

Biloxi, Mississippi

Biloxi, Mississippi, is just over an hour from Dauphin Island on Interstate 10, offering the perfect Alabama day trip from your vacation rental. The city is best known for its eight first-class casino resorts, where you can enjoy endless games and entertainment!

Pensacola, Florida

Make the one-hour-and-a-half drive from Dauphin Island to Pensacola and experience the attractions of the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle:

Book Your Dauphin Island Vacation Rental Today

After your Alabama day trip, return to your Dauphin Island vacation rental with Boardwalk Realty. We offer over 40 vacation rentals ranging from two to six bedrooms to accommodate groups of all sizes. Save on your Dauphin Island getaway with our vacation specials, and plan your trip to the Gulf Coast today!

There are plenty of places to see fall foliage in Alabama, but for visitors looking to extend their summer, we invite you to visit Dauphin Island! Fall on Dauphin Island is the opportune time to enjoy crowd-free beaches, spot hundreds of migratory birds, embark on fishing charters and attend festive events. Choose Boardwalk Realty as your lodging partner and experience Alabama in the fall with us today!

Fall Activities on Dauphin Island

The mild fall weather on Dauphin Island offers the perfect temperature for outdoor activities, such as:

  • Enjoy an afternoon at our Dauphin Island beaches! Depending on the weather, you can enjoy swimming, beach strolling, shelling, watersports, and more!
  • Fall is one of the best times to embark on a Dauphin Island fishing charter! Hit the waters with a local guide and target species like Yellowfin Tuna, Mahi, King Mackerel, Grouper, Amberjack, and more!
  • Witness the fall bird migration on Dauphin Island at the Audubon Bird Sanctuary! Explore the 130-acre sanctuary through maritime forests, marshes, and dunes while keeping an eye out for over 400 bird species!

Fall Events near Dauphin Island

Make your fall getaway on Dauphin Island extra memorable by planning it around one of the fall festivals in the area. If you are interested in attending any of the events on Pleasure Island, we recommend hopping on the Mobile Bay Ferry. 

  • Visit Fort Gaines, a crucial site for the South during the Civil War, for the annual Fall Festival. Enjoy a day full of food, games, candy, music, pumpkin patch, and fun contests!
  • Historic Fort Gaines also hosts a Renaissance Festival every October for visitors who want to experience a day of life in the Middle Ages. 
  • Make the 20-minute drive to Bellingrath Gardens & Home for their annual Boo at Bellingrath! This family-friendly event will include trick-or-treating, scary stories, live music, and food trucks.
  • Visit Fort Morgan for unique fall events like haunted history tours, cemetery walking tours, and living history tours.

Book Your Alabama Fall Getaway on Dauphin Island

Experience Alabama in the fall with Boardwalk Realty and escape the everyday! Browse our collection of over 40 vacation rentals on Dauphin Island and find the perfect property for your group. Whether you are looking for gulf-front, bay-front, or pet-friendly properties, we have you covered. Please contact us at 1-8777-861-3992 and let our rental experts help you create Dauphin Island memories this fall!

DAUPHIN ISLAND WEATHER
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