Vacation Rentals Dauphin Island

Mar 13 2024

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!

Feb 15 2024

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!

Jan 15 2024

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:

Visit the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, one of America’s most unique military attractions!
Sharpen your golf skills at the new Top Golf Center in Mobile, offering 60 climate-controlled hitting bays
Learn something new at one of the fascinating museums, including the Mobile Carnival Museum, History Museum of Mobile, and Mobile Museum of Art.

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:

Explore Gulf State Park and enjoy playing at the beach, fishing, hiking, picnicking, and biking!
Visit the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo and marvel at 118 species of animals, from parrots to kangaroos and tigers.
Experience fun for the whole family at the Gulf Shores amusement parks, such as Waterville USA, The Track, or Adventure Island.

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:

Visit the National Naval Aviation Museum, the world’s largest Naval Aviation museum, and marvel at over 150 restored aircraft.
Catch a game of minor league baseball at the Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Learn about local maritime history and enjoy incredible views of the Panhandle from the Pensacola Lighthouse.

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!

Dec 28 2022

Enjoy blue skies and moon pies during our annual Dauphin Island Mardi Gras celebration! Kick off the Gulf Coast Mardi Gras season with Boardwalk Realty this January and witness several family-friendly parades roll down Bienville Boulevard. Here are the top things to know about this year’s Mardi Gras celebration:

Dauphin Island Mardi Gras 2024 Events

Krew De La Dauphine Mardi Gras Parade, January 13, 2024, at 1 pm: The first Mobile area parade of the year presented by the oldest Mardi Gras group on the Island!
The Peoples Parade, January 20, 2024, at 1 pm: Enjoy watching the People’s Parade or if you’re interested – join it! Interested parader’s can find the parade rules and application on the town website. Sign up in advance and join the parade fun!
The Mystic Krewe of Salty Paws January 27, 2024, at 10 am: Witness the adorable fuzzy four-paw parade of The Mystic Krewe of Salty Paws. You may even leave with a new companion as this parade doubles as an adoption event for rescue pets!
M assacre Island Secret Society Parade, January 28, 2024, at 6:30 pm: Witness Dauphin Island’s only nighttime event, revisiting scenes of our Island’s past.

Alabama Mardi Gras Parade Insiders Tips

Dauphin Island parade goers should arrive early to secure a parking spot along the parade route that follows Bienville Boulevard from the east end of Bienville to just past the 1500 block of Bienville on the Island’s west end. Here are a few Town of Dauphin Island parade etiquette rules to remember for 2024:

You’re not supposed to reserve a parking space before sunrise on the day of the event, and you can’t mark off your turf with rope or tape boundaries.
Once you’ve claimed space with parked vehicles, lawn chairs, or canopies, at least one member of the party must remain on the scene.
Sites should be fully cleaned up immediately after the parade.

There will be many parade attendees from the mainland coming to join the fun. We will have vendors on the Island with fun keepsakes, beads, and silly hats for all ages! The fun begins long before the parade arrives, with families of all ages enjoying time together socializing in our warm and sunny community atmosphere with tailgating and cookouts!

Take time to enjoy the day with local parade goers and maybe even bring a blanket, pack a picnic, and settle down for a nice lunch while you wait for the parade to begin. There will be lots of excitement and frivolity, along with fantastic Mardi Gras beads and throws to catch as you enjoy a great view of the Dauphin Island parades that kick off the Gulf Coast Mardi Gras season!

Alabama Gulf Coast Mardi Gras Season

After the last moon pie is thrown on Dauphin Island, the Mardi Gras season continues in nearby Mobile, AL, with parades rolling downtown through the final day of Mardi Gras, known as “Fat Tuesday,” on February 13, 2024. Check out Mobile Mask for information on the 2024 schedule, parade routes, and events.

Stay on the Parade Route with Boardwalk Realty

Boardwalk Realty offers several Dauphin Island vacation rentals, and it’s not too late to join the fun! Bout Time, Shore to Please, Toes in the Sand, Sunset Key, and The Beach House have available dates for the Mardi Gras season – check them out today and join us for Dauphin Island Mardi Gras!