5 Places to Stay in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach as a Wheelchair User

When planning any trip, one of the most important things to consider for people of all abilities is where to stay. For wheelchair users though, the importance of choosing somewhere to stay is even greater because if the accessibility isn’t up to par, we could have a challenging time taking a shower, getting in bed, or even getting to the room in the first place. Finding accessible accommodations that will actually work can often take quite a while, but if you’re heading to the Alabama Gulf Coast, I’ve already done the research for you. 

After several trips to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama in the past few years, I have stayed at some fantastic hotels and other accommodations in the area. If you are planning a trip to the area, hopefully one of the five places below can work for your accessibility needs. Here are five wheelchair accessible places to stay in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama –

Wheelchair Accessible Places to Stay in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach

Hotel Indigo

On my most recent trip to the Alabama Gulf Coast, I stayed at the Hotel Indigo in Orange Beach. This is one of the area’s newest hotels and while not directly on the beach, it is across the street from the beach and only a short drive away from the nearest public beach. The Rosemary Dune entrance to the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail (one of my favorite attractions in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach!) is right behind the Hotel Indigo as well, so this is the perfect place to stay to access the trail. 

I stayed in a wheelchair accessible suite on the first floor. It had a full living room with a sofa bed and was very spacious. A small refrigerator and coffee maker was included as well. 

The bedroom was separate from the living room and had a king-sized bed. A hoist/hoyer lift could roll under the bed, as there were about four inches of clearance underneath the bed.

Connected to the bedroom was the bathroom, which had a roll-in shower, a pull-under sink, and grab bars by the toilet. The hotel also provided a sturdy shower chair and the shower had both a handheld shower wand and an overhead shower. Like the rest of the suite, the bathroom was spacious. The only problem was the fact that there was a small lip to get into the bathroom and shower. My shower & commode chair handled them okay, but it was a bit tricky for a moment. 

Other features that I love about Hotel Indigo in Orange Beach are the indoor pool (it has an access lift), the zero-entry outdoor pool (no lift, but it is zero-entry), and the hotel is connected to Southern Grind Coffee House, one of the best breakfast spots in the area. Planet Smoothie is in the same complex as the hotel as well. 

Hilton Garden Inn Orange Beach 

Another great hotel that is located directly on the beach is the Hilton Garden Inn Orange Beach. This hotel is where I stayed on my first trip ever to the Alabama Gulf Coast. It blew me away and made me want to keep returning to the area, so I’d say that it’s a perfect hotel to consider for your stay in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. 

Wheelchair accessible rooms are available. I stayed in a room with one king sized bed. A hoyer lift could easily roll under the bed and the room was spacious enough for me to maneuver throughout. 

In the bathroom, there was a roll-in shower, a pull-under sink, and grab bars around the toilet and in the shower. A handheld shower wand was available as well. 

The Hilton Garden Inn Orange Beach also has a pool and hot tub. Both have access lifts, so that wheelchair users can get in the water. 

There is a wooden boardwalk to get to the beach from the pool area, but a small step is at the end of the wooden boardwalk. Instead of rolling on this in one of the area’s beach wheelchairs, there is a different, more accessible route to the beach from the parking garage. Just ask the hotel staff and they’ll be more than happy to point you in the most accessible direction. 

Read my full in-depth review of Hilton Garden Inn Orange Beach by clicking here.

The Lodge at Gulf State Park

Whether you prefer the beach or accessible trails, The Lodge at Gulf State Park can cater to your every want. The Lodge is located on the beach, but also sits in Gulf State Park and has accessible paths to the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail. Within minutes, you can be lounging on the beach or rolling on the trail, making this a fantastic location.

There are approximately 30 wheelchair accessible rooms at The Lodge at Gulf State Park, some with roll-in showers and some with tubs. Beds do have clearance underneath for a hoyer lift and rooms are quite spacious. 

There is an outdoor pool at The Lodge and it has a zero-entry ramp. Unfortunately, there is no access lift to enter the pool, but you could use your own shower chair (depending on what kind of shower chair you have) or something like the easyTravelseat to get into the pool. 

The Lodge at Gulf State Park has a very nice wooden boardwalk/ramp to get to the beach. If you are renting a beach wheelchair, you can easily drive it down the ramp and quickly be rolling on the sand. 

One of my favorite restaurants in all of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach calls The Lodge home. The on-site restaurant is called Foodcraft and has delicious offerings such as seafood, oysters, desserts, and more. Both indoor and outdoor tables are available, but if you can snag an outdoor table at sunset, you’ll have one of the best views in the area as you dine. 

Delicious drinks at Foodcraft

Snell’s Pace

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach certainly have plenty of excellent hotel choices, as evidenced above, but if you’re looking for something with a bit more space, Snell’s Pace could be a great option. This 3 bedroom/3 bathroom house rental is located on the bay in Orange Beach and can sleep up to 17 people! It’s also wheelchair accessible. 

Snell’s Pace is only a 5-10 minute drive from the beach, but at the house, you can enjoy the bay. There is a dock available, so you can go fishing or even dock your boat there if you have one. I enjoyed sitting on the deck and seeing the bay. The deck also has tables, so you can eat or work outside. 

Inside the house, accessibility is fantastic. Doorways are wide enough for a wheelchair to fit through and the house is only one level, so every room is accessible, including the spacious kitchen and living room.

The house has 3 bedrooms, with the master bedroom at the far end of the hallway being the most wheelchair accessible. There is a queen bed in this room and a hoist can easily roll under it if needed. There are also 4 twin bunk beds built into an alcove area in the master bedroom. The bunk beds are over to the side, so won’t be in your way at all. The bathroom that connects to the master bedroom has a roll-in shower as well. 

The other two bedrooms and bathrooms could also work for a wheelchair user, but they do not have as much space to maneuver around or roll-in showers. Snell’s Pace could be perfect for a large family or even a few different families.

Read my full in-depth review of Snell’s Pace by clicking here

Wheelchair Accessible Beachfront House Rentals

Wheelchair accessible house rentals are incredibly difficult to find, but accessible house rentals on the beach are even harder to find. However, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach have several options, all of which are out-of-this-world amazing!! 

Harris Properties has an 8-bedroom (!!!) beach house on Fort Morgan called “Barefoot”. It has an elevator, a bathroom on the main floor with a roll-in shower, and an open floor plan that allows for easy maneuvering around the kitchen, dining and living room.

“Barefoot” by Harris Properties

Gulf Shores Vacation Rentals also has multiple beach houses with elevators, ranging from 7 bedrooms to 12 bedrooms for larger groups. Check out all of their accessible properties here

As you can see from all of the choices above, the Alabama Gulf Coast has a variety of accommodation options for you. Whether you’re looking to stay in a hotel or even an entire house on the beach, there is no shortage of wheelchair accessible places to stay in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Now, all you need to do is book your stay at your favorite property and get ready to have some fun in the sun! 

*This post is in partnership with Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism. As always, all opinions are my own.

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