Destin to Gulf Shores road trip: Distance, time & best stops
The best road trip stops on the Destin to Gulf Shores drive are Fort Walton Beach, Pensacola and Orange Beach. The distance from Destin to Gulf Shores by car is 80 miles, with a 2h5m driving time.
Planning a Destin to Gulf Shores road trip itinerary
The Destin to Gulf Shores drive connects great beach towns in Florida and Alabama.
Destin is a beach town on the Florida Panhandle, with white sand beaches and several golf courses. The Destin Harbor Boardwalk tends to be the centre of activity, and there is plenty of activity to be in the centre of.
Top Destin experiences include a sunset tiki cruise, a Crab Island sandbar adventure, a dolphin-watching speedboat cruise and parasailing.
You can also try jetski rentals, the Maximum Magic show, Hydrojet sunset tours and banana boat rides.
If looking for Destin accommodation, the Comfort Inn and Suites offers good value and the plush Henderson Beach Resort has private beach access.
Gulf Shores has a touch of the Margaritaville lifestyle, which should come as no surprise given Jimmy Buffett’s sister runs restaurant and music bar LuLu’s here.
A little soft adventure can be mixed in with the turquoise water, white sand and fun-loving bars, however. Top Gulf Shores experiences include kayaking with dolphins and paddleboarding with Pure Aloha Adventures.
Fabulous beachside accommodation in Gulf Shores include the Lodge at Gulf State Park and the Phoenix All Suites West Hotel.
Destin to Gulf Shores distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Destin to Gulf Shores is 80 miles. You can expect a driving time of around two hours and five minutes.
The best road trip stops on the Destin to Gulf Shores drive are Fort Walton Beach, Pensacola and Orange Beach.
For more suggestions, see the guides to the Destin to Pensacola drive and Pensacola to Gulf Shores drive.
Destin to Gulf Shores drive: Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Fort Walton Beach is largely about the sand, sea and sun. That sand is usually sparkling white, and the sea usually an alluring emerald.
Top experiences in Fort Walton Beach include pontoon boat rentals, stand-up paddleboarding, jet ski rentals and night kayaking tours in clear-bottomed kayaks that glow in the dark.
Great beachside accommodation options in Fort Walton Beach include Beal House and the Island Resort.
Best stops between Destin and Gulf Shores: Pensacola, Florida
The westernmost city on the Florida Panhandle, Pensacola is home to a major US Naval Station. But for most visitors, interest will lie in the white sand beaches and barrier islands.
Top Pensacola activities include nighttime kayaking with colourful LEDs lighting up the kayaks, and dolphin-watching cruises around the bay.
Other ways of exploring include downtown food tours, ghost and graveyard tours, guided pub crawls, Segway tours and sunset cruises.
For beachside Pensacola accommodation with great guest reviews, take a look at the Pensacola Beach Resort and the SpringHill Suites Pensacola Beach.
Destin to Gulf Shores road trip attractions: Orange Beach
Orange Beach is a hugely enjoyable fun-in-the-sun destination on the Alabama Coast. Good Orange Beach experiences include dolphin-watching cruises, sunset boat tours and sunset sailing cruises.
You can also enjoy a tiki boat tour to the nearby islands and convertible beach rentals.
Top Orange Beach accommodation options with excellent guest ratings include the Tides and the Island House Hotel.
More Destin road trips
Atlanta to Destin | Austin to Destin FL | Birmingham AL to Destin FL | Dallas to Destin | Destin to Fort Lauderdale | Houston to Destin FL | Jacksonville to Destin | Memphis to Destin | Destin to Miami | Mobile to Destin | Nashville to Destin FL | New Orleans to Destin FL | Destin to Orange Beach | Orlando to Destin | Panama City to Destin | Pensacola to Destin | Tallahassee to Destin | Tampa to Destin.
More Gulf Shores road trips
Birmingham AL to Gulf Shores | Memphis to Gulf Shores | Mobile to Gulf Shores | Nashville to Gulf Shores | New Orleans to Gulf Shores | Pensacola to Gulf Shores.