Updated August 2026
Best beaches in Alabama by water quality
Alabama has 24 public beaches in the EPA monitoring dataset, 22 of them with enough bacteria samples to grade. 6 earn an A for consistently clean water, while 3 grade an F for frequently exceeding the safe-swimming limit. Full ranking below. National lists: cleanest beaches in the US and beaches that exceed bacteria limits most often.
Alabama beaches on the map
Ways to pick a Alabama beach
Cleanest water (Grade A)
- Cotton Bayou — Baldwin
- Dauphin Island Public Beach — Mobile
- Fort Morgan Public Beach — Baldwin
- Gulf Shores Public Beach — Baldwin
| Grade | Beach | County | % over limit | Samples | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Cotton Bayou | Baldwin | 0% | 139 | Excellent |
| A | Dauphin Island Public Beach | Mobile | 0.8% | 119 | Excellent |
| A | Fort Morgan Public Beach | Baldwin | 1% | 96 | Excellent |
| A | Gulf Shores Public Beach | Baldwin | 1.3% | 299 | Excellent |
| A | Pirate's Cove | Baldwin | 2% | 50 | Excellent |
| A | Camp Dixie | Baldwin | 2.2% | 138 | Excellent |
| B | Little Lagoon Pass Beach | Baldwin | 3.6% | 222 | Good |
| B | Florida Point | Baldwin | 5% | 322 | Good |
| B | Escambia Avenue | Baldwin | 5% | 101 | Good |
| B | Alabama Point (Gulf Of Mexico) | Baldwin | 5.1% | 136 | Good |
| C | Dauphin Island East End | Mobile | 7.4% | 95 | Fair |
| C | May Day Park | Baldwin | 10.8% | 157 | Fair |
| D | Camp Beckwith | Baldwin | 13.1% | 350 | Poor |
| D | Fairhope Public Beach | Baldwin | 13.8% | 268 | Poor |
| D | Volanta Avenue | Baldwin | 14.9% | 168 | Poor |
| D | Orange Beach Waterfront Park | Baldwin | 15.9% | 309 | Poor |
| D | Orange Street Pier/Beach | Baldwin | 16% | 163 | Poor |
| D | Spanish Cove | Baldwin | 18.8% | 170 | Poor |
| D | Kee Avenue | Baldwin | 19.1% | 309 | Poor |
| F | Fowl River | Mobile | 31.3% | 272 | Failing |
| F | Mary Ann Nelson Beach | Baldwin | 32% | 347 | Failing |
| F | Dog River, Alba Club | Mobile | 41% | 907 | Failing |
Download the full Alabama beach safety ranking
All 22 graded Alabama beaches with their Beach Safety Grade, exceedance rate, sample counts, and program status — from EPA monitoring data. Enter your email to download. A grade is a multi-year classification, not a same-day safety clearance.
Alabama beach grade updates
Get new grades and water-quality updates for Alabama beaches by email.
Where to stay near Alabama beaches
Find beachfront hotels, condos, and vacation rentals across Alabama — live availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Alabama beaches
Prices for Oct 2–4, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Watch Alabama beach grades
Get an email when a graded Alabama beach posts a new sample or swim advisory.
Frequently Asked Questions
The table ranks Alabama beaches by Beach Safety Grade from EPA bacteria samples. Grade A beaches have the fewest exceedances of the safe-swimming limit.
Hotels, condos, and vacation rentals for Alabama beaches are on the map on this page. Compare water quality in the table, then book from the town you actually want to swim from.
Alabama beaches vary. Of 22 graded beaches, 6 earn an A for the fewest bacteria exceedances and 3 earn an F for exceeding the safe-swimming limit most often. A grade is a multi-year record, not a same-day clearance — check the county advisory the day you swim.
The day you swim. A grade is a history of samples, not a same-day clearance — check the county advisory before you get in.