National Scenic Byway · Alabama

Alabama's Coastal Connection

Alabama's Gulf Coast from Grand Bay through Bayou La Batre and Dauphin Island, across Mobile Bay by ferry, and up the eastern shore to Daphne.

Also known as Alabama's Coastal Connection National Scenic Byway

Alabama's Coastal Connection: Sightseeing Cruise at Sunset in Orange Beach

Photo: U.S. Department of Transportation, America's Byways collection (National Archives), Public domain, source

  • Length130 miles[1]
  • Drive timeNot verified
  • RoadsState Highways 188, 193, 180, 135, 182 and 161, US 98 and US 98 Alt., with the Mobile Bay Ferry[2]
  • Start and endGrand Bay Wilmer Road at I-10, north of Grand Bay, to US 98 at I-10 near Daphne, crossing Mobile Bay on the ferry between Dauphin Island and Fort Morgan[2]
  • Fees and passesNone for the byway[1]
  • Best seasonScenic all year; fall brings festivals, art shows and bright sunsets over the water[3]
  • SurfaceNot verified
  • Vehicle notesThe route crosses Mobile Bay on the Mobile Bay Ferry (a fee service). Vehicles 30 feet or longer should call ahead for loading guidance. The Foley Beach Express bridge has a per-axle toll.[3]
  • Seasonal closuresThe Mobile Bay Ferry runs only during posted daytime hours, which vary by season.[3]

Before you go

Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.

Facts last checked against the sources on October 29, 2026.

About the drive

Alabama's Coastal Connection loops around Mobile Bay. It starts near Grand Bay, passes the shrimp boats of Bayou La Batre and runs out to Dauphin Island, then crosses the mouth of the bay on the ferry to Fort Morgan.

From there it follows the beaches through Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, with short spurs toward the Florida line, before turning inland through Elberta and Foley and north along the eastern shore through Fairhope and Daphne.

Forts Gaines and Morgan, Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, Gulf State Park and the Weeks Bay reserve are the main stops. Seafood is part of the trip, and the forts, ferry and parks set their own hours and fees.

Stops along the way

  1. Bayou La Batre

    Working seafood town on State Highway 188.

    Official information · 30.40352, -88.24853 · about 0.0 mi from the route line

  2. Bellingrath Gardens

    Garden estate on the first spur of the byway.

    Official information · 30.431, -88.14088 · about 1.1 mi from the route line

  3. Gulf State Park

    State park on the beach between Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

    Official information · 30.26024, -87.64818 · about 0.4 mi from the route line

  4. Fort Morgan

    Fort across the mouth of Mobile Bay, where the ferry lands.

    Official information · 30.22854, -88.02306 · about 0.5 mi from the route line

  5. Fort Gaines

    Brick fort on Dauphin Island, a National Historic Landmark.

    Official information · 30.24882, -88.075 · about 0.2 mi from the route line

  6. Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge

    Beaches, dunes and marsh on the Fort Morgan peninsula.

    Official information · 30.27673, -88.11722 · about 0.3 mi from the route line

  7. Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

    Estuary reserve on US 98.

    Official information · 30.41852, -87.83126 · about 0.1 mi from the route line

  8. Fairhope

    Bayside town on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay.

    Official information · 30.52298, -87.90333 · about 0.1 mi from the route line

Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).

Food along the way

Farmers markets within about 25 miles

  • Bayou Farmers MarketBayou La Batre, AL · about 0.0 mi from the route
  • Chicago Street Farmers MarketFoley, AL · about 0.0 mi from the route
  • Elberta Farmers MarketElberta, AL · about 0.0 mi from the route
  • Coastal Alabama Farmers and Fishermen MarketFoley, AL · about 0.1 mi from the route
  • Fairhope Outdoor Farmers MarketFairhope, AL · about 0.1 mi from the route

Markets keep their own seasons and hours, so check with the market before you go. Find more in the Farmers Market Finder.

In season during the best months to drive

The drive's best months are Sep, Oct, Nov. Typical U.S. seasons from our Fresh Market Guide; local harvests vary.

Keep exploring

Scenic drives nearby

More scenic drives in Alabama

Food and farms in the area

Sources

  1. America's Byways: Alabama's Coastal Connection (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-29)
  2. Alabama's Coastal Connection (Recreation.gov) (checked 2026-10-29)
  3. America's Byways: Alabama's Coastal Connection, visitor services (FHWA byways.org, archived copy) (checked 2026-10-29)
  4. Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-22.

Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.

Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).

More drives in Alabama · All scenic drives