Summer is upon us and many Alabamians are making plans to load up the car and head to the beach, and many of those plans include a memorable pit stop or two along the way.
After all, a long drive to the beach is best broken up with a few rest stops, and Alabama has plenty of places that are like destinations in themselves along popular routes to the coast. Whether you’re indulging in a home-cooked meal at Bates House of Turkey in Greenville, getting some exercise while feeding the alligators at Alligator Alley in Summerdale, or buying some seashells at Souvenir City in Gulf Shores before heading home, these eight popular rest stops in Alabama are perfect for your next beach trip.
Peach Park
Located off Interstate 65, Exit 205 in Clanton, Peach Park For nearly 40 years, it’s served as Alabama Beach’s staple (and essential) rest stop for tired, hungry drivers heading to the Gulf Coast, with a host of amenities including homemade desserts like the popular peach ice cream, a wide selection of fresh local produce, barbecue, and ample restrooms. Not to mention, the grounds, which are open daily during the summer, also feature picturesque gardens and a playground, giving everyone a place to stretch their legs during the drive.
read more: About Peach Park
Donut King
For travelers heading to the beach early in the morning, Donut King In Eufaula, Alabama, indulging in enough sweet treats to last the entire holiday is a beloved and delicious tradition. In business for over 30 years, Donut King offers a variety of donut flavors and varieties that change daily. One thing that remains the same, however, is that their most popular varieties sell out quickly, meaning that while the early bird catches the worm, it’s the early bird who gets to the beach.
read more: Alabama’s Best Donuts: Top 10
Conex Sausage Company Gift Shop
If your drive to the beach passes through Evergreen, Alabama, Connex Sausage Gift Shop is a must (you might also want to bring an empty cooler for the drive). The 7,000-square-foot shop allows travelers to fill up on make-your-own sausage dogs on a large porch, then stock up on their favorite Konekof meats along the way. The gift shop also has spacious, clean restrooms and an outdoor dog park, making it the perfect place to stop off during a long drive.
read more: Conex Sausage Gift Shop is a pig’s paradise
Bates House of Turkey
Bates House of Turkey Located just off Interstate 65 in Greenville, Alabama, this is one of our favorite beach pit stops, a favorite among travelers looking for a hearty meal to keep them satisfied throughout the drive, rather than the usual gas station snacks. Of course, it’s best to start thinking about what to order as soon as you get in the car, as there are plenty of dishes featuring Bates family farmed turkey, including the popular roast turkey plate, turkey chili, turkey taco salad, turkey dressing and barbecue turkey.
read more: Bates House of Turkey remains an essential pit stop.
Back Ease
A trip to the beach isn’t complete without a stop here. Back Ease There are several locations of this popular gas giant statewide on the way (and maybe on the way back), but on most beach-goers’ route are the Athens location at Exit 347 off Interstate 65 and the Robertsdale location at Exit 49 off Interstate 10 near the Baldwin Beach Express. No matter which Buc-ee’s you visit, you’ll find everything you need for a break, from ample, clean restrooms and gas stations to an endless selection of sweet and salty snacks, from barbecue to beaver nuggets.
read more: 5 Underrated Items at Buc-ee’s
Priester’s Pecan
in Priester’s Pecan Taking Interstate 65 to Exit 142 and heading down Deposit Street, travelers will be ready to head out again with all sorts of sweet and savory snacks in cans, from homemade candy and ice cream to cheese straws and all sorts of flavored pecans. Plus, if you’re in the mood for something a little more filling, the Meat-and-Three Style Lunch Bar serves up traditional Southern fare as well as sandwiches and salads. Don’t forget to head upstairs, where you can watch Priester’s candies being handcrafted and pick up a free sample before you head out.
read more: Things you didn’t know about restaurants
Alligator Alley
in Alligator Alley At Summerdale, beachgoers can leave their cars and stretch their legs on an elevated boardwalk built over a natural marsh that’s home to hundreds of alligators. With daily educational shows and feedings featuring everything from hatchlings to 14-foot alligators, it’s the perfect spot to unwind from a long drive with the whole family. Plus, you can buy a bag of alligator food from the store and feed the alley’s inhabitants yourself from a safe distance.
read more: Take a peek inside Alligator Alley
Souvenir City
Souvenirs are a beach trip essential, and for visitors to the beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama, Souvenir town. For more than 70 years, visitors have been buying beach memorabilia here: seashells, airbrushed T-shirts, photo frames, hats, and, presumably, dead hermit crabs, fudge and other snacks. Plus, no trip to Gulf Shores is complete without the whole family posing for a photo in the giant shark’s mouth that serves as the store’s entrance.
read more: Inside the famous shark’s mouth at Souvenir City