A whisper of an island just 15 miles long and one mile wide, Dauphin Island has a pretty loud presence thanks to its technicolor sunsets. “That’s our brand. The Sunset Capital of Alabama,” says Shirley Robinson, town council member and longtime resident. “They are pretty fabulous. A lot of people go to the west side of the island to watch them.” But Robinson knows a secret: the sunrises are darn good too. The island thrums with vacationers year-round, and restaurant lines test everyone's patience in summer, but the island never exudes the frenetic vibes of the nearby Gulf Shores region. It’s a more peaceful place, Robinson says, where people walk their dogs on the beach and gather before dawn for the community-wide sunrise service on Easter morning.
A Dauphin Island welcome sign greets arrivals by the Dauphin Island Bridge.
The East End Public Beach on Dauphin Island offers beautiful evening sunsets.
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Scan for birds from the boardwalk at the Audubon Bird Sanctuary
The coast is ever present on this small barrier island, which is tucked between Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. There are three public beaches: West End Public Beach, the central Public Beach and East End Public Beach. With the exception of West End Beach, where protected birds build nests, leashed dogs are allowed on the sand. East End Beach bumps against Fort Gaines, a historic Civil War-era fort. The Dauphin Island Bike Trail ribbons west from the fort for about three-and-a-half miles, ultimately linking with Public Beach. Walking trails meander past pines, live oaks and coastal swamplands inside the 164-acre Dauphin Island Audubon Bird Sanctuary. The Dauphin Island Sea Lab is a highly recommended aquarium spotlighting regional coastal habitats.
Dauphin Island's flat terrain makes for great biking around the island.
Fort Gaines is best known for its role in the Battle of Mobile Bay during the American Civil War.
Calm Gulf waters frame the beaches along Dauphin Island.
Even in the colder months, nothing beats relaxing beach views with family on Dauphin Island.
Quiet beach mornings are common on Dauphin Island.
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Many homes have views of the Gulf of Mexico
Homes fall into two camps: raised cottages in the western beach area and more traditional homes – bungalows and ranchers – in the wooded area in the east. Duplexes, townhouses, condominiums and small fish camps are also in the mix. Properties close to the beach tend to be priced higher than those farther inland. Prices range from $250,000 for an inland cottage-style house to $1.2 million for a raised six-bedroom beach house on the water. “The houses are quite expensive,” Robinson says, and it can be “hard for young people to live here because the insurance is kind of high. Flood insurance. If you buy a little brick house in the woods, it’s more reasonable.”
Canal‑front rentals line the north side of Dauphin Island.
Listings on Dauphin Island range from inland cottages to $1.2M waterfront homes.
Stilted homes and rentals protect against the tides of coastal living in Dauphin Island.
The homes in the east end of Dauphin Island feels provides residents with a bit more privacy.
Raised homes on Dauphin Island sit a short walk from public beaches.
A few properties on Dauphin Island are tucked away for more privacy.
Charter boats and marinas serve anglers across Dauphin Island.
Canal‑front homes on Dauphin Island offer quick dock access.
Sunset watching is a favorite pastime on Dauphin Island’s west end.
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Mardi Gras season in greater Mobile kicks off on Dauphin Island
Mobile is known for its Mardi Gras celebrations, and Dauphin Island hosts the first two parades of the season, usually at the end of January or the beginning of February. “It’s really large. People from Mobile come down here. There are thousands at the event,” Robinson says. The Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo brings 4,000 anglers – and 75,000 spectators – in mid-July for the world's largest fishing tournament, with prizes awarded across 33 categories.
Seafood comes with ocean views at Pirate’s Bar & Grill
Most shops and restaurants are locally owned, and fresh seafood is the island specialty – and it typically comes with views of the water. Capt’n Snappers, owned by Robinson’s brother-in-law, serves fried seafood platters beside the Dauphin Island Bridge and the marina. Burgers, po’boys and seafood are on the menu at Pirate’s Bar & Grill, which overlooks the Gulf and the beach. Lighthouse Bakery sells pastries, bread and sandwiches. The Carriage Wine & Market sells specialty groceries on the island. There are Greer’s CashSaver stores in Theodore and Bayou La Batre, each about 20 minutes away.
Dockside Seafood in Dauphin Island lives up to its name with some of the best seafood on the dock.
Lighthouse Bakery on Dauphin Island sells pastries, bread, and sandwiches.
Pirate’s Bar & Grill offers burgers and seafood with Gulf views on Dauphin Island.
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Students travel off the island for middle school and high school
The Dauphin Dispatch is a monthly online newsletter keeping parents informed about events at Dauphin Island Elementary, which enrolls fewer than 100 students. “We don’t have as many young families,” Robinson says, compared to past years, “but we’re getting more because they’re able to work from home now.” The school earns a grade of B from Niche. Alba Middle School, which opened in 1918, is located 17 miles from the island in Bayou La Batre. Niche grades the school a C-plus. After their freshman year, high school students in Mobile County enroll in themed academies, which guide their career paths. The signature academy at Alma Bryant High School is Coastal Studies. Niche grades the school a C-plus.
Dauphin Island Elementary School is the main school on the island for students.
Alba Middle School in Bayou La Batre, 17 miles from Dauphin Island, opened in 1918.
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Take the Dauphin Island Bridge or the Mobile Bay Ferry
State Highway 193 and the Dauphin Island Bridge connect the island with the mainland. Mobile is 35 miles north. Traffic on the island isn’t typically bad but it gets a little more congested on weekends and holidays, and if there's an event on the island. A ferry service operates daily between Dauphin Island and Fort Morgan to the east, across Mobile Bay.
Written By
Amy Balfour
Photography Contributed By
Antonio Bonner
Video By
David Strayer
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Lindsey Dana,
an experienced agent in this area.
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On average, homes in Dauphin Island, AL sell after 127 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Dauphin Island, AL over the last 12 months is $517,000, up 6% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
VRM $499,000- $529,000. Sellers will entertain offers between $499,000 and $529,000. List price equals the average of the lower and upper ranges. Welcome to this beautifully crafted new construction home on Dauphin Island, offering a perfect blend of modern comfort and relaxed coastal charm. Built to Gold Fortified standards, this all-electric 2-bedroom, 2-bath home is located in Flood Zone X and
You'll fall in love with this wonderful 2BR/2BA unit right on the Gulf! Enjoy the view with a cup of coffee on your private balcony while watching the shrimp trawlers and dolphins swim along the shore. Each bedroom has its own private bath, with the guest bath also accessing the Great Room. The fully stocked kitchen is ready for you to prepare meals for the family, all while seeing the view of
Come enjoy this wonderful 3 Bedroom/3 Bath condo on the top floor of Dauphin Island Beach Club with a cathedral ceiling overlooking the Gulf! This unit has not been a rental, and it shows! Each bedroom has its own connected bathroom, and the split bedroom floor plan gives everyone their own privacy. It is being sold with furnishings so it is turn-key and ready to go. The complex has two pools
Don’t wait to see this turnkey waterfront property with immediate short term rental eligibility. The property is located on a protected canal with direct access to Indian Bay & Mobile Bay. Just 1.4 miles from the public beach, and close to everything the Island has to offer. The parcel is zoned R2, therefore the 90 property rental cap restriction does not apply. The house is being sold fully
Make Dauphin Island home. Angel’s View is a four bedroom, four bathroom coastal residence set on pilings with wide gulf views, a covered front porch, and quick access to the public beach across Bienville. Offered by Dauphin Island Beach Rentals for twelve month leases. Stays of seven to eleven months may be considered with a premium. At the top of the stairs a covered front porch leads you into a
Live the island life in this beautifully furnished beach cottage that perfectly blends comfort, style, and coastal charm. Located just four homes back from the Gulf, you’ll enjoy soothing wave sounds and stunning Gulf views—only steps from the sand! Inside, the open-concept floor plan is designed for relaxation and entertaining, featuring a spacious family room and a fully updated kitchen with GE
Enjoy the best of Dauphin Island living in this fully furnished 1-bedroom, 1-bath unit a Bayfront 4-plex on Indian Bay. Offering approximately 800 sq ft of living space, this turnkey rental comes with high-quality furnishings including a La-Z-Boy sofa and chair, luxury mattress, dining set, and a fully equipped kitchen with GE professional stainless appliances—range, microwave, full-size
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