8 Alabama pit stops you’ll wanna make on your next beach trip

Summer is here, which means many Alabamians have plans to load up their cars and head to the beach, and many of those plans include a memorable pit stop or two along the way.

After all, the long drive to the beach is best when broken up by a few stops, and Alabama has plenty of places along common routes to the coast that are almost like destination in themselves. Whether it be chowing down on a homecooked meal at Bates House of Turkey in Greenville; getting in a stretch while feeding the gators in Summerdale at Alligator Alley or stocking up on seashells at Souvenir City in Gulf Shores before heading home, these 8 popular Alabama pit stops are perfect for your next beach trip.

5 Alabama roadside attractions — Peach ice cream is a must at Clanton's Peach Park.Bob Carlton

Peach Park

Located off Exit 205 on Interstate 65 in Clanton, Peach Park has served as a classic (and essential) Alabama beach pit stop for tired and hungry drivers headed to the Gulf Coast for around 40 years thanks to its homemade desserts that include its popular peach ice cream as well as its wide selection of fresh, locally-grown produce, barbecue, large restrooms and much more. Not to mention, its grounds, which are open seven days a week during the summer, include a picturesque garden and playground space so everyone has somewhere to stretch their legs during the drive.

READ MORE: All about Peach Park

The Donut King

For many beach-bound travelers getting an early start on their trip, a stop at The Donut King in Eufaula, Ala., to load up on enough sugary goodness to last their whole vacation has become a beloved, and delicious, tradition. In business for more than 30 years, The Donut King offers a wide array of flavors and types of doughnuts that change from day-to-day. What doesn’t change, though, is that their most popular varieties are likely to sell out quick. Basically, the early bird might get the worm, but the early beach-goer gets the doughnut.

The Conecuh Sausage Company Gift Shop

If your drive to the beach takes you through Evergreen, Ala., a stop at The Conecuh Sausage Gift Shop is a must (and you might want to bring an empty cooler along for the ride, too). While at the 7,000-square-foot shop, travelers can fill up by making their own sausage dogs to enjoy on the large porch before stocking up on all their favorite Conecuh meats for the road. The gift shop also boasts large, clean bathrooms as well as an outdoor dog park, making it the perfect place to park for a bit during a long drive.

Bates House of Turkey

Bates House of Turkey is another popular beach pit stop located directly off Interstate 65 in Greenville, Ala., and it’s a favorite among travelers looking to pass up the usual gas station snacks for a hearty meal that’ll keep ‘em feeling full the rest of the drive. Of course, with so many dishes to choose from -- like its popular roast turkey plate, turkey chili, turkey taco salad, turkey dressing, barbecue turkey and more -- all made from turkeys raised on the Bates family farm, it’s best to start thinking about what you’re going to order as soon as you get in the car.

Buc-ee’s

It’s not really a beach trip without a stop at Buc-ee’s along the way (and probably on the way back too.) The popular, mega-sized gas station has several locations throughout the state, but it’s the Athens store off Exit 347 on Interstate 65 and its Robertsdale store off Exit 49 on I-10 near the Baldwin Beach Express that end up being on many beachgoers’ routes. Regardless of which Buc-ee’s you visit though, you can expect to find everything you could need in a pit stop, from plenty of clean bathrooms and gas pumps to an endless selection of sweet and salty snacks ranging from barbecue to beaver nuggets and so much more.

READ MORE: 5 underrated items at Buc-ee’s

Priester’s Pecans

At Priester’s Pecans off Exit 142 via Interstate 65 in Fort Deposit, travelers load can up on all sorts of sweet and savory snacks, from homemade candies and ice cream to cheese straws and every kind of flavored pecan, before getting back on the road. Plus, if you’re in the mood for something a little more filling, the meat-and-three-style lunch bar offers up classic Southern fare as well as sandwiches and salads too. Just don’t forget to head upstairs, where you can get a look at Priester’s candies being made by hand and score some free samples before you go.

Alligator Alley

At Alligator Alley in Summerdale, beach travelers can take a break from the car and stretch their legs by taking a stroll along the elevated boardwalks built atop the natural swamp that’s home to hundreds of gators. With educational shows and live feedings daily featuring alligators ranging from hatchlings to 14-footers, the attraction will be a welcome break from the road for the whole family. Plus, you can even try your hand at feeding the alley’s inhabitants yourself -- from a safe distance -- with the purchase of a bag of gator food from its store.

Souvenir City

Souvenirs are pretty much a requirement of any beach trip, and for travelers visiting the beaches of Gulf Shores, Ala., so is a stop at Souvenir City. For more than 70 years, visitors have stocked up on their beach keepsakes, like seashells, airbrushed T-shirts, picture frames, hats and likely-doomed hermit crabs as well as fudge and other snacks, there. Plus, no trip to Gulf Shores is complete without getting a photo of the whole family posed in the mouth of the giant shark that serves as the store’s entrance.