Gulf Shores best: Excellent
Main resort with a pier and a lively beach strip.
& Orange Beach — 32 miles of beautiful sugar white sands on the prettiest beaches on the Gulf of Mexico.
Vitamin D in Alabama: best months for sun and a travel guide
The best months for vitamin D in Alabama are April to July, October, November. In May, a full dose of about 1,000 IU takes around 6 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 8.7 usable sun hours a day. For a beach stay it is too hot in August, too cool from December to March and rainy or stormy in September.
Alabama month by month
Alabama is rated at its median coastal place, for skin type III at age 30. Click a month for the details.
| Month | Rating | Sun window | Peak UV | Full dose, age 30 | Full dose, age 65 | Afternoon high | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Too cold | 3.9 h | 4.0 | 13 min | 25 min | 13°C | 9/30 |
| February | Too cold | 5.2 h | 5.0 | 11 min | 20 min | 16°C | 5/30 |
| March | Too cold | 6.5 h | 6.2 | 9 min | 16 min | 19°C | 7/30 |
| April | Excellent | 7.9 h | 7.4 | 7 min | 14 min | 26°C | 2/30 |
| May | Excellent | 8.7 h | 8.3 | 6 min | 12 min | 29°C | 7/30 |
| June | Excellent | 9.2 h | 8.4 | 6 min | 12 min | 29°C | 8/30 |
| July | Excellent | 9.0 h | 8.4 | 6 min | 12 min | 31°C | 8/30 |
| August | Too hot | 8.4 h | 8.0 | 7 min | 13 min | 33°C | 6/30 |
| September | Bad weather | 6.5 h | 6.4 | 8 min | 16 min | 28°C | 7/30 |
| October | Good | 6.7 h | 5.9 | 9 min | 17 min | 24°C | 1/30 |
| November | Good | 4.3 h | 4.2 | 13 min | 24 min | 22°C | 8/30 |
| December | Too cold | 4.1 h | 3.8 | 14 min | 26 min | 19°C | 7/30 |
Sun window is the number of hours a day with UV Index 2.5 or higher. Full dose is the minutes at midday for about 1,000 IU of vitamin D with a quarter of the body bare, for skin type III. Rainy days are days with at least 1 mm out of 30.
Travel guide: why go to Alabama
Why go
Alabama's Gulf Shores have sugar-white sand and warm, green-blue water at lower prices than Florida.
Best for
Families and budget travellers.
What to expect
A hot, humid summer, a long beach season from April to October, and hurricane risk from June to November. Beaches are wide, flat and well suited to children.
Places in Alabama
Each place has its own climate, so its best months can differ from the country as a whole.
Orange Beach best: Excellent
Quieter neighbour with condos and marinas.
Dauphin Island best: Excellent
Barrier island with bird migration and a quiet beach.
Mobile best: Excellent
Historic port city with Mardi Gras roots.
Alabama's only major port and largest city near the Gulf
Fort Morgan best: Excellent
Historic fort and a quiet, natural stretch of beach.
Some short descriptions come from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Questions about vitamin D in Alabama
When is the best time to visit Alabama for vitamin D?
The best months for vitamin D in Alabama are April to July, October, November. In May, a full dose of about 1,000 IU takes around 6 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 8.7 usable sun hours a day.
Can you get vitamin D from the sun in Alabama in January?
Yes, but slowly. In January a full dose takes about 13 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 3.9 usable hours a day.
How long do I need in the sun in Alabama?
In May, the best month, about 6 minutes at midday with a quarter of the body bare, for skin type III at age 30; about 12 minutes at age 65. Darker skin needs longer and fair skin burns sooner, so keep sessions short. This is an estimate for planning, not medical advice.
Which months should I avoid in Alabama?
For a beach stay, avoid the months when it is too hot in August, too cool from December to March and rainy or stormy in September.
What is the best place in Alabama for vitamin D?
In May the strongest sun of the places we rate is around Gulf Shores. Each place has its own rating, so open the place list to compare them.
Plan by month
- Jan Too cold
- Feb Too cold
- Mar Too cold
- Apr Excellent
- May Excellent
- Jun Excellent
- Jul Excellent
- Aug Too hot
- Sep Bad weather
- Oct Good
- Nov Good
- Dec Too cold