Alabama · GSA non-standard area · FY2027
Gulf Shores per diem rates
Federal travelers to Gulf Shores (GSA area: Baldwin) can claim up to $221 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidental expenses in FY2027 (October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027). Lodging is seasonal: $144 in the cheapest months (Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Aug, Sep) and $221 at the peak (Jun, Jul). That is $108 above the standard CONUS lodging rate of $113.
Lodging cap by month, FY2027
FY2027 rates by season
Exactly as listed in GSA's FY2027 per diem file. Season dates are inclusive; the lodging cap applies to the night that begins on each date.
| Season | Lodging | M&IE | Max per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 – Feb 28 | $144 | $74 | $218 |
| Mar 1 – May 31 | $177 | $74 | $251 |
| Jun 1 – Jul 31 | $221 | $74 | $295 |
| Aug 1 – Sep 30 | $144 | $74 | $218 |
Meals, incidentals and a worked trip
| Breakfast | $18 |
| Lunch | $20 |
| Dinner | $31 |
| Incidental expenses | $5 |
| M&IE, full day | $74 |
| First and last day of travel (75%) | $55.50 |
GSA's breakdown of the $74 M&IE tier, used to deduct meals provided by the government or included in a registration fee (FTR §301-11.21). Meals on a common carrier and complimentary hotel breakfasts are not deducted. All tiers
Worked example · June
A 4-night trip (5 travel days) in June:
| Lodging, 4 nights × $221 | $884 |
| M&IE, first and last day at 75% (2 × $55.50) | $111.00 |
| M&IE, 3 full days × $74 | $222 |
| Maximum for the trip | $1,217.00 |
Lodging is reimbursed up to the cap for actual cost (taxes are claimed separately on CONUS trips, FTR §301-11.16). The 75% first-and-last-day rule is FTR §301-11.20. Use the trip calculator for your own dates.
History, FY2015 to FY2027
Listed in every GSA file since FY2015.
Gulf Shores: lodging and M&IE by fiscal year
Each fiscal year runs October to September. Dashed line: the standard CONUS lodging rate.
| Fiscal year | Lodging | M&IE | Max/day | Peak change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2027 | $144 – $221 | $74 | $295 | +2.3% |
| FY2026 | $134 – $216 | $74 | $290 | 0% |
| FY2025 | $134 – $216 | $74 | $290 | −8.9% |
| FY2024 | $137 – $237 | $69 | $306 | 0% |
| FY2023 | $137 – $237 | $69 | $306 | +37.0% |
| FY2022 | $111 – $173 | $69 | $242 | 0% |
| FY2021 | $111 – $173 | $61 | $234 | +2.4% |
| FY2020 | $112 – $169 | $61 | $230 | +2.4% |
| FY2019 | $105 – $165 | $61 | $226 | +3.1% |
| FY2018 | $106 – $160 | $64 | $224 | +2.6% |
| FY2017 | $105 – $156 | $64 | $220 | +20.0% |
| FY2016 | $101 – $130 | $64 | $194 | +1.6% |
| FY2015 | $100 – $128 | $51 | $179 | – |
How it compares
Peak FY2027 lodging cap: Gulf Shores among all 295 non-standard areas
Rank #59 nationally and #1 of 4 in Alabama. All Alabama rates · National rankings
Where this rate applies
GSA defines this area as Baldwin in Alabama. Under GSA's rules a non-standard area includes "all locations within, or entirely surrounded by, the corporate limits of the key city as well as the boundaries of the listed counties" (GSA per diem FAQs).
27 ZIP codes map to Gulf Shores in GSA's FY2027 ZIP code file
36502 36507 36511 36526 36527 36530 36532 36533 36535 36536 36542 36547 36549 36550 36551 36555 36559 36561 36562 36564 36567 36574 36576 36577 36578 36579 36580
Other Alabama destinations
| Destination | Peak lodging | M&IE |
|---|---|---|
| HuntsvilleMadison | $146 | $74 |
| BirminghamJefferson | $135 | $80 |
| MobileMobile | $126 | $74 |
Questions
- What is the per diem rate for Gulf Shores in FY2027?
- Lodging up to $221 a night ($144 to $221 depending on season), plus $74 a day for meals and incidental expenses, for travel from October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027.
- How much M&IE do I get on the first and last day?
- 75% of the M&IE rate: $55.50 on the day you leave and the day you return (FTR §301-11.20, as published in the eCFR).
- Are hotel taxes included in the lodging rate?
- No. For CONUS travel, lodging taxes on the reimbursable room cost are claimed separately as a miscellaneous expense (FTR §301-11.16(a)).
Source: U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), per diem rates and per diem files. Not affiliated with GSA. All sources