Top 10 U.S. Beaches for Wheelchair Access: Sandy Shores in California, Virginia, and Florida

Beaches aren’t naturally accessible to wheelchairs or other mobility devices, so it takes careful planning and some extra tools to make these areas wheelchair or walker friendly. However, for the 25.5 million Americans who report they have travel-limiting disabilities (and their family and friends), the effort is well worth it. After all, shouldn’t everyone be able to feel the sea breeze and dip their toes in the ocean?

To that end, several accessible stretches of coastline have been modified to make a day at the beach a reality for those who rely on wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, canes, and scooters.

“Adding walkways over the sand (including Mobi-mats, which are portable rollout pathways), accessible ramps, and beach wheelchairs (wheelchairs with larger, wider wheels that can easily roll across the sand and into the water) are some of the numerous steps taken to make beaches more accessible,” said Miriam Eljas, CEO and co-founder of accessibleGO, an accessible hotel information hub.

Eljas says that people with mobility limitations should research what the beach has in regard to accessibility features and check the accessibleGO community forum to learn from others who have visited the beach they want to go to. “First-hand accounts are better than any information you will find online! And if you can’t find what you are looking for, feel free to add a question for the community to respond to,” she said.

Here are 10 accessible beaches in the United States, from Florida to California.

1. Siesta Beach, Siesta Key, Florida

Siesta Key, located off the coast of Sarasota, is known for its white sandy beaches and warm, shallow waters. Siesta Beach, which was named the No. 2 beach in the U.S. by the 2023 TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Awards, isn’t just for those who can travel without a mobility device. According to Eljas, there’s a 400-foot walkway that stretches from the paved parking lot to the shoreline, allowing people using wheelchairs and walkers to reach the water. Additionally, there are free beach wheelchairs available for use.

2. South Cape Beach, Mashpee, Massachusetts

This beach in South Cape Beach State Park is one of Cape Cod’s most accessible sandy shorelines. There’s an accessible boardwalk and hard-packed paths onto the beach. The park also provides beach mats and beach wheelchairs that can be brought down to the water, along with accessible bathrooms and an observation deck.

3. North Myrtle Beach and Surfside Beach, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

The Myrtle Beach area features a vast coastline and a famous boardwalk, much of which is accessible to people with mobility devices. Both North Myrtle Beach and Surfside Beach have free beach wheelchairs available, complemented by several beach access points designed for wheelchairs, walkers, and scooters.

4. Moonlight State Beach, Encinitas, California

Located between San Diego and Los Angeles, Encinitas is home to Moonlight Beach, one of the nation’s most accessible sandy areas. According to Eljas, Moonlight Beach “offers an accessible mat year-round to accommodate wheelchairs and scooters on the sand” and provides “free-floating beach wheelchairs that can navigate both sand and water.”

5. Narragansett Town Beach, Narragansett, Rhode Island

Narragansett Town Beach is situated in the heart of Narragansett and boasts some of the cleanest and most accessible shorelines in New England. In addition to large, accessible bathrooms and sand mats, the beach has seven sand-friendly wheelchairs which are available for free.

6. Rialto Beach, Mora, Washington

Rialto Beach is nestled within Olympic National Park, a destination that offers paved trails and accessible viewpoints for people with mobility devices. The beach, equipped with a summer accessible walkway, offers visitors of different abilities the chance to ascend a sand dune via a pathway.

7. Hampton Beach, Hampton, New Hampshire

The sprawling Hampton Beach State Park is a top destination in New Hampshire, especially for visitors with mobility challenges. There are accessible ramps and mats that help guests cross the sand. Moreover, there are “beach wheelchairs that can be pushed across the sand and also float in the water,” according to Eljas.

8. Kama’ole Beach Park, Kihei, Hawaii

Some of the best and most accessible beaches on Maui can be found at Kama’ole Beach Park. This park encompasses three stretches of sand — Kama’ole I, II, and III. Visit Kama’ole I, which features an accessible water fountain, shower, and beach chairs, and Kama’ole II, which provides a ramp to the sand along with ADA parking and pathways.

9. Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach, Virginia

The city of Virginia Beach has pioneered in offering beach wheelchairs to visitors. Consequently, the beachfront and adjacent boardwalk make traveling around and getting onto the sand much simpler. Ramps connect the boardwalk with the sand along each street, and there are free beach wheelchairs available at 17th and 24th Streets.

10. Oxnard Beach Park, Oxnard, California

Oxnard Beach Park, located northwest of Los Angeles, became one of the country’s first accessible beaches when it was established in 1992, thanks to World War II veteran Ed Hunt. The 900-foot-long pathway that weaves along the area’s sand dunes leading to the beach continues to welcome people of all abilities today.