A Guide to Florida’s Beaches with Wheels

Beach wheelchairs are great for navigating sand!

Florida is a popular vacation destination known for its beautiful beaches, but for individuals with mobility impairments, finding a beach that is accessible can be a challenge… to say the least.

Don’t let Florida’s endless sand scare you away! While there are plenty of beaches that we still can’t access, Florida has worked hard to make sure there are beaches, in every area of the coast, that we can! Between beach wheelchairs, ramped access to the sand, mobi mats, and accessible restrooms and amenities, you can find a beach that will work for your family in most areas of Florida.

In addition to beach wheelchairs, many of Florida’s beaches also offer other accessibility features, such as ramps and accessible restrooms. For example, Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota has a Mobi-Mat, a portable, roll-out path that allows individuals with mobility impairments to access the beach. Other beaches, such as St. Augustine Beach and Clearwater Beach, have specially-designed beach wheelchairs that can be used in the water, allowing users to experience the joy of swimming in the ocean.

Where to Go

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Florida is pretty much made of beaches, so there’s a lot of space to cover.

If you already know what area you want to visit…

Spin the Globe has a nice breakdown by county, showing what accessibility features each beach does or does not have. Links are included for information on beach wheelchairs. This is perfect if you already know where you want to go, but you’re looking for beach accessibility.

Check out accessible beaches sorted by county, here.

Thanks to the Beach Wheelchair Initiative, free beach wheelchairs are available on loan at most Florida State Park beaches, including, but not limited to:

  • Alafia River State Park
  • Anastasia State Park
  • Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
  • Caladesi Island State Park
  • Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park
  • Grayton Beach State Park
  • Haulover Beach Park
  • Honeymoon Island State Park
  • John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
  • St. Andrews State Park

State parks often make a great way to explore the Florida coastline with the best amenities.

If you’re looking for inspiration…

If you’re just looking for wherever is most accessible, I’m a big fan of following advice from other wheelchair users! You’re not the first person with a wheelchair planning a trip to Florida, so check out what other wheelchair users have loved.

Safety Harbor Pier – Bayside of Clearwater

Curb Free with Cory Lee has an article detailing his top 9 accessible Florida beaches. Pick one of these for an easy head start.

Spin the Globe has her own list.

Visit Florida has worked with disabled travelers to create a list, as well.

Seaspiration also has some great options… though I do always get a bit nervous when accessibility articles are written without connection to a wheelchair user.

We haven’t explored nearly as many of Florida’s beaches as I would like, but I can recommend a few! We loved Miami for the ease of accessibility both on the sand and off. Clearwater is another good destination for both the beach and the things available in town. St. Petersburg is our favorite Florida destination.. but not for beach access. They have an amazing pier and downtown, but accessing the beach itself was tricky.

St. Augustine is another Florida favorite for our family. They don’t have the most accessible beach, but there are free beach wheelchairs available and there is so much in St. Augustine that is welcoming to wheelchair users that we only ended up spending one day on the beach. Amelia Island won this year’s most accessible beach award.

Getting What You Need

Surf chairs are the only ones designed to go into the water

Chances are high that your wheelchair can’t handle sand. At all. We can’t do a beach if it doesn’t have a beach wheelchair, so we start there.

It is possible that you could manage with just a mobi mat in your own chair, depending on how close to the water you want to get.

If you want to take the chair in to the water, you need a surf chair, not just a typical manual beach wheelchair. Please keep in mind that a beach wheelchair or a surf chair require at least one other adult to maneuver. They cannot be independently pushed or steered.

The best way to use a beach wheelchair, is to contact the beach in advance to request one. This is an unfortunate reality for people like me who prefer to “wing it.” Some beaches may require a reservation, while others may have a limited number of beach wheelchairs available on a first-come, first-served basis. You can often request them from the life guard station, but someone has to be able to get there to ask.

Your best bet is to call ahead. Some places require as much as three day’s notice. Some don’t man the phones and you’ll have to wait for a call back whenever someone next checks wheelchair requests. I’ve included phone numbers in the chart below, and many of the linked accessibility articles also have contact and pick up information.

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Make sure you know how the chair gets from pick up to the beach. While most beach wheelchairs are delivered to the life guard station, there are beaches where you need to pick them up from an off-shore rec center. That would require having a way to transport a very large chair that is not in any way collapsible.

Florida Beaches by Amenities:

Amelia Island

  • Handicap Beach Access Points: Fernandina (Main Beach Park – Mobi Mat goes about half way to the coast line), Fort Clinch (ramped boardwalk goes about half way to the coast line.
  • Beach Wheelchairs: ✅ (free)
  • Surf Wheelchairs: ✅ (free)
  • How to reserve: Beach wheelchairs and surf chairs are available for free from Fernandina Beach Recreation, if you’re able to transport it the two blocks to the beach. You can also arrange for a delivery for $25, if you schedule at least one day in advance. To rent any of the chairs, contact Parks and Recreation at (904)310-3350.
  • Accessible Restrooms: Available at Main Beach Park

Clearwater

  • Handicap Beach Access Points: No barriers to the beach, outside of the sand itself, from any point.
  • Beach Wheelchairs: ✅ (free)
  • Surf Wheelchairs: ❌
  • How to reserve: Beach wheelchairs available through the guard on duty during peak season, or you can call 727-582-2100 to reserve one in the off season.
  • Accessible Restrooms: Available at Pier 60

Daytona

  • Handicap Beach Access Points: No mobi mats or ramps, BUT, beach driving is available at specified locations, weather and tide permitting. Visit Beach Safety on Volusia.org for information about beach driving maps, parking, passes and the beach navigator app.
  • Beach Wheelchairs: ✅ (free)
  • Surf Wheelchairs: ✅ (free)
  • How to reserve: Available at Daytona Beach Headquarters, Dunlawton Avenue at Daytona Beach Shores, and Cardinal Avenue at Daytona Beach. First come first serve and you may be limited to a few hours if there’s a wait list.
  • Accessible Restrooms: Located at select ramps and most beachside parks, including Granada Blvd. (SR 40) and the Cardinal Drive ramps, and Sun Splash Park

*Physically challenged beach patrons displaying a handicap insignia in their vehicles will be permitted to park adjacent to the east side of the established traffic lanes. Vehicles with a handicapped ID are admitted to the beach free.

Delray Beach

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  • Handicap Beach Access Points: Atlantic Dunes Park offers a mobi mat to the water, intersection of Atlantic Avenue and A-1-A.
  • Beach Wheelchairs: ✅ (free)
  • Surf Wheelchairs: ❌
  • How to reserve: The chairs allow for mobility on the sand and are available from 9 am until 4:30 pm at the following lifeguard towers: South 1, located at A1A & Atlantic Avenue, South 3, South 5 and Atlantic Dunes Park, located on A1A just one block north of Linton Blvd. The use of the surf chair is free of charge, on a first-come, first-serve basis with a two (2) hour time limit. For additional information on the surf chairs call Ocean Rescue at (561) 243-7352.
  • Accessible Restrooms: Available at Sarah Gleason Park

*Wheelchair users can enjoy a boardwalk and a 300-foot, hard-packed nature trail through the dunes.

Destin

  • Handicap Beach Access Points: Blue Dolphin Beachwalk – 372 Santa Rosa Boulevard, Fort Walton Beach Emerald View Beachwalk – 399 Santa Rosa Boulevard, Fort Walton Beach Seashore Beachwalk – 530 Santa Rosa Boulevard, Fort Walton Beach Jerry Melvin Beachwalk – 600 Santa Rosa Boulevard, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 Doris Jordan Freeway Beachwalk – 700 Santa Rosa Boulevard, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 Mike Mitchell Beachwalk – 820 Santa Rosa Boulevard, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 Emerald Promenade Beachwalk – 900 Santa Rosa Boulevard, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 John Beasley Park – 1550 Miracle Strip Pkwy, Fort Walton Beach June White Decker Park – 1950 Scenic Highway 98, Destin Shores at Crystal Beach Park – 2966 Scenic Highway 98, Destin Pompano Street Access- Pompano Street South and U.S. Highway 98 East, Destin. Shirah Street Access – Shirah Street and South U.S. Highway 98 East, Destin.
  • Beach Wheelchairs: ✅ (free)
  • Surf Wheelchairs: ❌
  • How to reserve: Pick up points are open from 10:30AM to 5:30PM everyday from March 1st through September. Seagrove 3468 E Co Highway 30-A Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32549 Seaside 1931 E Co Highway 30-A Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32549 Inlet Area 438 South Orange Street: Inlet Beach Tower 1 Miramar Beach 2375 Scenic Gulf Drive Miramar Beach, FL 32550 Gulfplace 4447 W. Co. Highway 30-A Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32549 The lifegaurd is available to help push the chair to the water line.
  • Accessible Restrooms: Henderson Beach (State Park, charges admission), James Lee Park, Beasley Beach Park, June White Decker Park

Flagler

  • Handicap Beach Access Points804 Flagler Beach to Marineland Trail, at the Pier, and there is handicap accessibility at Gamble Rogers State Park
  • Beach Wheelchairs: ✅ (free)
  • Surf Wheelchairs: ✅ (free)
  • How to reserve: Contact the on-duty Flagler Beach Pier & Bait Shop Attendant. A Driver’s License or identification card will be required to reserve the specialty equipment and will be promptly returned when the equipment is returned. The daily hours of operation for the Flagler Beach Pier & Bait Shop are 6:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m. (midnight) and their phone number is (386) 517-2436.
  • Accessible Restrooms: By pier

Key West

  • Handicap Beach Access Points: 804 Flagler Beach to Marineland Trail, at the Pier, and there is handicap accessibility at Gamble Rogers State Park
  • Beach Wheelchairs: ✅ (free)
  • Surf Wheelchairs: ❌
  • How to reserve: You can get a manual beach wheelchair from the on-site Cayo Hueso Cafe.
  • Accessible Restrooms: Higgs Beach

Miami Beach

Palm Beach

  • Handicap Beach Access Points: R.G Kreusler Park (ramp from parking lot to beach), Ocean Reef Park (ramped access, no mobi mat), DuBois Park (ramped beach access)
  • Beach Wheelchairs: ✅ (free)
  • Surf Wheelchairs: ❌
  • How to reserve: Manual beach wheelchairs are available through life guard stations at various locations for free on a first-come, first-served basis. To let the lifeguards know that you’d like to use one, just call the Ocean Rescue headquarters at 561-629-8770.
  • Accessible Restrooms: Available at Carlin Park, South Beach Park, DuBois Park, John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, Ocean Reef Park, R.G. Kreusler Park, and Spanish River Park.

*In addition to the beach, there are some great accessible nature trails.

Sarasota

  • Handicap Beach Access Points: Siesta and Venice
  • Beach Wheelchairs: ✅ (free)
  • Surf Wheelchairs: ❌
  • How to reserve: Free for visitor use at all lifeguarded county beaches (which include Lido, Nokomis, North Jetty, Venice and Manasota Beaches). Pick up from the lifeguard towers, free of charge every day between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. At Siesta Beach, beach wheelchairs are available at the beach concessionaire from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Anyone in need of a wheelchair outside those hours, or want to plan ahead, can contact the Sarasota County ADA Coordinator three days before their visit and make an accommodation request at 941-861-5000 or adacoordinator@scgov.net.
  • Accessible Restrooms: Available at Siesta, Lido, Venice, Nokomis, and North Jetty

Saint Augustine

  • Handicap Beach Access Points: Anastasia State Park
  • Beach Wheelchairs: ✅ (free)
  • Surf Wheelchairs: ❌
  • How to reserve: Three days advance notification is required to reserve a wheelchair. 904-209-0331 at St. Augustine Beach. Also available at Anastasia State Park.
  • Accessible Restrooms: Available at Anastasia State Park and St. Augustine Beach

*St. Augustine has a lot of accessible activities to offer off-shore, and was named “most progressive” in the 2021 Accessible Travel Awards.

You can find more accessible east coast beaches, here. Don’t forget that there are often accessible trails beyond the beach, too!