Sand and wheels have been battling for years, but wheelchair accessible Rehoboth Beach is demanding a truce. With mobimats and beach wheelchairs accessible, Rehoboth is redefining beach vacations for families with mobility needs.
The beach vibes extend far beyond the shore, bringing accessible family fun to everyone at any time of year. We visited in early May, but, after soaking in the laid-back charm of the sun and sand in this beach town, we came home feeling like summer had already begun. Here’s everything you need to know for planning your wheelchair accessible trip to Rehoboth Beach!
**Our visit was hosted by Visit Delaware. All opinions are my own.**
Accessible Rehoboth Beach at a Glance:
- ✅ Free beach wheelchairs (summer only)
- ✅ Mobi-mats at key beach entrances
- ✅ Accessible boardwalk & downtown shopping and dining
- ✅ Inclusive hotels with roll-in showers & pool lifts
- ✅ Wheelchair-friendly museums & nature centers
Best Time to Visit Rehoboth for Accessibility
The beach is a fabulous outdoor destination, but there’s also enough indoors to make it a refreshing getaway any time of year. We’ve visited over Christmas before, and we enjoyed the beach views and boardwalk shopping.
The water gets cold, so if you plan to swim you need to aim for summer or early fall. The beach wheelchairs offered for free at Rehoboth Beach are also only available from Memorial Day to Labor Day, but you can rent a beach wheelchair off-site anytime from a local beach rental shop.
Getting There and Around: Rehoboth Beach with a Wheelchair
Rehoboth Beach is an easy road trip from Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, and Virginia. We drove down from PA and split the drive with an evening stop in Wilmington. It’s great to be able to just throw all the things in the car and go.
If you’re coming from a longer distance, Rehoboth Beach is also worth the flight. You can fly to the beach area with SBY (Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional Airport). SBY is the closest airport and runs several major carriers, but there are limited flight options. Wilmington Airport (ILG Airport) offers flights through Avelo Airlines. Philadelphia (PHL) and Baltimore (BWI) are a little farther, but you’ll have complete schedule flexibility. Atlantic City (ACY) is another smaller airport at a similar distance, but it adds the fun of taking a ferry to your beach destination!
Accessible van rentals are easiest through PHL and BWI.
Rehoboth’s Wheelchair Accessible Beach
Rehoboth Beach is working to make beach access easy. You can find accessible parking at street ends near every boardwalk entrance. In addition, entrance to the boardwalk is ramped. Parking is free in the off-season. Meter fees apply between May 15th – September 15th.
Rehoboth Boardwalk runs along the ocean and is a mile long, stretching from Surf Avenue to Prospect Street. It’s kept smooth and even for easy accessibility. Rehoboth Avenue is a fun extension of the boardwalk, taking you into town through ice cream shops, candy stores, beach boutiques, and countless local flavors and fares. The sidewalks are smooth and wide and every pedestrian crossing has a curb cut.
There are mobi mats extending from the boardwalk to the beach entrance at Maryland Ave and Laurel St.
While not labeled as “accessible,” most beach entrances from the boardwalk have a mat to help get you over the dunes, but the incline may be steeper than the accessible entrances.
Free beach wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-serve basis at the beach shacks located at Maryland Avenue and Laurel Street.
Wheelchairs are available from 10 a.m. to5 p.m. daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day. You can contact the beach patrol at (302) 227-2280 for additional sign-out information.
If you’re visiting in the off-season, you can rent a chair from 227 Rent. They can deliver to your hotel, but you’ll need to be able to transport it back and forth to the beach.
Things to Do in Accessible Rehoboth Beach Beyond the Beaches
Accessible Rehoboth Beach isn’t just about sand and surf—this beach town packs year-round family fun into every corner. You could fill your days with accessible family fun without ever making it to the ocean.
Shop and Eat Your Way Down Rehoboth Avenue
Brunch is my favorite, but in Rehoboth Beach—breakfast, lunch and dinner are all winners, too! From pizza and ice cream to sushi and escargot, you’ll find something for every fancy along Rehoboth Avenue. Most restaurants are wheelchair accessible. If you see stairs to get in, keep looking and you’ll usually find a ramp around the corner.
Don’t miss Delaware staples like Grotto Pizza, Fisher’s Popcorn, and Kohr Bros Frozen Custard!
The shops are just as diverse as the restaurants. You’ll find toy stores, sunglass shops, local boutiques, book sellers, candy shops, and beach bum gear for as far as the eye can see. Our favorites were Browseabout Books, Sugar Planet, and Yesterday’s Fun – a toy shop specializing in games and cards.
Dive Into History at Rehoboth Beach Museum
Did you know Rehoboth Beach started as a church camp meeting? I learned that while exploring Rehoboth’s kid-friendly beach museum. Pick up a museum guide on your way in, and the kids will enjoy finding what they need to complete the museum’s scavenger hunt for a prize. The museum is a nice break from the outdoor action. Cozy up with a book in the kids’ room, or unwind with some coloring. Admission is by donation. Don’t miss the local art exhibit on the second floor – accessible via elevator. The museum entrance is ramped, and there’s free accessible parking near the door.
If you’re looking for more local history, check out the WWII Observation Towers dotted along the coast.
Discover Nature
The Seaside Nature Center in Cape Henlopen State Park, just up the road from Rehoboth Beach, offers an up close look at sea life. In addition to the small aquarium, there’s a wheelchair accessible touch tank with horseshoe crabs, and more. It’s a great place to learn about the creatures of the habitat you’re visiting.
The entrance is level with the sidewalk and accessible restrooms are available. You’ll need a State Park pass to get in, but it’s only $10 per car for out-of-state vehicles. America the Beautiful Access Pass holders are exempt from fees. Admission to the nature center, the Delaware Bay, Fort Miles, the beach, walking trails, and more are included with park admission.
Explore Beyond Downtown
Rehoboth Beach is full of fabulous spots that are worth wandering past walking distance! Take a short drive and you’ll find the “Mile of Style” – made up of Tanger’s 115 brand name outlets. There’s enough variety that you can even keep the kids interested. The outlet store entrances are all level with the sidewalks and paths are easy to navigate.
Don’t forget shopping in Delaware is tax-free!
Beach Bites: Best Accessible Restaurants in Rehoboth
It turns out Delaware is a foodie paradise. While the boardwalk restaurants are delightful and nearly endless, there’s no need to limit yourself to one street. Here are some of our accessible Rehoboth favorites.
Touch of Italy
Touch of Italy, out by the outlets, has quickly become one of our favorite Italian restaurants. Indulge in the best chicken parm on this side of the Atlantic, and follow it up with a cannoli cake. Take some treats home from the Italian market.
Dogfish Head Brewery
While they have dining options right in Rehoboth Beach, if you wander a tad farther you can find the original Dogfish Head Brewery in Milton. The tours are not wheelchair accessible, but it’s still impressive to see the outside of the brewery. The outdoor dining is a fun vibe, and the taproom and restrooms are accessible. The kids enjoyed playing on the astroturf, and they even ended up with souvenirs from the gift shop.
Delaware is big on its craft beer, so it’s always a good idea to find a brewery while you’re visiting.
Sirocco
We stumbled upon Sirocco right inside our hotel. This Mediterranean restaurant whips local ingredients into deliciously crafted dishes for three meals a day. We wandered down from our hotel room thinking there was a free breakfast buffet, but when the host began describing the specials of the day, including peaches soaked in sangria before being browned in sugar and poured over freshly made pancakes with freshly whipped cream, we decided to stay. Delicious!
Best Accessible Hotels in Rehoboth Beach for Families
There were a few accessible Rehoboth Beach accommodations to choose from, but we stuck with Hilton—it’s a brand that’s consistently made us feel welcome and meets our accessibility needs. Coast Rehoboth Beach is a Tapestry Collection by Hilton located right in the heart of the action. We parked when we checked in and left the car behind for the duration of our stay in town. The rooftop pool, with chair lift, is indoors, so you can swim any time of year. The room was set up with consistent inclusive design including a roll under sink, low hanging racks, and easy, low button controls for curtains and lights. The bed had space for a hoyer lift underneath, and the accessible tub had the shower head in the lower position.
Accessible Rehoboth Beach lodging options are expanding, and the Hilton Coast sets a high bar for inclusive design.
Delaware for All
Our time in Delaware was full of reminders of the progress they’re making in accessibility and inclusion. If you’re able to extend your trip, it’s worth it to head towards Wilmington to wander stunning accessible gardens and adventure in the woods with an action track chair at White Clay Creek State Park. You can check out our full Wilmington guide, here.
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Rehoboth Beach with a Wheelchair
Is Rehoboth Beach wheelchair accessible?
Yes! Rehoboth Beach is one of the most wheelchair-friendly beaches we’ve visited. From free beach wheelchair rentals to ADA beach mats and boardwalk ramps, accessibility is thoughtfully woven into the experience. You’ll find accessible parking, restrooms and entrances throughout the beach and boardwalk area.
Where can I get a beach wheelchair in Rehoboth Beach?
You can borrow a beach wheelchair for free. They’re available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Beach wheelchairs are available at beach shacks located at Maryland Avenue and Laurel Street. Wheelchairs are available from 10 a.m. to5 p.m. daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day. In the off-season, you can rent a beach wheelchair through 227 Rent.
Are there accessible places to stay in Rehoboth Beach?
Absolutely. We stayed at Coast Rehoboth Beach, which is newly renovated and truly wheelchair accessible—roll-in shower, spacious layout and friendly service included. Many hotels in the area offer ADA rooms, but not all accessible rooms are created equal. If Coast isn’t available, give your hotel a call and ask for specific room details.
What can wheelchair users do in Rehoboth Beach besides the beach?
So much! Stroll the iconic mile-long boardwalk (fully accessible), grab a bite at one of the many wheelchair-friendly restaurants, shop till you drop on Rehoboth Ave., or learn about Rehoboth’s history through hands-on exhibits at the Rehoboth Beach Museum.