This Is Florida · Beaches
Accessible Florida beaches: wheelchairs, beach mats, parking and restrooms
"Wheelchair accessible" can mean a ramp to a viewing deck, a mat across the sand, or a chair you can roll into the surf. This page shows which one each beach offers, how to borrow a beach wheelchair, and where to park.
Overlook, sand or water? Three kinds of access
A beach can be accessible at one level and not the next. Before you go, ask how far you can get.
1The overlook
A ramp or boardwalk takes you to a platform where you can see and hear the water. It may stop at the top of the dune, or end at steps.
2The sand
A beach mat gives wheels a firm path over the sand. A beach wheelchair has wide wheels that roll on sand, but someone usually has to push it.
3The water
Some beach wheelchairs are allowed in shallow water. Few official pages say so, so ask the lifeguard.
Our Florida beaches directory has a page for each beach. This page covers only access.
Beach-by-beach table
Pick a region or what you need. Each beach name links to the official page for that place.
| Beach | Ramp or overlook | Onto the sand | Into the water | Beach wheelchair | Parking and restrooms | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gulf Islands National Seashore Perdido Key, Santa Rosa (Opal Beach) and Fort Pickens areas Our Fort Pickens page | Perdido Key Area, Opal Beach Complex, and campground registration in the Fort Pickens Area. Ask a ranger or volunteer. | Accessible parking at all facilities and beach access points. All restrooms and picnic pavilions are accessible. | Mobility access is limited in the historic forts and batteries. Park: 850-934-2600. | |||
| Navarre Beach Navarre Beach Fire Rescue District | Free, first come, first served. Sign out 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. or 2 to 7 p.m. daily at the fire station, 1413 Utility Drive. They can't be reserved. | Chairs are for the sand only, not streets or sidewalks. Bring a vehicle big enough to carry one, like a truck, van or SUV. | ||||
| Okaloosa Island Okaloosa County | Free, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., March 1 to Oct. 31. The county delivers to beach access points and to condos and hotels from Beasley Park to the El Matador Resort. Reserve: (850) 259-4131. | |||||
| Destin James Lee Park, Shirah Street and June White Decker accesses Our James Lee Park page | Free from the Destin Fire Control District, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Memorial Day through Labor Day. Reserve: (850) 837-8413. | |||||
| Henderson Beach State Park Destin Our beach page | Available during park hours. Get a key at the park office, then pick up the chair where it's stored. Return the key by the end of the day. | Okaloosa County calls the park ADA accessible. | ||||
| Walton County regional beach accesses South Walton and 30A Ed Walline · Inlet Beach | The county chart marks 6 accesses ADA compatible: Inlet Beach (Central), Santa Clara, Grayton Dunes, Ed Walline, Dune Allen/Fort Panic and Miramar Beach (Central). | Parking: Inlet Beach (Central) 50 spaces, Santa Clara 30 plus 30 on the north side, Grayton Dunes 4, Ed Walline 39, Dune Allen 27, Miramar Beach 138 in the main lot plus 62 in the north lot. Restrooms at all but Grayton Dunes. | The chart doesn't say how far the accessible route goes. Ask before you go. | |||
| Jacksonville Beach City of Jacksonville Beach Our Jacksonville Beach Pier page | Use the walkover nearest the Lifesaving Station, from the Boardwalk at Beach Blvd. and 1st St. The walkovers at 5th Ave. N., 6th Ave. S. and 16th Ave. S. aren't ADA accessible right now. | At the Lifeguard Station, first come, first served. 904-270-1685. | Public restrooms and showers at 5th Ave. N. (north side of the pier lot) and 6th Ave. S.; restrooms at 2nd Ave. N.; a portalet and shower at 19th Ave. N. Restroom hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. March through September, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. October through February. | |||
| Mickler’s Landing Beachfront Park Ponte Vedra Beach, St. Johns County Our beach page | A Mobi-Mat, then about 30 feet of soft sand to hard-packed sand | County program: reserve online | 202 spaces, 7 ADA. ADA restrooms, showers and changing rooms. | |||
| Guana Southern Access Ponte Vedra Beach, St. Johns County | ADA wooden boardwalk, about 180 feet, with a viewing platform | The ramp ends in soft sand: about 30 feet to hard-packed sand | 94 spaces, 5 ADA | You must cross Coastal Highway. Use the crosswalk. | ||
| Vilano Beach St. Johns County | The middle boardwalk has an ADA viewing area, but 14 steps down to the sand | The northern access has a Mobi-Mat, fenced off from the driving area | County program: reserve online | 37 spaces, 3 ADA | ||
| Crescent Beach St. Johns County Our beach page | The northern boardwalk is ADA accessible, with a viewing area | The ramp ends in soft sand: about 30 feet to hard-packed sand | County program: reserve online | 104 spaces, 4 ADA. ADA bathrooms and four outdoor showers. | ||
| St. Augustine Beach A Street, Pope Road and the pier | Pope Road has an ADA beach viewing platform | A Street: a Mobi-Mat on the sand just south of the restaurant. Pier: the northern access is 1 step down to the sand. | County program: reserve online | Pier: 211 spaces, 13 ADA, and ADA restrooms. A Street: portable restrooms on the sand. | ||
| St. Johns County beach wheelchairs | Reserve through the county's online system. You create an account before your first request. To confirm: (904) 209-0331 or beaches@sjcfl.us. | |||||
| Volusia County beaches Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, Ponce Inlet, New Smyrna Beach Our New Smyrna Beach page | Free, first come, first served, at these lifeguard stations: Flagler Avenue (New Smyrna Beach), Ponce Inlet Control Tower, Dunlawton Blvd. Control Tower (Daytona Beach Shores), Beach Headquarters (Daytona Beach) and Ormond Beach Station (Cardinal Drive). Use one for a couple of hours, depending on the waiting list. | "Handicap Parking Only" spaces at all lifeguard stations. With a DMV handicap placard, you may park just east of the traffic lanes when conditions permit. Vehicles with a handicapped ID get onto the beach free. | East-side parking isn't allowed from the Silver Beach to the University Beach approach in Daytona Beach, or from the Crawford Avenue to the Third Avenue approach in New Smyrna Beach. | |||
| Canaveral National Seashore: Apollo Beach New Smyrna Beach Our beach page | Parking areas 1 to 5: ramps flush with the lot, flat to a slight incline, with a platform at the top | There may be a slight decline to the sand. Some ramps cross the dune. | At the Apollo Visitor Center, 7611 S. Atlantic Ave. Check it out for two hours and use it at the ramp across the street. Call first: (386) 428-3384. | Accessible spaces at the front of each ramp | ||
| Canaveral National Seashore: Playalinda Beach Titusville Our beach page | 13 parking areas, each with accessible spots at the ramp. The first five ramps cross a tall dune. From parking area 8 on, the dune is flat. | None at Playalinda right now | ||||
| Manatee County beaches Coquina Beach and Manatee Beach Coquina Beach · Manatee Public Beach | The county lists Coquina Beach (2650 Gulf Drive, Bradenton Beach) and Manatee Beach (4000 State Rd 64 and Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach) as wheelchair accessible. Its page doesn't list the features. | |||||
| Palm Beach County beach parks Jupiter to Boca Raton Carlin · DuBois · Ocean Reef | ADA Beach Mats/Mobi-Mats at DuBois, Jupiter Beach, Ocean Cay, Ocean Inlet, Ocean Reef, Phil Foster and South Inlet parks | Carlin, DuBois, Jupiter Beach, Ocean Cay, Ocean Inlet, Ocean Reef, Phil Foster and South Inlet parks. Ask a lifeguard when you arrive. | Parks are free to enter. R. G. Kreusler and South Inlet charge for parking. | Lifeguards aren't allowed to help you move from your wheelchair to a beach wheelchair, so bring a companion. Erosion or construction can close access. Call first: (561) 966-7015. | ||
| Miami Beach Lummus Park and South Pointe Park Lummus Park · South Pointe | Mats at multiple entry points in South Beach, Mid Beach and North Beach | Manual beach wheelchairs may go into water up to 6 inches deep. Stay close to the shoreline. | Manual chairs, free, first come, first served. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. November to January; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. February to October. Leave a refundable item, like your own wheelchair or driver's license. Call first: 305.673.7714. | The chairs don't propel themselves, so bring someone to push. See a lifeguard when you arrive. |
A blank cell means the official page doesn't say. It doesn't mean the beach lacks that feature. Most official pages don't say whether their chairs or mats reach the water, so ask.
Before you go: a checklist
- Call the same day. Chairs are limited, and mats can be closed by erosion, construction or low sand. FWC says mats may also be rolled up for sea turtle nesting season.
- Ask where the mat or ramp ends. At several St. Johns County beaches, the ADA ramp or mat ends in soft sand, about 30 feet short of hard-packed sand.
- Bring a helper. Beach wheelchairs usually need someone to push. Palm Beach County lifeguards aren't allowed to help with transfers.
- Bring ID. Miami Beach asks for a refundable item, like your driver's license or your own wheelchair, while you use a chair.
- Know the time limit. Canaveral's Apollo Beach chair goes out for two hours. Volusia County lends chairs for a couple of hours, depending on the waiting list. Navarre Beach uses two daily time slots.
- Plan the ride. Navarre Beach chairs are picked up at the fire station, so you need a truck, van or SUV. Okaloosa County delivers on Okaloosa Island.
- Bring your parking placard. Volusia County lets placard holders park closer on the beach when conditions permit. People with disabilities may qualify for a free lifetime federal Access Pass, and Gulf Islands gives Access Pass holders 50 percent off campground reservations.
- Check the flags. Our beach warning flags guide explains each color.
What a good beach route looks like
The U.S. Access Board publishes accessibility standards for beaches run by federal agencies, like Gulf Islands and Canaveral National Seashores. City and county beaches aren't covered by this guide, but it's a good yardstick when you ask about a route. From the Access Board's guide to outdoor developed areas:
| Feature | Federal standard |
|---|---|
| Where it goes | From the beach entry point to the high tide level at ocean beaches |
| Surface | Firm and stable. Sand isn't a firm and stable surface. |
| Width | At least 60 inches, so two people can pass. Permanent routes can narrow to 48 inches at dune crossings. |
| Bumps | No more than 1/2 inch high on concrete, asphalt or boards; no more than 1 inch on other materials |
| Gaps | Small enough that a ball more than 1/2 inch wide can't fall through |
| Slope | Never steeper than 1:10. Stretches between 1:20 and 1:12 can run up to 50 feet; between 1:12 and 1:10, up to 30 feet. Rest areas go at the top and bottom of steep stretches. |
| How many | At least one route for each half mile of beach the agency manages |
| Beach wheelchairs | Not a substitute for a route, because they don't give independent access |
Removable routes, like roll-out mats, don't have to meet the slope, rest-area and dune-crossing rules.
Statewide list from FWC
Florida's wildlife agency, FWC, keeps a wheelchair friendly beaches list with the Sportsability Alliance. It's ongoing and gets updated as information comes in. FWC says each mat belongs to the city or county where it sits, so confirm with them first.
Codes: BW = beach wheelchair to rent or borrow. MM = Mobi-Mat or other sand mat. WB = wooden boardwalk with sand access. AR = accessible restrooms.
| Coast | County | Beaches and features |
|---|---|---|
| Panhandle | Bay | M.B. Miller County Pier (MM, BW, WB) |
| Panhandle | Escambia | Fort Pickens (BW, AR); Johnson Beach (BW, AR); Opal Beach (BW, AR) |
| Panhandle | Franklin | Bald Point State Park (MM, BW, WB, AR); Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park (MM, BW, AR) |
| Panhandle | Gulf | William J. Rish Recreational Park (MM, BW, WB, AR); St. Joseph Peninsula State Park (BW, WB, AR) |
| Panhandle | Okaloosa | Beasley Beach Park, Henderson Beach State Park, James Lee Park, June White Decker Park (all BW, WB, AR); Shirah Public Beach (BW, WB) |
| Panhandle | Santa Rosa | Navarre Beach (MM, BW, WB, AR) |
| Panhandle | Walton | Ed Walline Beach Access (MM, AR); Grayton Beach State Park (MM, BW, AR); Gulfplace, Seagrove and Seaside areas (BW, AR); Inlet Area and Miramar Beach (BW, WB, AR) |
| Gulf Coast | Charlotte | Englewood Beach at Chadwick Park (BW, WB, AR); Port Charlotte Beach Park (WB, AR); Gasparilla Island State Park (MM, AR) |
| Gulf Coast | Collier | Barefoot Beach Preserve County Park (BW, WB); Delnor Wiggins Pass State Park (BW, WB, AR); Lowdermilk Park (BW, AR); Tigertail Beach Park (WB, AR); Vanderbilt Beach State Park (WB, AR) |
| Gulf Coast | Lee | Bunche Beach Preserve (MM, WB, AR); Lighthouse Park Beach and Bowman’s Beach on Sanibel (BW, AR); Lovers Key State Park (MM, BW, WB, AR); Fort Myers Beach (MM, BW, AR); Gasparilla Island State Park (WB, BW, AR) |
| Gulf Coast | Manatee | Coquina Beach on Anna Maria Island (BW, WB); Manatee Public Beach (BW, AR) |
| Gulf Coast | Monroe | Bahia Honda State Park (BW, WB, AR); Higgs Beach in Key West (BW, AR); John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park (MM, BW, AR); Long Key State Park (MM, BW, WB, AR) |
| Gulf Coast | Pinellas | Clearwater Beach (BW, AR); Fort de Soto Park and Sand Key Park (BW, WB, AR); Treasure Island Municipal Beach (MM, BW, AR) |
| Gulf Coast | Sarasota | Lido Beach, Manasota Key Beach and Nokomis Beach (BW, WB, AR); Siesta Key Beach and Venice Beach (MM, BW, AR) |
| Atlantic Coast | Brevard | Alan Shepard Park (MM, WB, AR); Cape Canaveral Beach (MM, AR); Jetty Park (BW, AR) |
| Atlantic Coast | Broward | Deerfield Beach and Lauderdale-by-the-Sea (MM, AR); Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park, Fort Lauderdale Beach, Hugh Taylor Birch State Park and South City Beach Park (BW, AR); Hallandale Beach, Hollywood Beach and Pompano Beach (MM, BW, AR) |
| Atlantic Coast | Duval | Atlantic Beach (BW, AR); Jacksonville Beach and Little Talbot Island State Park (BW, WB, AR); Neptune Beach (MM, BW, AR) |
| Atlantic Coast | Flagler | Flagler Beach Pier and Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area (BW, WB, AR) |
| Atlantic Coast | Indian River | Sebastian Inlet State Park (BW, AR) |
| Atlantic Coast | Miami-Dade | Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Miami Beach and Oleta River State Park (MM, BW, AR); Crandon Beach and Haulover Beach (BW, AR) |
| Atlantic Coast | Nassau | Fernandina Beach (MM, BW, WB, AR) |
| Atlantic Coast | Palm Beach | Carlin Park, DuBois Park, John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, Ocean Reef Park and R.G. Kreusler Park (BW, AR); South Beach Park (MM, WB, AR); Spanish River Park (MM, AR) |
| Atlantic Coast | St. Johns | Anastasia State Park, Crescent Beach, Franklin B. Butler County Park, Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve and Mickler’s Landing Beachfront Park (BW, WB, AR); North Beach, St. Augustine Beach, Surfside and Vilano Beach (BW, AR) |
| Atlantic Coast | St. Lucie | Avalon State Park and Fort Pierce Inlet State Park (BW, AR) |
| Atlantic Coast | Volusia | Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach (BW, AR) |
More official accessibility pages
These official pages have more on chairs, mats and routes than this guide lists. Read them, or call, before you go.
- City of Clearwater: check out a beach wheelchair
- City of Fort Lauderdale: ADA accessibility information
- Collier County Parks: beaches
- Florida State Parks: many coastal state parks list their own beach wheelchairs and mats on each park's page
- National Park Service: mobility device loan programs
Looking for more places to go? See our Florida parks pages.
Where sources differ
| Question | One source | Another source |
|---|---|---|
| Is there a mat at Ocean Reef Park? | Palm Beach County beaches page: yes, it marks an ADA Beach Mat/Mobi-Mat | County accessibility page: doesn't mark one. This page follows the beaches page. Call (561) 966-7015 to check. |
| How long can I keep the Apollo Beach chair? | Canaveral accessibility page: two hours | Canaveral mobility page: for a period of time. This page follows the two-hour figure. Call (386) 428-3384. |
| Which Jacksonville Beach ramps are accessible? | City page: lists ramps at 5th Ave. N., Beach Blvd. and 1st St., 6th Ave. S. and 16th Ave. S. | Same page: says the 5th Ave. N., 6th Ave. S. and 16th Ave. S. walkovers aren't ADA accessible right now. This page follows that note. |
Questions people ask
Which Florida beaches have free beach wheelchairs?
Several do. Volusia County lends them free at five lifeguard stations, including Beach Headquarters in Daytona Beach. Miami Beach lends free manual chairs at Lummus Park and South Pointe Park. Navarre Beach Fire Rescue, Okaloosa County and the Destin Fire Control District lend them free, too. Supply is limited, so call first.
Can a power wheelchair get onto the sand?
Sometimes, on a beach mat. Sand itself isn't a firm, stable surface, and many ramps and mats stop short of the hard-packed sand. At Mickler's Landing, Crescent Beach and the Guana Southern Access, St. Johns County says you still cross about 30 feet of soft sand. Call the beach and ask where the mat ends.
Do I need to reserve a beach wheelchair?
It depends on the beach. Okaloosa Island, Destin and St. Johns County take reservations. Navarre Beach chairs can't be reserved. Volusia County, Jacksonville Beach and Miami Beach lend them first come, first served.
Can a beach wheelchair go in the ocean?
Miami Beach says its manual beach wheelchairs may go into water up to 6 inches deep, close to the shoreline. Most other official pages don't say, so ask the lifeguard before you roll into the water.
Will a lifeguard help me into the beach wheelchair?
Don't count on it. Palm Beach County says its lifeguards aren't allowed to help you move from your own wheelchair to a beach wheelchair, so bring a companion. Miami Beach says its chairs don't propel themselves, so bring someone who can push.
Why was the beach mat gone when I got there?
Mats can be pulled up or covered. Palm Beach County says erosion or construction can close access, or there may not be enough sand to use the mat safely. FWC says mats may be rolled up for sea turtle nesting season. Call the city or county before you go.
Where can I park closest to the beach with a disabled parking permit?
In Volusia County, cars with a DMV handicap placard may park just east of the beach traffic lanes when conditions permit, and every lifeguard station has handicap-only spaces. At Canaveral National Seashore, accessible spaces are at the front of each beach ramp. People with disabilities may qualify for the free lifetime federal Access Pass.
What's the difference between an overlook and real beach access?
A ramp to an overlook lets you see the water from a platform. Getting onto the sand takes a mat or a beach wheelchair. Getting into the water takes a chair that's allowed in the surf. Vilano Beach is one example: its middle boardwalk has an ADA viewing area, but 14 steps lead down to the sand.
Sources
- FWC: wheelchair friendly beaches
- U.S. Access Board: accessibility standards for federal outdoor developed areas
- National Park Service: Gulf Islands accessibility, Canaveral accessibility, Canaveral physical and mobility, mobility devices
- Volusia County: beach information for the disabled
- Palm Beach County Parks: accessibility, beaches
- City of Miami Beach: beach access for persons with disabilities
- St. Johns County: beach access, beach accessible wheelchairs
- City of Jacksonville Beach: wheelchair access and restrooms
- Walton County: beach access selection chart
- Okaloosa County: beach safety
- Navarre Beach Fire Rescue District: beach wheelchair program
- Manatee County: local attractions and wheelchair accessibility
Equipment, hours and rules change, so always confirm with the beach.