Planning a Wheelchair Accessible Road Trip: Everything You Need to Know for a Successful Trip
One of my favorite ways to travel the United States (where I live) is by doing a wheelchair-accessible road trip. I not only get to see my ultimate destination but many other interesting sites along the way. After taking numerous fantastic road trips, I decided to write a post sharing all my tips and tricks for planning and having a successful wheelchair-accessible road trip to help you plan your next adventure.
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, when you click on them and make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no cost to you.
Why a Road Trip is a Great Accessible Vacation Choice
Many people with physical disabilities love to travel, but they may have concerns about flying with a wheelchair and using an aisle chair. So, having the choice to take a road trip eliminates the need for flying and allows you to explore from the comfort of your own vehicle.
Additionally, a road trip allows for greater flexibility when traveling so you can go at your own pace and address and meet your own individual needs. You can travel as far or as close as you’d like, take breaks as often as you need, and choose the sights and destinations that are of most interest to you.
Finally, road trips can be cost-effective and budget-friendly. Since many people may be on restricted incomes, accessible road trips can be tailored to fit your individual budgets while still allowing you the chance to travel. This post will cover ways to save money on your road trip as well as give you some ideas on where to travel, but first let’s start with planning for your trip.
14 Tips for Planning a Wheelchair Accessible Road Trip
The first part of any road trip is the planning stage. Following these tips will help lay the foundation and set the tone for your journey. It is crucial that you don’t skip this part and just “wing it”. While that may work for people who are not disabled, for people with extra things to consider you’ll want to have a plan (even if it’s a fairly last-minute trip).
1. Set a Budget and Stick to It
Every trip should have a budget so you don’t overspend, and road trips are no different. Set an amount that is comfortable for you and plan to stick to it.
If you have a more flexible budget, start looking into the average costs of destinations you’d like to visit to get an idea of what a realistic cost may be. However, you should still then use that information to set a dollar amount you’d like to stay under.
While budgets and finances are the least exciting portion of your trip, they are important and can help guide you in making choices about what your trip will involve, where to go, and how long your trip will be.
2. Decide Who is Going on the Trip
The next step is deciding who you want to share this road trip experience with. Maybe you want to do a solo trip, or you could make it a fun girl’s trip, or it could also be a wonderful way to spend time with family. Knowing who is going will help you determine the needs of the group, where you may all want to visit, and what activities you do along the way.
Additionally, the number and type of people going may impact budgeting decisions. For example, if you’re traveling with friends, are you all chipping in on the costs? How will the price of the trip be divided? Having discussions like this during the planning stage will ensure that everyone is on the same page and will help to prevent potentially uncomfortable situations later.
3. Choose the Length of Your Trip and How Long Each Day You Want to Drive
Okay, so now we know what the budget is and who’s going on the trip. Now, you’ll need to decide how long you have for the trip and how much driving you want to do each day. As a general rule, I don’t recommend driving more than 8-10 hours a day, but you should decide for yourself what you’re comfortable with.
Once you know this information, you can divide the trip up into segments to see how long it will take to get to your destination and where you may need to plan to stop during your trip.
Furthermore, once you know your desired destination and how many days you want to spend there, you can see how much time you have left over for getting to and from that location. This comes in handy so you can determine the amount of time you have for sightseeing along the way.
4. Allow for Extra Time
When you’re determining the amount of time you want to spend traveling each day, make sure you allow for extra time for breaks and bathroom stops. These are necessary so you can stay comfortable and alert and they may take longer than it would for someone without a disability.
Think about how much time it takes getting in and out of the vehicle, attending to your personal needs (like going to the bathroom), and other factors. No one wants to feel rushed or like they can’t take the time to care for themselves. That’s why allowing for extra time and factoring that into your travel time can be really helpful.
5. Get a Good Road Atlas
Nowadays, cars and phones have plenty of GPS apps and options to help you navigate your route during a road trip. However, in my experience, I have found that there are some parts of the country GPS gives you wrong directions.
That is why whenever on a road trip, I make sure I have a good ole fashion atlas. These helpful collections of maps cover each state in the United States and often have close-up sections of major cities. They sure come in handy if you need to find an alternate route due to construction or road closures (or if GPS wants to take you into no man’s land).
I prefer using a spiral-bound atlas for ease of use. Some people also prefer using one with laminated pages so they can mark their route on the map and then easily erase it when the trip is done.
👉🏻 If you don’t have an atlas yet, I recommend getting this one by clicking here.
6. Plan for Bathrooms and Breaks
I mentioned earlier the importance of factoring in additional time, so you may think that this tip is repetitive. However, what I mean by planning for bathrooms and breaks is to think about how often you may need to stop to rest or to relieve yourself and mark areas on the map that are accessible and allow you to meet this need.
Most rest areas in the United States offer accessible bathrooms (with more and more also offering family bathrooms) allowing wheelchair users and people with mobility problems to have a convenient way to relieve themselves. These are always marked with signs along the road to let you know they are coming up. Additionally, state visitor centers (usually located just after you cross a state border) also have restrooms with accessible facilities.
Be aware, however, if you are traveling on a back or country road, rest areas may be few and far between. So it’s important to make planned stops and know what your options are in advance. Maps and atlases often indicate where rest areas or bathroom stops are available to help you plan ahead.
7. Calculate Gas Mileage and Gas Stops
One thing that can ruin a road trip quickly is running out of gas or running low with the fear of getting stranded out in the middle of nowhere. To avoid this stress, make sure to calculate how many miles to the gallon you get on average (and no don’t rely on what the manual says) as well as how big your gas tank is.
Then, as you’re planning your route, indicate distances or areas on the map where you will need to start looking for a gas station. A good tip to follow is to start looking when you reach a quarter of a tank left.
When you plan your gas stops in advance, you don’t have to worry about running out and as an added bonus, you can use tools like Gas Buddy to find the best price.
8. Decide Whether You’ll Be Staying in Hotels or Camping
Next, you’ll have to decide where you will be staying during your trip. Obviously, hotels are an option, but they can add up quickly and means a lot of taking things in and out of your vehicle.
If you have an RV or trailer, another option would be to choose to go camping. Camping for the disabled is possible but is more of a long-term investment if you choose to buy an adapted RV or trailer. Unfortunately, at the time of writing this post, there is no way to rent an adapted RV or camper.
However, if you want to have a camping-like experience, you can check to see if your destination or state parks nearby have accessible cabins that can be rented. This option doesn’t require a huge investment and can be a fun and unique experience.
9. Make Accommodation Reservations in Advance
One of the most challenging parts of any trip is finding wheelchair-accessible places to stay. While most hotels (but not all) in the US offer adapted and accessible rooms, they can book up quickly. Furthermore, depending on your specific needs, the adapted rooms may or may not be a good fit (for example, there’s not always room under the bed for a patient lift).
Additionally, if you’re looking for a house or cabin where the whole family can stay, these are often hard to come by. Sites such as VRBO and Air BnB have a filter where you can search for accessible places to stay, however, I have found that the places that claim to be accessible on these sites rarely are and certainly do not meet ADA standards.
Therefore, you will need to do a lot of research to find a place that will meet your needs or the needs of the person/people you are traveling with. But by finding accessible places to stay and making reservations in advance, it will help reduce stress and ensure you have an accommodation that will meet your individual needs.
10. Find Out What Other Reservations May Be Needed
Other than lodging, there may be some activities or places that require reservations as well. For example, some national parks have a timed entry system that requires you to get a reservation for the day you want to visit. Other examples may include a tour within the national park or tickets to a popular attraction such as an amusement park or the Civil Rights Museum in Memphis.
Knowing this information before your trip will help you to score any required reservations and make your trip go more smoothly. The last thing you want to do is show up to a place you really wanted to see only to find out that you can’t get in because you don’t have a reservation.
11. Inspect Your Vehicle to Ensure it is Road Trip Ready
Prevention is the best tool to avoid problems on the road. So, before any road trip, make sure to inspect your vehicle (or have a professional do it) to ensure it is in tip-top shape and is less likely to give you any issues.
Things to check include tire pressure, tire tread, windshield wipers, all of your car’s fluids, brakes, brake pads, and your car battery.
It’s also a good idea to have an emergency roadside kit in your car just in case. Kits usually include jumper cables, flares, and more. This one is a great choice.
👉🏻 Be prepared and get your roadside emergency kit by clicking here.
12. Have a Plan for if Your Vehicle Breaks Down
Hopefully, if you follow the above tip, you won’t have to worry about your vehicle breaking down, but things do happen. Murphy’s law says anything that can go wrong will, so it’s good to have a plan in the event that something happens.
Unfortunately, most roadside assistance programs and tow trucks don’t have accessible options if you’re in a wheelchair. So, you’ll need to figure out how to get somewhere safe.
Similarly, if you have a problem with your wheelchair, it’s helpful to have a list of places where you could get it repaired throughout your journey.
13. Pack Extra Medical Supplies
If you require certain medical supplies, make sure to pack extras for your trip. I’m a full-time ventilator user so I have several supplies I use on a daily basis, as well as some that I only need occasionally. Whenever I’m away from home, I make sure to bring any supplies I may need along with some extras just in case.
Sometimes a trip lasts longer than expected, and sometimes supplies or equipment malfunction, really there are endless possibilities of why you may need more medical stuff than usual. Since my supplies are specialized and not something I can just go out and buy at a drug store, I bring everything I’ll need plus a little more just to be on the safe side.
14. Be Flexible
Travel is always an adventure and unexpected events or things can come up during any trip. No matter how much planning you do, there is no way you can be prepared for every scenario. Some things are just out of our control.
That’s why it’s important to be flexible when traveling. Weather can lead you to need to change around your itinerary, unexpected closures can happen, and stuff just sometimes happens.
I know on a recent road trip to Yellowstone National Park there we found out upon arrival that the West Thumb Geyser Basin was closed. We (I was traveling with family) had dedicated at least half a day to this area and had been excited to see it. However, we accepted it and pivoted to explore other areas of the park.
Of course, we were disappointed, but we made the best of the situation by staying flexible. Instead of letting that ruin an otherwise wonderful road trip, we found other things to do and decided that it gives us a reason to come back to Yellowstone during a future trip.
Top 7 Best Accessible Road Trip Destinations in the US
Now that you have your accessible road trip planning tips, let’s talk about some of the accessible destinations you can travel to! I’ve listed my top ten accessible road trip destinations in this section but in reality, the list is so much longer. If I talked about all the possibilities, I could probably write a book. So, instead here are some ideas to get you started.
🚕 US National Parks
Currently, there are 63 national parks in the United States which strive to allow people of all abilities to enjoy the beautiful natural scenery that exists in the country. While not every one of the 63 parks is accessible, the large majority of the parks are to varying degrees.
Using your Access Pass (more on this later) the parks are affordable and are the perfect road trip destination for any nature lover. From mountains to forests to natural geothermic features, to beaches, the US national parks offer something for everyone to enjoy. I typically try to find routes that allow me to visit as many parks as possible with the goal of one day visiting them all (or at least the ones that are accessible).
However, it should be noted that planning a trip to the national parks requires a lot of advance planning. Many of the most popular parks have lodging that becomes completely booked up to a year in advance. Some of these also require timed entry or activity reservations, so make sure to check the park’s website at nps.gov for more information.
Traveling to lesser-visited parks can give you more flexibility while still offering an enjoyable experience. One of my favorite parks that sees fewer guests is Black Canyon of the Gunnison. It has plenty of beautiful scenery with accessible overlooks and facilities.
🚕 Memphis, Tennessee
Cities in general tend to make for great accessible vacations due to their tendency to have accessible hotels, public transportation, and activities. And, one of my favorite cities (that isn’t huge) is Memphis.
Memphis has lots of wheelchair-accessible things to do and is also a fantastic destination for music lovers. Although it is often outshined by its sister city Nashville, Memphis has its own music history and highlights such as Sun Studios and Graceland. It is also the perfect quick getaway as many of its attractions can be enjoyed on a weekend trip.
During your visit, make sure to sample some of the barbeque that the city is known for along with other southern delicacies. You can even stop by the café that Elvis used to frequent and try some of his beloved meals.
🚕 Myrtle Beach to Savannah
If you are looking for a beach getaway and want to combine that with the charm of a historic city, then plan to head to Myrtle Beach in South Carolina and then take a road trip to the lovely city of Savannah, Georgia. On the way, you can choose to stop at Congaree National Park to explore its marshy environment by taking a roll on its accessible boardwalk.
There is plenty of wheelchair-accessible things to do in Myrtle Beach including enjoying the beach by using some of the available beach wheelchairs. You will also find some fantastic aquariums and other tourist attractions during your stay.
Furthermore, despite being historic, Savannah also offers good accessibility and you will have several things you can enjoy during your visit such as Wormsloe Plantation, taking a riverboat cruise, and enjoying Forsyth Park.
I recommend spending a few days in both locations and adding a day for the drive. If you plan to also visit Congaree National Park, add an additional day for that as well.
🚕 Colorado
Colorado is a fantastic state to do an accessible road trip in. You can choose to visit the four national parks in Colorado, participate in some adapted adventures like whitewater rafting or skiing, enjoy the wheelchair-accessible things to do in Colorado Springs, and visit state parks (like Staunton) to use an all-terrain tracks chair.
From the Rocky Mountains to canyons, and ancient dwellings to the capital of Denver, Colorado has something for everyone. Nature lovers will appreciate its spectacular scenery while those who prefer more of a city vibe will have several great destinations to choose from.
🚕 Wyoming
Wyoming is home to two famous national parks as well as the first national monument. Many visitors come to Wyoming to see the impressive geological features of Yellowstone National Park and to look for wildlife inside the nearby Grand Teton National Park.
However, there are plenty of other gems to explore in this state. For example, you could marvel at Devil’s Tower, ponder the journey that early settlers took along the Oregon Trail (and see the paths that remain), and learn about the wild west and cowboy life in Cody.
You could easily spend a week or more on an incredible Wyoming road trip. Additionally, you could also combine a trip to Wyoming with either Colorado or Montana. There are many fantastic sights to see in the area that is sure to provide you with a road trip full of memories.
🚕 South Dakota
While you may initially wonder what there is to do in South Dakota, the truth is there’s plenty! I spent 10 days in this amazing state and had a blast. While many people focus on the area around Rapid City (for good reason), there are other wonderful places as well.
If you’re driving through the state, make sure to check out the Dignity Statue as well as the world’s only Corn Palace. Other places you’ll want to add to your accessible road trip itinerary include Badland’s National Park, the Minute Man Missile silo, Wind Cave National Park, Custer State Park, Mount Rushmore, and the Mammoth Site.
🚕 Upstate New York
Having lived in the state all my life, I can personally attest that there are several wheelchair-accessible things to do in upstate New York. Although most people associate New York with the city, upstate offers plenty of opportunities for fun road trips.
From Niagara Falls to the gorges in Ithaca, to wineries, and the Adirondacks, there are plenty of wonderful destinations that you could add to an accessible road trip. Additionally, many of New York’s state parks are beautiful and offer good access for wheelchair users and people with limited mobility. Some of my favorites include Letchworth, Green Lakes, and Taughannock.
No matter what area of the state you’ll be traveling through, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Money Saving Tips for Your Accessible Road Trip
At the beginning of this post, I mentioned that an accessible road trip can be an economical way to travel. However, that’s not to say for longer trips that costs can add up quickly. These are the things I do to help save money whenever I take a road trip.
➡️ Use the Gas Buddy App
The Gas Buddy App is a free app that compares gas prices in any area or zip code that you enter, helping you to find the cheapest price for filling up your vehicle. It’s easy to use and can really help you save money over time. I love using it on road trips as I can compare prices and map out my stops to make sure I’m getting the best price.
➡️ Sign up for Gas Reward Cards
In addition to using the Gas Buddy App, I look to see if there is a common brand of a gas station where I’m traveling to and if they offer any free reward programs that may offer additional savings. Many of their reward programs have details on their website and you can sign up online.
Also, check to see if any of the reward programs you currently belong to offer gas savings. For example, a Good Sam’s membership can save you a couple of cents per gallon at Love’s Gas Stations.
➡️ Avoid Toll Roads
Something that can add to the cost of a road trip is toll roads. These are roads (often major highways) that charge a fee to use them.
Furthermore, nowadays, there aren’t toll booth operators and if you don’t have an EASY PASS (or similar electronic pass that automatically deducts the fees from an online account), you have to remember to go to a specific website within a certain amount of time to manually pay the fees or you will be charged additional penalties.
I don’t know about you, but I’ll never remember the website on a sign that I pass going down the road. This makes it next to impossible to pay the required tolls on time. So, either have a passenger use their cell phone camera to take a picture of the sign or look to see what electronic passes the state uses and sign up for an account before your trip.
Better yet, avoid toll roads altogether! Using free online tools such as MapQuest will allow you to map out a route by avoiding these troublesome roads. Some GPS apps or devices may also have this feature.
➡️ Stay Loyal with a Hotel Brand
When you consistently stay at the same chain of hotels and sign up for their loyalty program, you can earn free night stays, free breakfast, and other perks. Over time, this will help you save money on your hotel stays and you will have a brand that you trust to provide quality service.
Just make sure you choose a hotel brand that allows you to book a guaranteed accessible room. Unfortunately, not all hotels have this option. Look for the ability to book a mobility-accessible room when making your reservation. If they only have the option of putting a note in your booking requesting one of these rooms, the room is not guaranteed and you may show up to find that you don’t have a room that will meet your needs.
➡️ Use Credit Card Points
A popular hobby is called travel hacking. This is when you use your credit card points (which are earned on every purchase you make or when you open a new card) to redeem for travel (hotel stays, flights, etc.). Depending on the credit card you use, you can transfer these points to a hotel brand (the brands available to transfer to will depend on the card you have) where you can use these as currency to reserve a hotel stay.
Some credit cards may also have additional perks such as an annual credit to use towards travel. Make sure to check your card details to see what’s available and how to redeem any credits.
For more information on using credit card points for free travel, make sure to check out this free course offered by 10x Travel. They help guide you through the ins and outs of this hobby to make the most out of your redemptions.
👉🏻 My top picks for credit cards to help you travel for free are:
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Chase Freedom Flex
Capital One Venture X
➡️ Take a Cooler and Pack Meals
To avoid eating out all the time (which quickly adds to your budget) take a cooler and pack meals that are easy to eat on the go. This includes the makings for sandwiches for lunches and pre-prepped fixings for one-pan skillet meals. You may need to also bring a hot plate with you or plan for meals that can be microwaved (assuming your hotel room has one).
Make sure to also bring plenty of snacks that you can munch on throughout the day to help keep hunger at bay. Ideal snacks are high in protein (i.e., nuts, jerky, peanut butter, etc.) which will help you feel fuller longer.
I usually travel with two types of coolers, one that plugs into the car (so you don’t have to keep buying ice) and a portable one that is perfect for picnics and day trips.
👉🏻 Find your perfect cooler on Amazon by clicking here.
➡️ Look for Accessible Cabins at State Parks
As a potentially cheaper alternative to staying in hotels for the entirety of your trip, look for nearby state parks that offer cabins to rent. Many of these parks offer one or two cabins that have been adapted to ADA standards and are considered to be wheelchair accessible.
State parks should have options for lodging on their website and also state whether wheelchair-accessible options are available (and which cabins are accessible). Prices will also be listed and tend to be less expensive than hotel stays.
Just make sure to read or inquire about what is included and what you may have to bring with you (for example linens or sleeping bags).
➡️ Get an Access Pass
An Access Pass allows residents of the United States who are permanently disabled to get free lifetime entry into the US national parks and other national sites (like historic sites and lakeshores). This pass is free to obtain (when you get it in person at any national site) and only requires proof of residency and a note from your doctor stating that you are disabled (it doesn’t need to state what the disability is).
The pass is good for the person it is issued to as well as anyone else traveling in the same vehicle. As a result, you and your family can get free entry. Since most national sites have an entrance fee, with national parks averaging $30 per vehicle, the savings can really add up over time.
Road Trip Check List
⬜ Get A Road Atlas
⬜ Book Accessible Lodging
⬜ Find Out if Reservations are Required and Make Them
⬜ Map Out Gas Stops
⬜ Know the Dimensions of Your Vehicle (height and width)
⬜ Pack an Emergency Roadside Kit
⬜ Have a Spare Tire and Tools to Change it
⬜ Inspect Your Vehicle for Road Trip Readiness
⬜ Pack Jumper Cables
⬜ Carry Roadside Assistance Numbers
⬜ Take Plenty of Water and Snacks
⬜ Share Your Itinerary with Someone and How Long You Expect to Be Gone
Final Thoughts on Planning a Wheelchair Accessible Road Trip
Wow! It feels like I’ve covered A LOT in this post, but I wanted to pass on my experience and knowledge to help ensure you have the best wheelchair-accessible road trip possible. I hope that I have answered your questions and given you the information needed to plan an incredible trip. And, you never know, maybe I’ll see you out there on the road!
