Nearly everywhere you go in Greater Miami & Miami Beach, a gorgeous stretch of sand isn’t far away. And the many communities in the destination work hard to make their beautiful beaches accessible and enjoyable for everyone. Our guide to accessible beaches provides helpful information on wheelchair-friendly paths, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant bathrooms and free beach wheelchairs.

Miami Beach Accessibility

The Beachwalk

The City of Miami Beach does more than many beach communities to accommodate people with mobility issues. The Beachwalk, a wide, hard-surface pathway that runs the entire length of the city on the west side of the dunes, has more than 20 beach access points with disability parking that connect the path with the ocean side of the dunes. These pathways offer either boardwalks or specially designed mats that allow wheelchair users access to the beach.

Beach Wheelchair Pickup Spots

The City of Miami Beach offers two manual beach wheelchairs free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis at two locations: South Pointe Park and the Ocean Rescue office at 1001 Ocean Drive. You’ll need to leave a deposit, such as a personal wheelchair or driver’s license, to ensure that you will bring back the beach wheelchair. Call (305) 673-7714 to check availability. Note that none of the boardwalks or beach mats run all the way to the water. You’ll need a friend or family member to assist you to push the beach wheelchair.

Miami Beach Access Points for Visitors with Mobility Challenges

These Miami Beach access points are listed with the length and material of the pathways to the sand. The list starts from the south end of Miami Beach. Pathways made of ipe, a Brazilian hardwood, are noted, as are the paths near ADA-compliant bathrooms.

South Pointe Park Drive-over – 110 feet (bathrooms)
South Pointe Drive south – 83 feet (ipe)
South Pointe Drive north – 100 feet (ipe)
3rd Street – 126 feet (bathrooms)
4th Street – 90 feet
4.75 Street (between 4th and 5th Streets) – 130 feet
6th Street – 295 feet (bathrooms)
8th Street – 316 feet
10th Street – 130 feet (ipe and bathrooms)
12th Street – 350 feet
14th Street – 233 feet (bathrooms)
14th Place – 65 feet (ipe)
15th Street – 50 feet (ipe)
Lincoln Road – 80 feet (ipe)
17th Street – 70 feet (ipe)
21st Street – 75 feet (ipe and bathrooms)
64th Street (solid surface path and bathrooms)
69th Street – 83 feet
71st Street – 99 feet
74th Street – 133 feet
75th Street – 200 feet (bathrooms)
78th Street – 60 feet (ipe)

North Beach Oceanside Park, with 28 acres stretching half a mile along the ocean from 79th Street to 87th Street, is scheduled for an extensive renovation to be completed in the fall of 2023. However, access is not affected by the work. The park’s three bathrooms, as well as shelters, trails and picnic areas, are connected to the Beachwalk by wheelchair-accessible paths.

Surfside

Surfside is a small town on the barrier island with a mile of beautiful Atlantic Ocean beach. It is primarily a residential area, with resorts and condominiums lining the oceanfront. Wheelchair access is available at the 88th Street and 96th Street entrances to the beach.

Sunny Isles Beach

Sunny Isles Beach has 11 public parks, a fishing pier and 20 paver or paved access points to its beaches. The city also offers accessible parking, showers and restrooms at some locations. The access point at Samson Oceanfront Park features a Mobi-Mat. Beach wheelchairs are available at the 10 lifeguard towers. A full list of amenities and access points is available on the city's website.

Haulover Park

Haulover Park is just north of Miami Beach near Sunny Isles Beach. The 177-acre park features 1.4 miles of beachfront as well as handicap parking and mat pathways to the beach near the main Ocean Rescue Lifeguard Station and at a bathroom near the south end of the park. You can borrow beach wheelchairs at the lifeguard station. Note that the north section of the beach is clothing optional.

View of the lighthouse and beach at Bill Baggs — Find relaxation in Key Biscayne

Key Biscayne

Crandon Park Beach, on the north end of tranquil Key Biscayne, has a wheelchair-accessible path to the sand and offers manual beach wheelchairs at the lifeguard stations.

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, on the southern tip of Key Biscayne, has two manual beach wheelchairs available at no charge on a first-come, first-served basis from the bicycle rental office inside the park.

Atoll at Matheson Hammock Park — Check out the atoll at Matheson Hammock Park

Coral Gables

The beach at Miami-Dade County’s Matheson Hammock Park in Coral Gables is unusual because it faces a 400-foot diameter atoll saltwater pool that is constantly refreshed by surrounding Biscayne Bay. An accessible path goes around the pool, and a beach wheelchair is available from lifeguards. People are not allowed in the water when lifeguards are not present.

Woman reading on the beach on a Joy on the Beach Wheelchair, photo by Special Needs Group® / Special Needs at Sea® — Enjoy the beach with a Joy on the Beach Wheelchair, by Special Needs Group® / Special Needs at Sea®

Rent a Beach Wheelchair

The Special Needs Group, a company that specializes in travel arrangements for people with disabilities, rents Joy on the Beach Wheelchairs, which can be rolled on the sand and go in the water. The wheelchairs can be delivered to hotels, resorts and residential units. Call (800) 513-4515 or reserve on the website.

Wheel the World, the international organization that helps travelers with disabilities get around and find lodging, has partners that deliver beach wheelchairs to hotels. Reserve one online or call (628) 900-7778. Be ready to supply specific dates, the height and weight of the person who will use the chair and the address where the equipment is to be delivered and picked up.

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