Fabulous Road Trips for People with Mobility Challenges

These U.S. destinations provide travelers with accessible stops and worthwhile activities

a person looking out the window of a car that's traveling along a dirt road in the desert

Hit the open road with road trip destinations for indoor and outdoor stops that accommodate accessibility needs. Here, a drive in Arizona at sunset.

Getty Images

Jaclyn Greenberg,

AARP

Published January 14, 2026

Road trips are an age-old pastime. There’s nothing like feeling the wind in your hair as your car turns the corner in a new, scenic destination. Travelers over the age of 50 travel by car significantly more than by other modes of transportation because it’s easier and more accessible, according to AARP’s latest destination aging report. It’s an especially convenient way to travel for people with mobility challenges, which are the most common disability among those 50 and older, the report found.

“Road trips offer an ideal way to explore the U.S. while avoiding the hassles of air travel and the risk of damage to wheelchairs or scooters,” says Joy Burns, 55, community and public relations coordinator at Wheel the World, a platform that allows users to plan and book accessible trips. Burns travels with her husband, 64, who uses a wheelchair.

The following picturesque road trip destinations offer exciting and fun indoor and outdoor stops that accommodate accessibility needs. It’s always a good idea to call ahead to ensure that accessibility features are available at places you discover on your own.

a woman posing next to another woman in an all-terrain wheelchair on a beach

A drive through Sonoma County, California, offers an ADA-accessible loop overlooking the cliffs, with the option to rent all-terrain wheelchairs at beaches and parks.

Courtesy Sonoma County Tourism

The Sonoma Coast, California

The Sonoma Coast along California State Route 1 features around 50 miles of Pacific Ocean coastline. Start in Bodega Bay and visit Sonoma Coast State Park, where the Vista Trail forms an ADA-accessible loop overlooking the cliffs. Then, drive through the coastal village of Jenner, where the Russian River meets the Pacific Ocean, and visit Goat Rock Beach for a chance to see whales or seals. Continue to Gualala Point Regional Park as a stunning final stop. There’s a paved path from the parking area to the bluff at the top of the beach, and all-terrain wheelchairs are available for free on a first-come, first-served basis.

“With proper planning, [the drive] becomes a fully accessible experience that delivers the drama of the Sonoma County coast without long hikes or steep trails,” says Chris Vomvolakis, senior manager of consumer public relations at Sonoma County Tourism.

Stay: The Kayaker room at Jenner Inn is ADA-accessible. Prices range from $180 to more than $300 per night, depending on the season.

A drive along Maine’s east coast can include a stop at Boothbay Harbor for a whale-watching tour.

Courtesy Maine Office of Tourism

The east coast of Maine

Maine’s lengthy, rugged shoreline is great for road trippers, with 3,500 miles to explore. Start in Portland, where visitors can check out the accessible Portland Museum of Art and enjoy downtown shops and restaurants with accessible features. Then drive about 60 miles north to Boothbay Harbor for a whale-watching tour with Cap’n Fish’s Cruises.

Continue northeast on Route 1 to Rockland. Stop at the Rockland Harbor Trail and enjoy a path that has gravel, pavement and a boardwalk with a scenic view.

A two-hour drive north gets you to Bar Harbor, where you can stay in a hotel that is minutes from Acadia National Park. Stroll through downtown shops and stop at eateries for fresh lobster.

Once you’re in Acadia, take in the view as you drive along the 27-mile Park Loop Road. Stop at Jordan Pond House for lunch — try the popovers — or stroll the flat carriage roads and enjoy the beauty of the woods. Reserve a time slot on recreation.gov to drive up Cadillac Mountain, preferably at sunrise or sunset, and enjoy the accessible pathways at the top of the highest point on the Eastern Seaboard.

Stay: The West Street Hotel is right in downtown Bar Harbor and has accessible rooms and amenities. Rates range from $259 to more than $599 per night, depending on the season.

people interacting with a dolphin near a dock

Take the two-hour drive between Key Largo and Key West, Florida, where you’ll cross 42 bridges and find a number of accessible activities.

Chad Newman

The Florida Keys

The two-hour drive between Key Largo and Key West crosses 42 bridges, and there are many beautiful stops along the way.

Have lunch with your feet in the sand at Lorelei Restaurant & Cabana Bar in Islamorada. Stop at Sombrero Beach, where visitors with disabilities can use Mobi-Mats to access the water. Visit the Turtle Hospital, dedicated to the rehabilitation of endangered sea turtles. It offers a 90-minute tour and has tanks viewable from a seated position.

Once you arrive in Key West, enjoy the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, where you can find hundreds of butterflies and birds, or take a photo at the southernmost point of the continental United States.

Stay: Havana Cabana in Key West offers accessible rooms and lifts at the pool and hot tub. Rates range from $170 to over $350 per night before taxes and resort fees, depending on the season.

New York’s Finger Lakes region features charming towns, waterfalls, as seen in Watkins Glen State Park, outdoor recreation, breweries and wineries.

Courtesy Finger Lakes Regional Tourism

Finger Lakes, New York

The Finger Lakes region spans 14 scenic counties featuring charming towns, waterfalls, outdoor recreation, breweries and wineries. There are multiple ways to explore. For example, you could start in Syracuse, head through Seneca Falls and end in Cortland. Or fly into Rochester, drive through Watkins Glen and end in Geneseo.

Taughannock Falls, the tallest free-falling waterfall in the northeastern United States, has wheelchair-friendly trails and scenic overlooks. The paved Cayuga Waterfront Trail is 8 miles long and links to several popular waterfronts. View modern and contemporary American art at the Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse; all its public galleries are accessible to wheelchair users. Or have a glass of wine at Billsboro Winery in Geneva.

“Whether you are … utilizing the Trackchairs at Lime Hollow Nature Center or the adaptive skiing program at Greek Peak … nature is accessible to all,” says Ilya Shmulenson, executive director at Lime Hollow Nature Center.

Stay: The Lake House at Canandaigua offers accessible guest rooms, a pool chair lift and other accessible amenities. Prices range from around $275 to $650 per night, depending on the season and room type.

Accessible trails in Sedona, Arizona, include sections of the Bell Rock Pathway and the Kisva Trail, where you can admire the famous red rock formations.

Elise Giordano

Sedona, Arizona

The beautiful red rocks of Sedona, Arizona, are a popular draw for road trippers. Begin your adventure with a drive along the Red Rock Scenic Byway. Accessible trails include sections of Bell Rock Pathway and Kisva Trail, where you can view the red rock formations. Visit Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, which features galleries, shops and restaurants connected by mostly flat, gently graded pathways. Take a glass-blowing class at the Melting Point. Stop at Airport Mesa, which has a scenic overlook and is easily accessible from the parking area. It’s also a great place to view the sunset.

Drive an hour north to Flagstaff on scenic State Route 89A along Oak Creek Canyon and watch the scenery change from red rocks to alpine greenery, accompanied by cooler weather. Continue northwest for an hour and 20 minutes to Grand Canyon National Park, where you can enjoy wheelchair-accessible views at Mather Point.

Stay: The Residence Inn by Marriott in Sedona has accessible rooms. Visit the website for rates, which vary.

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Jaclyn Greenberg lives on the East Coast and enjoys traveling with her family of five. She has written for The New York Times, CNN, Wired, Fodor’s and Parents.

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