As I am sitting here putting together this post, it is 90 degrees, sunny and humid outside. Mentally, I’ve checked out of school mode and all my focus is on summer and the beach. (I still have a few IEP meetings left this school year, with clients, hopefully it will rain those days!)
Last year, my family and I visited both Rehoboth Beach, Delaware and Sea Isle City, New Jersey. It was our first time in SIC, but we go to the Delaware beaches often. The summer of 2018 was the first time that I have seen wheelchair accessible beaches and sand wheelchairs. Both Sea Isle and Rehoboth had beach wheelchairs and long, flat, wooden accessible walkways on the beach. They were such a lifesaver and patience-saver. Dragging my son’s chair across a hot, sandy beach really sucks the life out of me and deters me from going at all.
With that in mind, I thought that I would dig up the information and list which beaches have these amenities. I really don’t think that I’ll ever go to a beach that doesn’t have this.
What makes a beach handicap accessible?
I dislike that word, but I know it’s what everyone uses. Anyway, to me, I’m looking for one big thing — a ramp that goes a significant way down toward the ocean. Sometimes they are wooden, other times they are this plastic or rubber material called a Mobi Mat.
If they have the beach wheelchairs, that’s a huge bonus. However, they are fairly new. It was inspiring to see so many towns here that have them though. The trend is catching on quickly!
Wheelchair Accessible Beaches
Ok, so I included a link for each one that I could find. For some of them, it took me to a municipal site and I just could not find the information. For other towns, particularly all the towns on LBI, it sent me to their tourism site which I found difficult to navigate. Anyway, I did the best I could and there are still dozens to choose from.
New Jersey Beaches-wheelchair accessible
If you need information on New Jersey Beaches and beach tags, you can click that link to get prices and availability.
Allenhurst– no info found.
Asbury Park-WaterWheels can be reserved in 2-hour time slots during the regular beach season when lifeguards are on duty: Memorial Day through at least Labor Day, Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m, Weekends and Holidays 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Call the Asbury Park Beach Office at 732-502-8863.
Atlantic City– A limited number of Handicap surf chairs are available free of charge on a first-come-first-
serve basis at Beach Patrol stations located citywide. Surf Chairs can accommodate up to 350lbs.
Avalon– There are handicapped ramps to the boardwalk at 21st, 23rd, 24th, 26th, 27th, 29th, 30th and 32nd Streets. There are ramps from the boardwalk to the beach at 30th Street, to the beach at 8th & Avalon Avenue and to an observation platform and to the beach at 80th Street. Handicapped accessible bay front piers are located at 8th Street Pier at the bay side, 20th & 5th Avenue, 22nd & 6th Avenue, 23rd , 33rd, 37th, 53rd and 57th Streets. Surf chairs are available at 9th, 30th and 80th Streets. There is no charge for the chairs but reservations are recommended. Call the Avalon Beach Patrol at 967-7587 to reserve.
Avon-by-the-Sea-nothing found.
Barnegat Light– Barnegat Light is pleased to offer a Beach Wheel Chair to any beach patron who has a mobility limiting disability. The chair has wide balloon wheels, allowing it to be pushed easily on the sand. The chairs are offered on a first-come first-served basis and reservations are required. We will deliver & pick-up the chairs. There is no charge for the use of the chairs as this program is funded by donations.*Reservation forms can be downloaded from our forms page
Bay Head-could not find.
Beach Haven-Beach wheels are available by contacting the Beach Patrol office at 609-492-9193 from June 28th through Labor Day to arrange for delivery. Handicap Accessible ramps are located at the 5th Street pavilion, Pearl Street pavilion and Centre Street.
Beach Haven Crest– NA
Beach Haven Gardens– NA
Beach Haven Park– NA
Beach Haven Terrace– NA
Belmar– Belmar is also one of the most accessible beaches in New Jersey. We were one of the first towns to install Mobi-Mats to many of our beaches. These hard surface ramps continue down midway through the beachfront and provide universal access for anyone with a wheelchair, walking aid, or baby stroller.
Bradley Beach– NA
Brant Beach-NA
Brigantine-Could not find information.
Brighton Beach– NA
Cape May– could not find.
Corson’s Inlet State Park (Strathmere)– could not find
Deal-could not reach website
Harvey Cedars– nothing listed
High Point State Park (Sussex)
Island Beach State Park (Seaside Park)- Island Beach State Park facilities are partially accessible for people with disabilities. The Fisherman’s Walkway is a boardwalk that provides access to both the ocean and bay at parking Area 7. Beach wheelchairs for the ocean swimming area and beach wheelchairs that have been specially fitted for surf fishing are available at the pavilions during the swimming season and at the park office during the remainder of the year. Contact the park office for further information regarding disability access. Text telephone (TT) users, call the New Jersey Relay Service at (800) 852-7899.
Lavellette– The beach wheelchairs can be signed out for 2 hour blocks, if no one is waiting to use a chair they can be reserved for an additional 2 hours. Chairs must be returned before the end of beach day to lifeguard headquarters. Available on a first come first serve basis through the Lifeguard Headquarters. 732-793-2566
Loch Arbour-nothing listed
Long Beach-nothing listed.
Long Branch Township– A limited number of Surf Chairs and Water Chairs are available for use. Please speak with any ticket booth representative or call the Beach Office at 732-571-5697 for assistance.
Longport-nothing listed
Loveladies-Nothing listed.
Manasquan-nothing listed.
Mantaloking-nothing listed
Margate-List of accessible beaches in that link, no mention of beach wheelchairs.
Monmouth Beach-See guide below.
North Wildwood– The Wildwoods beaches are guarded by expert Lifeguards from Memorial Day through Labor Day, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. Handicap access is available by contacting the beach patrol for the corresponding area. 609.522.7500 Transport via surf chairs at First Aid Station at 15th Avenue.
Ocean City– The Surf Chair Program operates out of the Ocean City Sports & Civic Center located on 6th Street at the Boardwalk. For more information about this program, call (609) 525-9304. Click that link for a list of wheelchair accessible beaches in OCNJ.
Ocean Grove-Nothing listed
Ortley Beach (Toms River)-Nothing listed.
Peahala Park-nothing listed
Point Pleasant-Nothing listed
Sandy Hook-Gateway National Recreation Area-Could not find info.
Sea Bright-Nothing listed.
Sea Girt-Nothing listed.
Seaside Heights– Please visit the Visitor’s Center at Blaine Avenue to obtain a beach wheelchair.
Sea Isle City– Access to beach at 32nd, 40th, JFK Blvd., 44th, 63rd & 85th streets. Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made by calling the Recreation Office at 609-263-1013, Monday through Friday (year-round) and Monday through Sunday (Memorial Day to Labor Day) between the hours of 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Reserved beach wheelchairs may be picked up or returned Monday through Friday (year-round) and Monday through Sunday (Memorial Day to Labor Day) between the hours of 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM at the recreation building located at 4501 Park Road. The beach patrol has a courtesy chair that the public may use to transport physically disabled individuals to and from the 45th Street Beach during the summer season.
Seaside Park-Nothing listed.
Seven President’s Oceanfront Park (Long Branch)-nothing listed
Ship Bottom– Beach Wheels for Handicapped access to the beach are available at Beach Operations Headquarters. Beach Wheels are available with advance reservation by calling the Ship Bottom Beach Patrol at (609) 494-9481 In-Season and (609) 494-2171 ext. 116 Off-Season.Ramps are available for the physically challenged at 4th, 8th, 9th, 14th, 15th, 19th, 20th, 21st, and 25th Streets.
Spring Lake-Can’t find.
Stone Harbor-Not listed.
Strathmere (Upper Township)-Can’t find.
Surf City-Again with the LBI website that’s hard to navigate.
Ventnor City-no info found.
White Sands Beach-no website.
Wildwood-The Wildwoods beaches are guarded by expert Lifeguards from Memorial Day through Labor Day, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. Handicap access is available by contacting the beach patrol for the corresponding area. 609.522.8258 Contact lifeguard headquarters at Lincoln Avenue and beach.
Wildwood Crest-The Wildwoods beaches are guarded by expert Lifeguards from Memorial Day through Labor Day, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. Handicap access is available by contacting the beach patrol for the corresponding area. 609.522.3825 Contact lifeguard headquarters at Rambler Road and beach.
Windward Beach (Brick)– Individuals with disabilities have the opportunity to reserve a specially designed wheelchair that will provide easy access to Brick Beach I, Brick Beach III and Windward Beach. Call 732-262-1184 for information or to reserve a chair on a first come first serve basis.
Delaware Beaches-wheelchair accessible
Bethany Beach– The beach wheelchairs are available daily May 15 through September 15 from 9:30 AM to 5 PM at no cost on a “first come – first serve” basis. They can be checked out for use at the Lifeguard Station located at the top of Garfield Parkway at the ocean. A sign at the Lifeguard Station provides the telephone number to call to borrow a beach wheelchair.
Cape Henlopen State Park– In order to make our beaches accessible to all visitors, Delaware State Parks offers beach wheelchairs which are available from 8:00 a.m. until sunset, all year. Wheelchairs are available at no charge, on a first-come, first-served basis; however, 24-hour notice will ensure that the chair is reserved for use. See link for where to reserve.
Delaware Seashore State Park-In order to make our beaches accessible to all visitors, Delaware State Parks offers beach wheelchairs which are available from 8:00 a.m. until sunset, all year. Wheelchairs are available at no charge, on a first-come, first-served basis; however, 24-hour notice will ensure that the chair is reserved for use. See link for where to reserve.
Dewey Beach-Handicapped beach chairs are available from the Dewey Beach lifeguards. To reserve a chair between the dates of May 15th- September 15th, please call the Lifesaving Station at: (302) 227-6365.To reserve a chair between the dates of September 16th- May 14th please call Dewey Beach Town Hall at: (302)227-6363
Fenwick Island-same as two state parks above. See link to make reservations.
Rehoboth Beach– Beach wheelchairs are available from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. starting Memorial Day weekend. The beach wheelchair program is operated under the supervision of the Rehoboth Beach Patrol. Please contact the Beach Wheelchair Supervisor at Beach Patrol Headquarters, 1 Baltimore Avenue, or at the storage sheds located on the beach at Maryland Avenue and Laurel Street, to accommodate your needs.
Lisa Lightner runs the A Day in Our Shoes blog and is a Special Education Advocate and contributor to MomSpeak. Her original post can be found here.
