All major Jersey Shore boardwalks are wheelchair-accessible with smooth surfaces, ramps, and accessible restrooms. Here's detailed accessibility information for each major boardwalk:

Atlantic City Boardwalk

Atlantic County

4 miles

Smooth wood planks - excellent for wheelchairs

The Atlantic City Boardwalk was built to ADA standards and is one of the most wheelchair-friendly in the country. All major casinos (Borgata, Hard Rock, Caesars, Tropicana, Ocean) have full accessibility services.

Accessibility Features:

✓Wheelchair-accessible throughout entire length

✓All casinos have wheelchair/scooter rentals

✓Accessible restrooms every 0.5 miles

✓Tram Car is wheelchair accessible

✓Beach wheelchairs from Beach Patrol (summer)

✓Electric scooter rentals available

Beach Wheelchair Reservations: (609) 347-5312

Ocean City Boardwalk

Cape May County

2.5 miles

Smooth wood planks - excellent for wheelchairs

Ocean City has an award-winning accessibility program. Beach wheelchairs are free and available first-come, first-served. Call ahead to reserve during peak season.

Accessibility Features:

✓Fully wheelchair accessible

✓Beach wheelchairs at multiple locations

✓Surf chairs for water access

✓Accessible restrooms at main pavilions

✓Mobi-Mats at designated beach entrances

✓Accessible amusement rides

Beach Wheelchair Reservations: (609) 525-9300

Wildwood Boardwalk

Cape May County

2 miles

Smooth concrete - excellent for wheelchairs

Wildwood's boardwalk is extra-wide and paved with smooth concrete, making it one of the easiest for wheelchair users. The beach is free (no badge required) with excellent accessibility programs.

Accessibility Features:

✓Extra-wide boardwalk for easy navigation

✓Free beach wheelchairs

✓Mobi-Mats to waterline

✓Accessible tram cars

✓Wheelchair-accessible amusement piers

✓Accessible restrooms throughout

Beach Wheelchair Reservations: (609) 523-1602

Point Pleasant Beach Boardwalk

Ocean County

1 mile

Smooth wood planks - good for wheelchairs

Compact and easy to navigate. Jenkinson's Boardwalk attractions include accessible rides and games.

Accessibility Features:

✓Fully accessible boardwalk

✓Beach wheelchairs available

✓Jenkinson's attractions are accessible

✓Accessible restrooms

✓Ramps at all street crossings

Beach Wheelchair Reservations: (732) 899-2424

Top Accessible Beaches

Wildwood

Cape May County

Free beach with excellent accessibility program

✓ Beach wheelchairs✓ Mobi-Mat access✓ Accessible restrooms✓ Accessible boardwalk

Ocean City

Cape May County

Strong accessibility program with multiple beach entrances

✓ Beach wheelchairs✓ Surf chairs✓ Accessible boardwalk✓ Accessible restrooms

Atlantic City

Atlantic County

Free beach with casino property accessibility options

✓ Beach wheelchairs✓ Accessible boardwalk✓ Casino accessibility

Cape May

Cape May County

Historic town with good accessibility accommodations

✓ Beach wheelchairs✓ Accessible promenade✓ Accessible Victorian tours

Long Branch

Monmouth County

Modern development with excellent accessibility

✓ Beach wheelchairs✓ Pier Village accessibility✓ Accessible parking

Trip Planning by Mobility Need

Specific guidance based on your accessibility requirements.

♿Wheelchair User▼

Must Do: Reserve beach wheelchair 24+ hours ahead - they go fast in summer

Best Towns: Wildwood (wide concrete boardwalk), Ocean City (best program), Atlantic City (casino access)

Avoid: Older boardwalks with gaps, beaches without Mobi-Mats, steep ramps

💡 Pro Tip: Wildwood's concrete boardwalk is smoother than wood planks and handles all wheelchair types.

🦯Walker/Cane User▼

Must Do: Look for compacted sand paths and Mobi-Mats that extend to waterline

Best Towns: Cape May (flat promenade), Ocean City (smooth paths), Asbury Park (renovated boardwalk)

Avoid: Deep sand without mats, crowded holiday weekends, uneven brick sidewalks

💡 Pro Tip: Wet sand near the waterline is much firmer and easier to walk on than dry sand.

👁️Visual Impairment▼

Must Do: Call ahead to confirm audio crosswalks and beach access points

Best Towns: Atlantic City (tactile strips on boardwalk), Ocean City (consistent layouts)

Avoid: Crowded boardwalks on summer weekends, construction zones

💡 Pro Tip: Visit early morning (before 10am) when boardwalks are quietest and easiest to navigate.

🔇Sensory Sensitivities▼

Must Do: Book quieter beaches away from boardwalk noise and crowds

Best Towns: Lavallette (quiet family beach), Spring Lake (serene), Stone Harbor (upscale quiet)

Avoid: Seaside Heights and Wildwood boardwalks (loud), crowded peak weekends

💡 Pro Tip: Beaches on the Delaware Bay side (Cape May Point) are significantly calmer than ocean beaches.

Best Times to Visit for Accessibility

When	Crowds	Pros	Best For
Early Morning (7-9am)	Very Low	Empty boardwalks, easy parking, beach wheelchairs available	Best for peaceful beach time and easy navigation
Weekday Mornings (Tue-Thu)	Low	Minimal crowds, full services available, easy wheelchair access	Best overall accessibility experience
September (Post Labor Day)	Low	Warm water, empty beaches, all services still running, lower prices	Best month for accessible beach visits
Shoulder Season (May, Early June)	Moderate	Fewer crowds than peak summer, most services available	Good for boardwalk visits and sightseeing

Common Accessibility Challenges

Problems you might encounter and how to solve them.

❌ Beach wheelchair is unavailable

✓ Call the morning of your visit at 8am to confirm availability. Have backup beaches in mind. Ocean City and Wildwood have the most chairs.

❌ Deep sand between boardwalk and water

✓ Look for Mobi-Mats (roll-out pathways). Ask lifeguards which entrance has the best mat placement. Wet sand near water is firmest.

❌ Crowded boardwalk makes navigation difficult

✓ Visit before 10am or after 5pm. Tuesday-Thursday are least crowded. Use the tram in Wildwood or Atlantic City.

❌ Accessible parking spots are full

✓ Arrive before 9am in summer. Many beaches have overflow accessible parking 1-2 blocks away. Call beach office for locations.

❌ Restaurant isn't truly accessible despite claims

✓ Call ahead and ask specifically: "Is there step-free entry? Are aisles 36 inches wide? Is the restroom accessible?"

❌ Beach restrooms are far from water

✓ Ask lifeguards where closest accessible restroom is located. Many beaches have seasonal accessible portable units closer to water.

Town Accessibility Ratings

How each major shore town rates for accessibility features.

Wildwood

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Boardwalk

Excellent - extra-wide concrete

Beach

Excellent - free chairs, Mobi-Mats

Parking

Good - many accessible spots

Restrooms

Excellent - throughout boardwalk

Best overall accessibility. Free beach (no badge). Concrete boardwalk is smoothest.

Ocean City

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Boardwalk

Excellent - smooth wood

Beach

Excellent - surf chairs available

Parking

Good - designated lots

Restrooms

Excellent - main pavilions

Award-winning accessibility program. Reserve beach chairs early.

Atlantic City

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Boardwalk

Excellent - 4 miles accessible

Beach

Good - summer program only

Parking

Excellent - casino garages

Restrooms

Excellent - casinos

Casino accessibility is world-class. Beach program limited to summer.

Cape May

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Boardwalk

Good - promenade style

Beach

Good - chairs available

Parking

Fair - limited spots

Restrooms

Good - seasonal

Historic town is charming but some sidewalks are brick/uneven.

Point Pleasant

⭐⭐⭐

Boardwalk

Good - compact, manageable

Beach

Fair - limited chairs

Parking

Fair - fills quickly

Restrooms

Good - at Jenkinson's

Smaller scale makes it easy to navigate. Call ahead for beach chairs.

Accessibility Resources

Beach Wheelchairs

Wide-wheeled chairs that roll on sand

Availability: Free at most beaches - first come, first served

💡 Call beach office by 9am to reserve

Mobi-Mats

Rollout mats providing wheelchair access to waterline

Availability: Many beaches during summer season

💡 Look for designated accessible beach entrances

Surf Chairs

Floating chairs for water access

Availability: Ocean City, Wildwood, select locations

💡 Often require volunteer assistance - inquire locally

Accessible Parking

Designated handicap parking near beach entrances

Availability: All beaches with valid placard

💡 Arrive early in summer - spots fill quickly

Planning Tips

Before You Go

• Call beach offices to reserve wheelchairs
• Confirm hotel accessibility features
• Check boardwalk conditions after storms
• Arrive early for accessible parking
• Download accessibility apps for navigation

On the Beach

• Look for Mobi-Mat pathways to water
• Lifeguards can assist with beach chairs
• Accessible restrooms at main entrances
• Beach wheelchairs work best on wet sand
• Consider morning visits for easier access

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Jersey Shore beaches have wheelchair access?

Many beaches offer beach wheelchairs, including Wildwood, Ocean City, Atlantic City, Cape May, and Long Branch. Most provide Mobi-Mats (access mats) leading to the water. Contact beach offices for wheelchair reservations.

Can I rent a beach wheelchair at the Jersey Shore?

Yes! Most major beach towns offer free beach wheelchair loans on a first-come, first-served basis. Call ahead to reserve. Wildwood, Ocean City, and Cape May have especially good programs.

Are Jersey Shore boardwalks wheelchair accessible?

Most major boardwalks are wheelchair accessible with smooth surfaces. Wildwood, Ocean City, Atlantic City, and Point Pleasant Beach all have accessible boardwalks with ramps.

Are there wheelchairs available on the boardwalk in Atlantic City?

Yes! The Atlantic City Boardwalk is fully wheelchair accessible with a smooth wooden surface ideal for wheelchairs and mobility scooters. The boardwalk stretches 4 miles and connects to all major casinos, each of which has wheelchair rentals and scooters available. Beach wheelchairs for sand/water access are available from the beach patrol during summer months.

Is the boardwalk wheelchair-friendly?

Yes, all major Jersey Shore boardwalks are wheelchair-friendly. The surfaces are smooth wood or concrete, with regular ramps from street level. Atlantic City, Ocean City, Wildwood, and Point Pleasant have the best accessibility with wide pathways, accessible restrooms, and beach wheelchair programs.

Which accommodations are most accessible?

Major hotel chains (Marriott, Hilton, etc.) offer ADA-compliant rooms. Many B&Bs in Cape May and Asbury Park have accessible options. Always call ahead to confirm specific needs.

Need More Help Planning?

Check out our planning guides or contact local visitor centers.

Planning Guides