Gulf Islands National Seashore
The National Park Service keeps beach wheelchairs at the seashore's Florida beaches. To use one, ask a ranger or volunteer:
- Perdido Key area (Johnson Beach)
- Opal Beach complex, in the Santa Rosa area east of Pensacola Beach
- Fort Pickens area, at campground registration
All restrooms and picnic pavilions at the seashore are accessible, and there is accessible parking at every facility and beach access point. The fishing piers in the Fort Pickens area are accessible too. Inside the historic forts, access is limited.
Pensacola Beach: the Mobi-Mats
Mobi-Mats are non-slip mats laid over the sand so wheelchairs, walkers and strollers can roll toward the water instead of sinking. The Santa Rosa Island Authority paid for five on Pensacola Beach, and Escambia County Public Works put them in:
- Casino Beach: one east of the Public Safety Building and one west of The Dock
- Park West: on the sound side, near the two pavilions
- Moms Beach (Quietwater): near the lifeguard tower
- Boardwalk Beach: just east of the Quietwater Beach shell
- Baby Beach: off Avenida 18, on the sound side
A Mobi-Chair, a beach wheelchair that floats, was also placed at Casino Beach and Moms Beach. Ask the lifeguards whether it's out that day.
Perdido Key
Beach Access #2 is the easiest Perdido Key beach to reach. It reopened in 2024 with an ADA-compliant mobility mat, an ADA-compliant restroom, outdoor showers and a repaved parking lot. It's also where the lifeguard tower is in season.
Renting a beach wheelchair
Several vendors on Pensacola Beach rent electric and manual beach wheelchairs. In summer and on holiday weekends they book up, so reserve before your trip.
Tips for an easier beach day
- Check the flag first. On red and double red days, stick to the sound side, where the water is calmer. Today's Pensacola Beach flag →
- Go early. Accessible parking near the mats fills up fast on weekends.
- Plan for heat. Bring shade, water and a cooling towel; sand and metal frames get hot by midday.
- Bring a buddy. Even on a mat, soft sand at the end of it is easier with help.
Questions people ask
Are beach wheelchairs free in Pensacola?
At Gulf Islands National Seashore, beach wheelchairs are available by asking a ranger or volunteer at Opal Beach, in the Perdido Key area, or at the Fort Pickens campground registration. Call the park at 850-934-2600 to check availability and any cost before you go. On Pensacola Beach, several vendors rent electric and manual beach wheelchairs.
Where are the beach mats on Pensacola Beach?
Five Mobi-Mats were installed on Pensacola Beach: two at Casino Beach (east of the Public Safety Building and west of The Dock), one on the sound side at Park West near the pavilions, one at Moms Beach near the lifeguard tower, one at Boardwalk Beach east of the Quietwater Beach shell, and one at Baby Beach off Avenida 18 on the sound side.
Is Perdido Key wheelchair accessible?
Perdido Key Beach Access #2 reopened in 2024 with an ADA-compliant mobility mat, an ADA-compliant restroom and a repaved parking lot. It is also the access with a lifeguard tower in season.
Is there a floating beach wheelchair on Pensacola Beach?
A Mobi-Chair, a beach wheelchair that can go into the water, was placed at Casino Beach and Moms Beach. Ask the lifeguards there whether it is available that day.
Sources: National Park Service, Gulf Islands accessibility · WEAR-TV on the Pensacola Beach mats · mat locations · WKRG on Perdido Key Access #2 · Visit Pensacola accessible travel. Programs change; call ahead to confirm. Last checked Oct 13, 2026.