3 US Cities Leading the Way in Accessible Travel
Plan your next barrier-free adventure in one of these US cities that put accessibility first
Traveling with a disability used to be intimidating. It was a roll of the dice whether a destination might be welcoming to wheelchair users. Would the sidewalks be passable, the attractions accessible, the hotels truly accommodating? For wheelchair users and others with mobility challenges, every trip carried uncertainty.
But times are changing. Today, more destinations are making it easier to travel, offering detailed accessibility information to help visitors explore with confidence.
If you’re ready to explore without limits, here are three of the most wheelchair-accessible cities in the US.
Washington, DC
There’s no shortage of things to do in Washington, DC—from taking in the grandeur of the national monuments to exploring the free Smithsonian museums. You could easily spend weeks exploring everything the city has to offer. Fortunately, many of DC’s top attractions are designed with accessibility in mind.
The Destination DC website is a helpful planning resource, offering filters for such features as 32-inch doorways, accessible tables, ADA compliance, elevators, parking, and overall accessibility. There’s even a filter for businesses owned by people with disabilities. The Smithsonian museums also have a dedicated accessibility web page.
DC features wide sidewalks and an accessible Metro system, with elevators and nearby parking at most stations. MetroRail cars include ramps to bridge platform gaps and offer designated spaces for wheelchairs users. For those who are unable to use the Metro independently, the MetroAccess paratransit service provides door-to-door transportation with advance reservations.
The Metrobus system is also fully accessible. Every bus can lower to street level and is equipped with ramps or lifts for easy boarding.
Miami, Florida
Miami’s signature aquamarine waters, white beaches, and sunny weather make it an ideal escape. Like many places in the wheelchair-friendly state of Florida, Miami offers thoughtfully designed spaces to help everyone enjoy the beach.
The Beachwalk, a nine-mile oceanfront promenade, is wide and flat—perfect for wheeling and people-watching. Beach mats are available at various public access points, providing a smooth, stable surface to reach the sand.
All of Miami's beaches, including South Beach, offer accessible pathways and beach wheelchairs for visitors. Some rentals even include buoyant wheels, designed to move more easily across sand and go into the water. Special Needs Group, a global supplier of equipment rentals, offers Joy on the Beach wheelchairs, which can go directly into the ocean or pool for a refreshing break from the Miami sun.
Wheel the World, a website dedicated to in-depth travel accessibility information, also offers a variety of wheelchair rentals that can be delivered to Miami Beach hotel rooms. The Greater Miami & Miami Beach tourism website is another indispensable resource for planning an accessible trip.
Lexington, Kentucky
The Kentucky Horse Park is a standout destination for experiencing the horses that make Lexington famous. It offers immersive equine encounters, world-class museum exhibits, and thrilling equestrian events. The park also makes accessibility a priority, with amenities that include free wheelchair rentals, a wheelchair-accessible horse-drawn trolley, paved pathways, and step-free entrances to all barns and exhibit areas. Its website even lists the distance between barns and programming locations to assist with trip planning.
Many of Lexington’s major attractions are verified through Wheel the World, ensuring reliable accessibility. Highlights include Keeneland Racecourse—renowned for its live racing, horse sales, and scenic views—as well as distilleries, historical museums, the Lexington Opera House, and many other accessible sites across the city.
Lexington also features inclusive outdoor recreation. The Legacy Trail, for instance, is a paved shared-use path that winds from downtown Lexington through scenic horse country to the Kentucky Horse Park. Lexington’s nature preserve, Raven Run Nature Sanctuary, boasts more than 10 miles of trails that overlook the Kentucky River, some of which are being adapted to improve accessibility. The city is also piloting an Action Trackchair program, allowing for greater access to unpaved trails in natural parks.
Since many of Lexington’s downtown restaurants are located in historic buildings, it’s wise to check accessibility in advance. Options such as Lockbox offer a smooth experience, with a stepless entry, wide pathways, and accessible seating. VisitLEX, the city’s tourism website, includes a dedicated accessibility page to help with travel planning.
Ready to travel barrier-free? For more accessible travel resources, visit the Society for Accessible Tourism and Hospitality or contact a AAA Travel Advisor for accessible travel inspiration and planning.