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Are you looking for accessible national parks in the country? We’ve got the best accessible parks covered right here for you!
The United States National Parks are some of the most beautiful you will find in the world. While they are open and ready to greet tourists year-round, some of them are not accessible to differently-abled people. Particular features make traveling and accessibility easier, such as wide parking spaces, paved paths, and accessible restrooms. While it is easy for most campers to pack up their RVs and head out on a trip, it isn’t fun when you reach a national park only to find out they are not wheelchair accessible.
Everyone deserves to enjoy a little trip, whether you are differently abled or not. We have rounded up the seven most accessible national parks in the country for you. See the features and particularities of each and choose your favorite to visit from among them!
South Carolina’s Congaree National Park is a nature haven with a rich history and culture. Its biodiversity is spectacular, with towering hardwood forests, wilderness, and floodplains. Visitors can explore all of these on paved boardwalks, so they are easily accessible by wheelchairs. That’s not where it ends - the park has some spectacular creeks and waterlogged forests to explore through kayaks and canoes. Those with a weak grip or arm disabilities can use the park’s specialized paddles, like back-of-hand adaptation, paddle pivot, and wrist slide adaptation paddles. The Access Pass also grants disabled people a free, lifetime pass to the park.
Amenities:
Large gravel parking lot
Accessible parking spaces
Kayak adaptations
Accessible paddles
Paved paths
Accessible vault toilets
Wheelchair-accessible picnic tables
Lifetime Access Pass
This park is packed with wonders of nature, with two contrasting layers to it. The first is the rolling prairies and forested hills of the park, with wildlife grazing the plains, and the second is the world underneath the park of impressive caves. The Wind Cave gets its name from the cold winds that course through the passages, and visitors can tour these deeply spiritual geological formations through accessible elevators. There are guided tours of the caves, and you can customize them to accommodate anyone with hearing or visual impairments. The prairies and forested hills also inhabit bison, antelopes, and prairie dogs. There are paved pet-friendly trails if you want to go for a walk with your pets!
Amenities:
Elevators to caves
Customizable tours
Accessible parking
Hearing and vision accommodations
Accessible visitor center
Wheelchair-accessible campground sites
Vehicle-accessible picnic area
Access pass
Northern Arizona is home to one of the country’s, if not the world’s, most renowned rock formations - the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon National Park encompasses the Colorado River and its surrounding uplands. While most of the trails are rugged and historic, disabled people in wheelchairs can access them with assistance. Shuttle buses that tour the park are all wheelchair accessible, with ramps and spaces for wheelchairs in the buses. There is also a scenic drive accessibility permit that allows disabled people or those with mobility issues to access areas closed to the public.
Amenities:
Accessible shuttle buses
Handicap friendly park
Paved paths
Wheelchair accessible trails
scenic drive accessibility permit
This park in Florida protects 1.5 million acres of nature, wildlife, and a stunning landscape. Its cap has many feathers, especially the badge of being a World Heritage Site, a Wetland of International Importance, and an International Biosphere Reserve. Visitors can enjoy bird-watching and boating and also opt for guided tours of the area. There are accessibility options for those with hearing, sight, and mobility disabilities. There are Assistive Listening Devices (ALD) available for use, and visitor centers have both print and audio displays. The visitor centers are all wheelchair accessible with vamps and close to parking areas. If you are visiting this park, you can even leave the wheelchair at home to save space in your RV because wheelchairs can be rented.
Amenities:
Assistive learning devices
Wheelchair and vehicle-accessible visitor centers
Paved walking trails
Captions shown in films
Audio and print displays
Clear signs in parking lots
Interpretive programs in visitor centers
Known as the ‘Crown Jewel of the North Atlantic Coast’, Acadia National Park in Maine has diverse and beautiful landscapes. Visitors can experience a range of recreational opportunities and scenic attractions, especially the park’s rocky coastline, beaches, hiking trails, summit areas, and wildlife viewing. The park also has several amenities to enhance accessibility for visitors. These include accessible parking spaces at various locations throughout the park, paved trails and boardwalks, trails, and boardwalks, including the Precipice, Jordan Pond, and Ocean Path trails, restrooms, and accessible camping sites.
Amenities:
Accessible restrooms
Ranger-led programs and visitor center exhibits
Accessible parking spaces at various locations throughout the park
Paved hiking trails
Wheelchairs and mobility scooters available on loan
This park is located in northern Minnesota and is unique in its beauty. It has an extensive network of lakes, waterways, and bays, offering opportunities for boating, fishing, kayaking, and canoeing. The park is known for its scenic beauty, with serene lakes, forests, and waterways, making it a great destination for outdoor exploring. But don’t worry - many of its attractions are accessible to differently-abled people. These include ramps with boat launches, accessible fishing piers, campsites that offer overnight accommodations for visitors with disabilities, and accessible ranger-led programs, providing educational and interpretive experiences for visitors with disabilities.
Amenities:
Boat launches for access to the park’s waterways
Fishing piers
Accessible ranger-led programs
Paved boardwalk and trails
Accessible campsites
Handicapped-accessible restrooms and entrances of all visitor centers
One of the most renowned national parks in the world, Yellowstone is known for its breathtaking landscapes, including geysers, hot springs, waterfalls, canyons, and mountain ranges. The park also offers numerous hiking trails, including backcountry trails for experienced hikers, overnight camping, and fishing opportunities. Yellowstone strives to make its facilities and services accessible to visitors with disabilities. It does so by providing designated accessible parking spaces in various locations, including visitor centers and parking lots and accessible restrooms located throughout the park. There are also audio-described brochures and self-guiding materials for visitors with visual impairments, wheelchair rentals, and service animals.
Amenities:
Designated accessible parking spaces
Service animals permitted throughout park
Wheelchair rentals available
Handicap-friendly cabins and campsites
Accessible restrooms
Wheelchair-friendly boardwalks
Conclusion
National parks have made great strides in recent years to make their facilities and services accessible to RV campers. We have listed the seven most accessible national parks for you, but we recommend consulting with the park of your choice for up-to-date information on accessibility and to plan your RV trip accordingly!
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