Accessible National Parks: Camping Info for People with Disabilities

According to the National Park Service, last year more than 276 million people visited sites managed by the National Park Service (NPS). Many of those visitors are – or potentially could be – people with disabilities.

In order to make sure that as many national parks are accessible to those with disabilities as possible, the NPS has developed a website to help visitors with disabilities and special needs find accessible trails, programs, activities, and other features at national park units nationwide. If you use a wheelchair or are mobility impaired, this is the place to start.

Accessibility Information for National Parks
The National Parks: Accessible to Everyone website provides a substantial amount of information to help make that happen, including state-by-state listings and descriptions of:

•    accessibility accommodations for specific parks
•    accessible programs and exhibits for specific parks
•    parks with features accessible to the visually impaired or blind
•    parks with features accessible to the hearing impaired
•    parks with accessible camping
•    parks with accessible picnic areas

Finding Out More
Mary A. Bomar, Director of the National Park Service, points out that although they “still have a ways to go before we can say we are accessible to all,” that remains the long-term goal for the NPS and the accessibility project. Because the project is a work in progress, however, visitors shouldn’t assume that just because a favorite park isn’t covered in the National Parks: Accessible to Everyone website, it doesn’t include accessible features.

Director Bomar suggests that if you’re considering a travel within a national park that’s not currently included, you may want to call the park or visit the National Park Service website and check their accessibility information.

See Related Articles
See Eleven Tips for a Perfectly Accessible Road Trip if you have a disability and are planning trip by car.

See Ride the Rails to the Grand Canyon or An Accessible Scottsdale Spa Getaway for more information about accessible travel to the nation's hot spots.