WHEELCHAIR-ACCESSIBLE BEACHES IN FLORIDA

According to the CDC, 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. has some form of disability and 1 in 7 struggles with mobility, making it the most common type of disability. For so many, getting onto a sandy beach is either incredibly difficult or simply impossible.

At Help Us Gather, we believe having a disability should not sentence a person to a life of isolation and loneliness. Our 501(c)(3) nonprofit is on a mission to ensure our beautiful beaches are safe, easy to find, and accessible for all.

On this page, you will find a list of the best beaches in Southwest Florida that offer wheelchair access, mobility mats, handicap-accessible parking, and other amenities to ensure your next day at the beach can be enjoyed by everyone in the family.

HUG updates this page regularly, but each mobility mat is the property and responsibility of the city or county it is installed in. Please reach out to the individual location to confirm the location and current status of their mobility mat before you plan your visit.

What are mobility mats?

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Mobility mats (also called MobiMats) are nonslip pathways that help individuals with mobility challenges avoid getting stuck in the soft, uneven sand, allowing them to access the beach safely and easily. For people who use wheelchairs, power chairs, walkers, have prosthetic limbs, injuries or simply need some extra support in the sand, mobility mats are a game-changer.

The Forward Foundation, a private foundation based in Clearwater, Florida, is partnering with Help Us Gather (HUG) and the Disability Achievement Center to ensure every beach-facing city in the Tampa Bay area has a mobility mat, ensuring equal access for residents and travelers alike to one of Florida’s most precious natural resources.

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MAP OF ACCESSIBLE BEACHES

LIST OF ACCESSIBLE BEACHES

Anclote River Park

Holiday, Florida

The MobiMat at Anclote River Park was installed in February 2023. The Forward Foundation, which partners with Help Us Gather and the Disability Achievement Center, is reimbursing the county for the cost of the mats through its Accessible Beaches program.

Located near the picnic shelter, the 50′ accessibility mat is 6.5′ wide with two 16.5′ wings extending from each side of the end of the mat. There are restrooms located just to the north of the MobiMat.

Address: 1119 Baillies Bluff Road, Holiday, FL 34691

Accessible Parking: There are six handicap-accessible parking spaces near the MobiMat.

General Parking: There are multiple free general parking spaces at Anclote River Park. Please note that boat parking does have a fee associated; click here for details.

Archibald Beach Park

Madeira Beach, Florida

Madeira Beach’s first MobiMat, donated to the city by the Forward Foundation, was installed at Archibald Beach Park in April 2022. Located near the public restrooms at the end of a small boardwalk, the 42′ accessibility mat is 6.5′ wide with a 25′ wing extending to the south. There is a shower/foot wash on the boardwalk that leads to the MobiMat.

Address: 15100 Gulf Blvd, Madeira Beach, FL 33708

Accessible Parking: There are multiple handicap-accessible parking spaces on both sides of the parking lot, including near the restrooms.

General Parking: Madeira Beach uses pay stations and phone apps to collect parking fees of $3.00/hr. Learn more about their fees here.

Clearwater Beach - Parking Lot 32

Clearwater Beach, Florida

The  50′ mobility mat on Clearwater Beach is located at the northern end of Parking Lot #32, near the public restrooms and accessible parking spaces. There is a shower/foot wash at the end of the sidewalk that leads to the mobility mat.

Address: 420 S Gulfview Blvd, Clearwater, FL 33767

Accessible Parking: There are three handicap-accessible parking spaces near the restrooms.

General Parking: Parking Lot #32 has 65 total spaces. The cost to park is $3 per hour, with no time limit on parking. Learn more about fees and hours of operation here.

Clearwater Beach - Parking Lot 36

Clearwater Beach, Florida

The  125′ mobility mat on Clearwater Beach is located at the center of Parking Lot #36, near the large sand dune. There is a shower/foot wash at the end of the sidewalk that leads to the mobility mat.

Address: 4 Rockaway St, Clearwater, FL 33767

Accessible Parking: There is one handicap-accessible parking space near the mobility mat.

General Parking: Parking Lot #36 has 145 total spaces. The cost to park is $3 per hour, with no time limit on parking. Learn more about fees and hours of operation here.

Clearwater Beach - Pier 60

Clearwater Beach, Florida

The  100′ mobility mat on Clearwater Beach is located parallel to Pier 60. There is a shower/foot wash at the end of the sidewalk that leads to the mobility mat.

Address: 160S S Gulfview Blvd, Clearwater, FL 33767

Accessible Parking: There are two handicap-accessible parking spaces near the mobility mat.

General Parking: The parking lot at Pier 60 has 65 total spaces. The cost to park is $3 per hour, with no time limit on parking. Learn more about fees and hours of operation here.

Cypress Point Park

Tampa, Florida

Located near the public restrooms, playground and beach pavilions, the accessibility mat at Cypress Point Park features a wing extending from the end of the mat.

Address: 5620 W Cypress St, Tampa, FL 33607

Accessible Parking: There are 3 accessible parking spaces in the parking lot with direct beach access. There are also two additional spaces at the back of the parking lot, near the disc golf course.

General Parking: There are multiple general parking spaces in the large lot near the beach. For more information about parking rates, please contact the City of Tampa.

Fred Howard Park

Tarpon Springs, Florida

The MobiMat at Fred Howard Park is located across the Howard Park Causeway at Howard Park Beach, near the park bathroom.

Address: Howard Park Causeway, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689

Accessible Parking: There are 4 accessible parking spaces; two on either side of the main beach entrance.

General Parking: There are multiple general parking spaces in the large lot near the beach. Pinellas County charges a daily parking fee of $5. There are also annual beach parking passes available. More info can be found here.

Gulfport Beach

Gulfport, Florida

Gulfport Beach’s MobiMat, the second of its kind in Pinellas County, was installed in 2019. Michael Ciafone, a resident of Pinellas County and an active advocate for inclusion and accessiblity, helped convince the city to purchase and install the mobility mat. Located near the public restrooms at the center of the public parking area along Shore Boulevard, the 82′ accessibility mat extends from the paved sidewalk onto the sandy beach toward Boca Ciega Bay to a point just before the high tide area. Two wings near the water form a Y-shape. Gulfport Beach is a shorter beach, but parking is much easier here thanks to a large, free parking lot directly next to the beach.

Address: 5730 Shore Blvd S, Gulfport, FL 33707

Accessible Parking: There are four handicap-accessible parking spaces next to the restrooms and two near the Gulfport Beach Pavilion.

General Parking: Parking is free in the large lot that runs the length of the beach.

Honeymoon Island State Park

Dunedin, Florida

Honeymoon Island State Park offers white sand beaches, stunning sunsets, and is often described as a bird watcher’s paradise. While the beach has several public access points, two of these locations are equipped with MobiMats for public use.  The first MobiMat can be found at the Oasis, description. The second MobiMat is located at the North Main location, description. These MobiMats are conveniently positioned near the front entrances of the beach access points alongside accessible parking spaces.

Address: 1 Causeway Blvd, Dunedin, FL 34698

Accessible Parking: Many handicapped-accessible parking spaces are at the front of Oasis Beach and North Main (North Parking Lot).

General Parking: Parking is $8 per vehicle (8-person limit), $4 single-occupant. Annual beach parking passes are also available. More info can be found here.

Indian Rocks Beach

Indian Rocks Beach, Florida

The MobiMat at Indian Rocks Beach is located at the beach entrance between 17th & 18th Avenues, giving visitors of all abilities a safe, easy way to access the shoreline. Indian Rocks Beach is a popular tourist destination, so parking can sometimes be a challenge in the lot directly near the mobility mat on busy days. We recommend arriving early or visiting during the week if possible for the best access to this premier Southwest Florida beach.

Address: 1700 Gulf Blvd, Indian Rocks Beach, FL 33785

Accessible Parking: There are four handicap-accessible parking spaces in front of the restrooms.

General Parking: There are approximately 40 free parking spots in the Indian Rocks Beach Access parking lot between 17th & 18th Avenues.

Manatee Public Beach

Holmes Beach, Florida

The 100-foot-long mobility mat at Manatee Public Beach is made of durable and slip-resistant recycled materials, giving visitors of all abilities a safe, easy way to access the shoreline. The mat will stay in place year-round, except during severe-storm threats.

Address: 4000 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, FL 34217

Accessible Parking: There are three handicap-accessible parking spaces in front of the beach cafe and five next to the cafe.

General Parking: There are multiple free parking spots in the parking area next to the beach, but the lot fills up quickly on busy days. Arriving early is always a smart idea.

Miami Beaches

Miami, Florida

Visitors with mobility challenges can access Miami’s beautiful beaches via beach mats at several entrances along Miami Beach.
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The City of Miami Beach offers manual and motorized beach wheelchairs for free on a first-come, first-served basis at two locations.
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See the list of locations at miamiandbeaches.com.

Moon Lake Park

New Port Richey, FL

The MobiMat at Moon Lake Park was installed in March 2023. The Forward Foundation, which partners with Help Us Gather and the Disability Achievement Center, is reimbursing the county for the cost of the mats through its Accessible Beaches program.

Located near the restrooms, the 150′ accessibility mat is 6.5′ wide with two 16.5′ wings extending from each side of the end of the mat.

Address: 8985 Lake Dr, New Port Richey, FL 34654

Accessible Parking: There are two accessible parking spaces at the entrance nearest to the MobiMat.

General Parking: There are multiple general parking spaces in the lot at Moon Lake Park.

Pass-A-Grille Beach

Pass-A-Grille, FL

The MobiMat at Pass-A-Grille Beach is funded by a grant from the Forward Foundation and was installed in December 2022. This 84-foot-long, 6.5-foot-wide mat features a 19.5-foot T-shaped turnaround at the end of the mat.

Address: 2198 Gulf Way, St Pete Beach, FL 33706

Accessible Parking: There are four handicap-accessible parking spaces directly adjacent to the beach entrance, offering easy access to the MobiMat.

General Parking: There are multiple paid parking spaces running along the beach on Gulf Way.

Picnic Island Dog Beach

Tampa, Florida

The Picnic Island Dog Beach mobility mat runs parallel to the shoreline, offering visitors with mobility challenges the opportunity to visit the dog beach, but please be aware that the mat only runs along the fence line.

Address: 6110 Commerce St, Tampa, FL 33616

Accessible Parking: There is one accessible spot nearest to the boat ramp and entrance to the dog beach. Please note, some portions of the parking lot are loose gravel.

General Parking: There are multiple general parking spaces in the parking area near the boat ramp and the entrance to the dog beach. For more information about parking rates, contact the City of Tampa.

Picnic Island Park

Tampa, Florida

The mobility mat at Picnic Island Park is near the southernmost part of the park, adjacent to a large parking lot and leading down to the shoreline.

Address: 7404 Picnic Island Blvd, Tampa, FL 33616

Accessible Parking: There are 4-5 accessible spots located near the restrooms in the large main parking lot.

General Parking: There are many general parking spaces located in the Picnic Island Park parking lot. For more information about parking rates, contact the City of Tampa.

Robert J. Strickland Memorial Park

Hudson, Florida

The MobiMat at Strickland Park was installed in March 2023. The Forward Foundation, which partners with Help Us Gather and the Disability Achievement Center, is reimbursing the county for the cost of the mats through its Accessible Beaches program.

Located near the park pavilion, the 33′ accessibility mat is 6.5′ wide with one 16.5′ wing extending from the mat toward the parking lot.

Address: 6345 Clark St, Hudson, FL 34667

Accessible Parking: There are two accessible parking spaces at the beach entrance nearest the MobiMat, near the park pavilion.

General Parking: There are various general parking spaces on the road near Strickland Park and in the parking lot near the water.

Robert K. Rees Memorial Park

New Port Richey, Florida

The MobiMat at Rees Park was installed in January 2023. The Forward Foundation, which partners with Help Us Gather and the Disability Achievement Center, is reimbursing the county for the cost of the mats through its Accessible Beaches program.

Located at the end of the park sidewalk, the 115′ accessibility mat is 6.5′ wide with two 16.5′ wings extending from each side of the end of the mat.

Address: 3503 Green Key Rd, New Port Richey, FL 34652

Accessible Parking: There are two accessible parking spaces at the entrance nearest to the MobiMat, near the restrooms and playground.

General Parking: There are approximately 25 general parking spaces near the beach area of Rees Park.

Sand Key Park

Clearwater, Florida

Mobility Mat: The approximately 372′ MobiMat at Sand Key Park was installed in April 2023. The MobiMat was donated to Pinellas County through a grant program funded by The Forward Foundation. The mat runs from the sidewalk near the roundabout to midway down the beach. There are showers and accessible restrooms near the base of the MobiMat.

Address: 1060 Gulf Boulevard, Clearwater, Florida 33767 (beach access #4)

Accessible Parking: There are multiple accessible parking spaces on both sides of the parking lot, near the public restrooms.

General Parking: Parking costs $5 for the day and there are more than 200 general parking spaces nearby. For more information, click here.

Siesta Key Beach

Sarasota, Florida

Mobility Mat: The 450-foot-long MobiMat at Siesta Key Beach stretches from the paved parking lot to the shoreline. There are multiple Y-shaped wings at the end of the mat. Beach wheelchairs are also available for free year-round. For more information, click here.

Address: 948 Beach Road, Sarasota, FL 34242

Accessible Parking: There are accessible parking spaces on both sides of the parking lot, near the public restrooms.

General Parking: Parking is free in the large lot that runs the length of the beach.

Spa Beach

St. Petersburg, Florida

St. Petersburg’s MobiMat allows those visiting the St. Pete Pier to access Spa Beach. Keep in mind, the St. Pete Pier, which includes Spa Beach, opens 30 minutes before sunrise and closes at 11:00 p.m. Parking is a bit far from the beach itself and the MobiMat here is rather short, but the St. Pete Pier does offer much more to do than just beach access thanks to multiple food and entertainment options nearby.

Address: 615 2nd Ave. NE., St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Accessible Parking: There are multiple handicap-accessible parking spots in the Pelican Lot, which offers the closest parking to Spa Beach.

General Parking: Weekday rates in the Pelican Lot start at $2/hour. For more detailed information about parking and rates, please visit the St. Pete Pier’s website.

Sunset Beach

Tarpon Springs, Florida

The approximately 100′ mobility mat at Sunset Beach in Tarpon Springs measures 6.5′ wide and is on the northwest side of the beach, near the sidewalk.

Address: 1800 Gulf Rd, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689

Accessible Parking: The City of Tarpon Springs plans to move accessible parking spots to the area at the base of the Mobimat to increase accessibility.

General Parking: There are more than two dozen free general parking spaces in the parking lot adjacent to the beach, including boat/trailer parking.

SunWest Park

Hudson, Florida

SunWest Park in Hudson features two mobility mats. The 200′ mat at North Beach was installed in April 2022 and the 125′ mat at South Beach was installed in April 2020.

Address: 17362 Old Dixie Hwy, Hudson, FL 34667

Accessible Parking: Accessible parking spots can be found near each mobility mat.

General Parking: There are more than 450 dozen general parking spaces throughout SunWest Park. The price to park is $5.00 per day or $30.00 for an annual pass. View more information about SunWest Park here.

Tiki Gardens - Indian Shores Beach Access

Indian Shores, Florida

The mobility mat on Indian Shores Beach was installed in November 2022. Tiki Gardens (196th & Gulf Blvd), formerly a tourist attraction, was purchased by Pinellas County and converted into a Beach Access Parking Lot. There are multiple handicap-accessible parking spaces and a wheelchair-accessible restroom available. Please note that accessing the beach mat will require crossing the street from the parking lot to the beach.

Address: 19601 Gulf Blvd, Indian Shores, FL 33785

Accessible Parking: There are six handicap-accessible parking spaces, with most of the spaces located near the restrooms.

General Parking: There are 168 parking spaces available at an hourly rate of $2.50/hr.

Treasure Island Beach

Treasure Island, Florida

Treasure Island’s MobiMat, installed in 2018, was the first of its kind in Pinellas County. The removable access pathway made out of recycled materials extends 433 ft. towards the Gulf of Mexico and is 6.5 ft. wide. Two wings at the end of the mat form a Y-shape, giving users a place to turn around or stay to enjoy the beach. The mat provides improved accessibility to Treasure Island’s large, popular beach for people with mobility impairments, pedestrians and beachgoers who use strollers and beach carts.

Address: 10400 Gulf Blvd., Treasure Island, FL 33706

Accessible Parking: There are three handicap-accessible parking spaces in the Gulf Front Park Lot, located next to the restrooms. Parking in the handicap-accessible spaces is free.

General Parking: There are 77 total spaces in the Gulf Front Park Lot. Parking costs $2.75 per hour. You can pay by using a smartphone and the Parkmobile app, or at the meters or pay stations using cards or cash/coin.

Upham Beach Park

St. Pete Beach, Florida

As of 11/14, this Mobi Mat has not been relaid after Hurricane Idalia.

In August 2022, the City of St. Pete Beach accepted a grant from the Forward Foundation to install two new MobiMats, including a 135-foot-long and 6.5-foot-wide MobiMat at Upham Beach Park. The MobiMat ends in a 19.5-foot T-shaped formation. At the base of the mat, visitors cross over a 15-foot-wide wooden walkover, which also includes an outdoor shower/foot wash area.

Address: 6798 Beach Plaza, St Pete Beach, FL 33706

Accessible Parking: There are 3 accessible parking spaces in front of the Paradise Grille on Beach Plaza.

General Parking: There are multiple general parking spaces in the lot that runs along the beach. Parking is paid by the hour via a mobile app or at the parking payment stations near the beach entrances.

Venice Beach

Venice, Florida

In January 2021, The City of Venice installed an ADA mobility mat that provides access for citizens in wheelchairs and scooters at the beach. The mat is constructed with a 6-foot wide by 76-foot-long section of AccessMat, followed by a 10-foot by 12-foot AccessDeck platform. Beach wheelchairs are also available for free year-round. For more information, click here.

Address: 101 The Esplanade S, Venice, FL 34285

Accessible Parking: There are 3 accessible parking spaces in the parking lot with direct beach access.

General Parking: Parking is free in the parking lot adjacent to the beach.

If you are a community leader interested in having a mobility mat sponsored and installed on one of your beaches, please email [email protected]. If you know of an accessible beach in Florida that is not yet listed here, please fill out the form below & include the location/address of the beach.

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