Alabama’s Wheelchair Accessible Destinations and Resources
The Heart of Dixie is filled with accessible, wholly-Southern adventures and experiences that you’ll never forget
Whether you’re a lone adventurer or part of a family of travelers, Alabama wheelchair accessible destinations and resources are waiting for you to discover. The state’s unique cultural diversity means you’re sure to find something for everyone — an impressive collection of indoor and outdoor attractions that stir the spirit and calm the soul.
According to WalletHub's Best & Worst Cities for People with Disabilities, Alabama boasts the following cities that rank high on the list: Montgomery and Mobile.
Outdoor Wheelchair Accessible Destinations
If the great outdoors is your thing, Alabama is the place to be. The state offers an impressive collection of premium attractions and no-cost spaces that are perfect for everything from day-trips to extended vacations. Here are just a few of Alabama’s more popular outdoor experiences.
The Birmingham Zoo, Birmingham. Voted the best attraction in Alabama, the Birmingham Zoo offers the Red Diamond Sea Lion Splash Show, Wildlife show, and many other daily attractions. There are wheelchair rentals available in the gift shop.
Talladega Superspeedway, Lincoln. If you're into motorsports, this is the place to be to see NASCAR races like the Sprint Cup Series, the Nationwide Series, and the Camping World Truck Series. Enjoy ADA parking for your wheelchair vehicle, a fleet of accessible shuttles, and ADA seating in select sections.
USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, Mobile. Go aboard the historic USS battleship and get a feel for the military life nearly seven decades ago. The main deck of Battleship USS ALABAMA and Aircraft Pavilion are handicap accessible. The submarine USS DRUM is not wheelchair accessible, but there is a video about the submarine that can be viewed in the Aircraft Pavilion.
Indoor Wheelchair Accessible Destinations
For those who prefer — or require — quiet, indoor things to do, Alabama has you covered, as well. You can experience a versatile mix of educational and entertaining attractions that cover a range of topics — including history, science, and culture.
The US Space and Rocket Center, Huntsville. The US Space and Rocket Center is known as one of the most comprehensive space-flight hardware museums in the country, with the Spacedome Theater, Rocket Park, Education Training Center, NASA's Educator Resource Center, and other exciting facilities. The center is wheelchair accessible and has wheelchair rentals.
The Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Birmingham. Check out Alabama's largest living museum with 67.5 acres, more than 12,000 plants, more than 25 different gardens, 30 outdoor sculptures, and the largest public horticulture library in the United States. There is no admission fee to enter the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, and all facilities are ADA compliant.
Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, Birmingham. The museum honors some of the greatest Alabama jazz artists of all time as it covers the accomplishments of more than 170 native Alabama jazz musicians — including Nat King Cole, Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton, Erskine Hawkings, and many other famous performers. The tours of the museum are wheelchair accessible.
Alabama’s Wheelchair Accessible Resources
While it’s true that Alabama has much to do to improve its wheelchair-accessibility and overall support of persons with disabilities, the state is making a conscious effort to move in that direction. Here are several statewide and local resources that you can use to plan your visit.
Gulf Shores uses “Access Mat” to make beach more accessible. AccessMat® is a portable and removable rollout access route designed primarily for beach environments, but can be used in a multitude of applications for individuals of all abilities — from pedestrians to wheelchairs access to strollers.
ACPC offers community disability, assistive technology and transportation services. The Alabama Care Planning Council has compiled a list of contacts for various statewide programs for residents and visitors alike online at http://www.carealabama.net/list14_alabama_disability_transportation_senior_services.htm.
Bed and Breakfast lists Alabama’s top accessible B&Bs. BreadandBreakfast.com provides an extensive list of the very-best of Alabama’s accessible bed and breakfast establishments. Get location, pricing, reservations from the website at https://www.bedandbreakfast.com/alabama.html.