35 Small Towns Worth a Stop on a Wheelchair-Accessible Road Trip
Wheelchair-accessible road trips are an excellent vacation choice for anybody with a mobility disability. Not only can you take things at your own pace on a road trip, but you can also map out a custom itinerary that includes accessible attractions, rest stops and lodging choices. Plus you can pack along all of your equipment, and you don’t have to worry about wheelchair damage by airline baggage handlers.
Additionally, road trips are a great way to explore small towns that are often overlooked on large group tours. And although some small towns may lack accessible facilities, that’s not the case across the board. With that in mind, here are 35 towns across America — with populations of under 20,000 — that have wheelchair accessible lodgings, attractions and even trails. Some are along less traveled byways, some are near national parks, and some are located on popular road trip routes; however they’re all worthy of consideration on your next road trip adventure.

Tapas and wine pairing at Marimar Estate
Guerneville, California
Population 4,536
This Sonoma County town makes a perfect home base for a wine tasting road trip. You can opt to stay in a traditional property like the Creekside Inn (creeksideinn.com), which offers the wheelchair-accessible Lark Cabin with a roll-in shower; or choose to glamp in style at Russian River AutoCamp, which boasts a custom-built wheelchair-accessible unit (emerginghorizons.com/a-redwood-retreat-to-remember/). Then head out for some wine tasting at Marimar Estate Vineyards & Winery, (www.marimarestate.com) which also has good wheelchair access. Top off your visit with a stroll through the redwoods at Armstrong Redwoods State Park (emerginghorizons.com/a-trail-for-everyone-at-armstrong-redwoods/), which has several wheelchair-accessible trails.
Tucumcari Murals
Tucumcari, New Mexico
Population 4,915
No Route 66 road trip would be complete without a stop in Tucumcari. From a drive along the original stretch of the Mother Road, to a stop at the nicely accessible New Mexico Route 66 Museum (www.nmrt66museum.org/), there’s no shortage of nostalgic attractions there. Add in an interesting collection of murals painted on the sides of buildings throughout town, and you’ve got a true remembrance of yesteryear. And if you’d like to spend the night in a modern hotel, the Best Western has a nice wheelchair-accessible room with a tub/shower combination.
Accessible cabin on the shore of Lake Shelby
Gulf Shores, Alabama
Population 11,809
Located about 30 miles off of Interstate 10, Gulf Shores is worth the short detour for Gulf State Park (www.alapark.com/gulf-state-park) alone. This 6,100-acre state park occupies a prime piece of beach real estate, and offers a two-bedroom wheelchair-accessible cabin on the shore of Lake Shelby. The cabin includes a full kitchen, a spacious great room, a screen porch, and bathroom with a 36-inch square roll-in shower. And the cabin is just a short drive from Gulf Oak Ridge Trail — a 2.75 paved level trail that winds through the woods. Accessible restrooms are located along the trail, and there are plenty of spots to stop and take a break. And don’t forget to visit the Fishing and Education Pier, while you’re in the park. There’s accessible parking close to the pier and barrier-free access to the 1,500 foot-long pier, which features a nice water view, with wayside wildlife exhibits along its length. Best of all, guests staying at the Gulf State Park cabins get free admission to the pier.
Cabin 365 at Buffalo Bill Village
Cody, Wyoming
Population 9,885
Located 85 miles east of Yellowstone National Park, the wild west town of Cody makes a good stop on a national park road trip. The city boasts a passel of wheelchair-accessible attractions, including the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, the Cody Night Rodeo and Dan Miller’s Cowboy Music Review. And for that real wild west ambiance, they also have a daily gunfight in front of Buffalo Bill Cody’s Irma Hotel. There are a number of accessible properties in town, but Buffalo Bill Village (emerginghorizons.com/accessible-western-cabin-in-buffalo-bills-old-haunt/) tops the list for both access and atmosphere. Cabin 365 is extremely spacious, and includes a large bathroom with a roll-in shower. It’s the perfect place to spend a night or two on the way to or from Yellowstone National Park.
Yesterdays Restaurant
Chloride, Arizona
Population 271
Billed as the oldest continually inhabited mining town in Arizona, Chloride is located about 25 miles north of Kingman (emerginghorizons.com/explore-route-66-history-at-this-trio-of-kingman-museums/). Surrounded by mineral rich hills, the town was named for the silver chloride deposits found nearby. Today this ghost town’s claim to fame is unusual yard art. The town is pretty quiet so you can just roll down the level streets to explore the growing yard art collection. As far as wheelchair access goes, there’s one accessible parking space near the Mineshaft Market on Tennessee Street, with ramp access to the front door. Yesterdays Restaurant, which is located on 2nd Street, also has accessible parking with level access to the restaurant. And even the Prospector Café and Bar on Tennessee Street has a cement ramp in front. It’s kind of a fun little place, and it makes a good stop on the way to Grand Canyon West. And they even have gunfights every now and then.
Desert Tortoise Natural Area

Standin' On A Corner in Winslow, Arizona
Winslow, Arizona
Population 9,402
You just can’t pass up the opportunity to stand on the corner in this Northeastern Arizona town. And since it’s just a few hours from the Grand Canyon, and only 50 miles from the Petrified Forest, it’s the perfect addition to a national park road trip. Standin’ on the Corner Park (standinonthecorner.org/) which is located on the corner of 2nd Street (Route 66) and Kinsley, brings the lyrics of the 1972 Eagles hit — Take it Easy — to life. It features a mural by John Pugh, which depicts the famous lyrics, behind a bronze sculpture of a musician with a guitar (known locally as “Easy”), just standin’ on a corner in Winslow, Arizona. It’s a prime selfie spot for sure. Save some time to browse through the La Posada — a restored Harvey House — which is just down the street, before you hop back on the highway. Both attractions feature barrier-free access for wheelchair-users and slow walkers.
The Castaneda Hotel in Las Vegas, New Mexcio
Las Vegas, New Mexico
Population 13,201
If you’re road tripping through Northern New Mexico, make sure and stop in Las Vegas (emerginghorizons.com/las-vegas-new-mexico-a-town-in-transition/), especially if you are a Harvey House aficionado. Head on over to the historic railroad depot first, which offers accessible parking and barrier-free access. Constructed in 1899, it’s still a working depot, and it also houses a small visitor information center. Next door the recently restored Castaneda Hotel is also worth a visit. There’s ramp access up to this former Harvey House, and level access around the lobby, which is dominated by a massive staircase. There’s elevator access to the second floor, which features 22 renovated rooms. There’s also level access to the downstairs bar, with barrier-free access to outside seating. Stop in and have a drink or some appetizers, and enjoy the view from the porch. And if you’d like to spend the night, room 204, which is wheelchair-accessible, is equipped with a roll-in shower.
Inside Wall Drugs
Wall, South Dakota
Population 872
Wall, South Dakota, which is famous for Wall Drugs (www.walldrug.com/), is a must-stop on any Mt. Rushmore – Badlands road trip. This famous drug store is located close to Interstate 90, about 7 miles from the Pinnacles Entrance to Badlands National Park. Back in the 1930s Dorothy and Ted Hustead enticed visitors to stop at their humble drug store by plastering the west with Burma Shave-like billboards advertising free ice water. Today the operation has expanded quite a bit to include everything from a life-sized carving of Butch Cassidy and a giant jackalope, to a silver dollar bar and even a life sized animated T-Rex. Accessible street parking is available on Main Street, with level access to most areas of the massive drug store. Stop at the soda fountain for a scoop of their excellent homemade ice cream, and just sit back and take it all in. And yes, they still have free ice water.