Accessible beaches

Free beach wheelchairs

Russell-Fields City Pier lends beach wheelchairs free of charge. Fill out a form and leave a valid ID with the attendant at the pier ticket office. Beach Access 56, on the west side of the ticket office, has an accessible ramp down to the sand. (City of Panama City Beach)

Camp Helen State Park, on the west edge of Panama City Beach, keeps a beach wheelchair at the visitor center and has an accessible ramp and pier. At St. Andrews State Park, manual beach wheelchairs are available at the ranger station, and Mobi-Mats on the sand let powered wheelchairs roll out onto the beach. (Visit Panama City Beach)

Chairs are first come, first served, so call ahead in busy weeks.

Mobility mats and ADA accesses

• Beach Access 22, Edward F. Hickey Jr. Park (Surf Drive, west of Bonita Street): Bay County's ADA beach access, with accessible parking, an accessible ramp and more than 100 feet of mobility mat from the sand to the shoreline. (Visit Panama City Beach)
• Beach Access 16 (end of Choctaw Street, off Surf Drive): boardwalk with handrails and beach mobility matting. (Bay County)
• M.B. Miller County Pier (12213 Front Beach Road): beach access with mobility mats. (Bay County)

Bay County's beach access list shows which accesses have mats.

Before you go

Mats can be moved or rolled up during sea turtle nesting season or after storms, so check with the City or County before you head out.

Always check the beach warning flags at your nearest beach access before entering the water.