Beach wheelchair use and safety
You can use beach wheelchairs on gentle, sandy areas without rocks or debris when weather and beach conditions are good. If there are cobblestones or other obstacles at the tideline, you may not be able get to the edge of the water in your beach wheelchair. Waterfront supervisors and beach staff will tell you which areas of the beach have good conditions to use the chair. Please follow all directions and requests from DCR staff while using a beach wheelchair.
An adult must be responsible for the beach wheelchair at all times. Please avoid sharp turns and be mindful of your surroundings and ability to control the wheelchair. We recommend always wearing the seat belt or harness while you are in a beach wheelchair. We also recommend that you use the parking brake on a sunbathing beach wheelchair whenever you are stopped. Floating beach wheelchairs do not have parking brakes, so you should always have a companion nearby to control the chair.
When using a floating beach wheelchair, you will need to bring an able-bodied person with you to stay close for help and supervision while you are in the water. Floating beach wheelchairs will stay upright in calm water if you are sitting in the chair securely. If you rock or jump in the chair or if it is tipped, the chair can flip over. The manufacturer states that you should wear a life jacket while in the water. We recommend that you bring a U.S. Coast Guard certified lifejacket to the beach and wear it while you are floating in a beach wheelchair.
Sand and sunbathing beach wheelchairs
Sunbathing beach wheelchairs can get you out on the sand to enjoy the beach.
Sand and sunbathing beach wheelchairs are made of PVC pipe and have a cushioned seat and four fixed wheels. You sit upright in a sand beach wheelchair, while a companion pushes the chair with a handle at the back. All sand and sunbathing beach wheelchairs have a seat belt, a footrest, a parking brake, and a beach umbrella holder: bring your own umbrella if you'd like some shade! We recommend that you keep your seatbelt fastened while using the chair and set the parking brake when you stop. Some models of sand beach wheelchairs have a movable arm for transfers or mesh bag in back to stow your gear.
Sunbathing beach wheelchairs can go across the sand, but you can't take them into the water because the chair can tip over. If you want to go into the water, you'll need to use a floating beach wheelchair.
The weight limit for people using sand and sunbathing beach wheelchairs is 275 pounds.
Sunbathing beach wheelchair measurements
- Seat width: 21 inches
- Seat depth: 21 inches
- Seat height: 22 or 25 inches
- Seat back height: 18 inches
- Push bar height: 41 inches
- Footrest height: 6 inches
- Footrest to seat: 17 inches
- Overall width: 35 inches
- Overall length: 42 inches
- Minimum turning radius: 8 feet
- Chair weight: 100 or 160 pounds
- User weight limit: 275 pounds
Floating beach wheelchairs
Floating beach wheelchairs have three wheels, back and leg support, and floats under the arm rests.
Floating beach wheelchairs let you go into the water and float in calm conditions. These chairs are made of aluminum with three wheels. The front wheel swivels to make turning easier. Your companion can push your floating beach wheelchair using a handle on the back and tow the chair using a strap in the front. You sit in a reclined position in this chair, with your legs out in front of you. The chair back is adjustable and is high enough to give you head support. Floating beach wheelchairs have a chest harness and a strap for your legs. The weight limit for people using floating beach wheelchairs is 300 pounds.
Floating chairs can only be used at guarded waterfronts and can only go into the water in good weather and water conditions. At some beaches with strong currents, you can only use floating chairs on the beach and can't take them into the water. We recommend that you bring a U.S. Coast Guard certified lifejacket to the beach and wear it while you are floating in the beach wheelchair. You will need to bring an able-bodied person with you to stay close and give help and supervision while you are in the water. An adult needs to be responsible for the chair at all times.
Floating beach wheelchair measurements (approximate)
- Seat width: 18 inches
- Seat depth: 17 inches
- Seat height: 17 inches
- Back Height: 36 inches
- Push bar height: 38 inches
- Footrest/leg rest height:13 inches to 18 inches
- Overall width: 38 inches at tires, 42 inches at floats
- Overall length 60 inches
- Minimum turning radius: 9 feet
- Chair weight: 66 pounds
- User weight limit: 300 pounds
Boston metro area beach wheelchair locations
| Location | Community | Sand Chairs | Floating Chairs | How to get a beach wheelchair |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carson Beach, Beach | South Boston | 3 | 2 | Talk to lifeguards at the beach. Chairs are kept at McCormack Bathhouse at 165 William J Day Blvd. |
| Connors Memorial Pool, Pool | Waltham | 0 | 1 | Talk to lifeguards or staff at the pool. |
| Constitution Beach Park, Beach | E. Boston | 1 | 1 | Talk to lifeguards at the beach. |
| Blue Hills Reservation, Houghton’s Pond | Milton | 1 | 1 | Talk to lifeguards at the beach. |
| Mystic River State Reservation, Shannon Beach | Medford | 1 | 1 | Talk to lifeguards at the beach. |
| Nahant Beach Reservation, Beach | Lynn | 1 | 3 | Talk to lifeguards. Chairs are kept at the halfway house near access point 8. |
| Nantasket Beach Reservation, Beach | Hull | 3 | 4 | Talk to lifeguards at the beach. Chairs are kept in the Mary Jeanette Murray Bathhouse at 220 Nantasket Avenue and the David Cook Bathhouse at 200 Hull Shore Drive. |
| Pleasure Bay, Beach | South Boston | 1 | 1 | Talk to lifeguards at the beach. Chairs are kept at Devine Memorial Rink, 995 Morrissey Blvd. |
| Quincy Shores Reservation, Wollaston Beach | Quincy | 1 | 1 | Talk to lifeguards at the beach. Chairs are kept at Brett Bathhouse, 749 Quincy Shore Drive. |
| Revere Beach Reservation, Beach | Revere | 2 | 2 | Talk to lifeguards at the beach. Chairs are kept at Shirley Ave Bathhouse, 350 Revere Beach Blvd, near access points 5 and 6. |
North region beach wheelchair locations
| Location | Community | Sand Chairs | Floating Chairs | How to get a beach wheelchair |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bradley Palmer State Park, Wading Pool | Topsfield | 1 | 0 | Talk to waterfront staff at the contact station at the wading pool. |
| Breakheart Reservation, John A. Pierce Lake | Saugus | 0 | 1 | Talk to lifeguards at the beach. |
| Harold Parker State Forest, Berry Pond Day Use Beach | N. Andover | 2 | 0 | Beach is unguarded. Talk to park staff at headquarters or the campground contact station. |
| Salisbury Beach State Reservation, Beach | Salisbury | 9 | 1* | Talk to park staff at the contact station or lifeguards at the beach. |
| Sandy Point State Reservation, Beach | Ipswich | 1 | 0 | Beach is unguarded. Talk to park staff. |
| Walden Pond State Reservation, Beach | Concord | 2 | 0 | Beach is unguarded. Talk to park staff at the visitor center. |
South region beach wheelchair locations
| Location | Community | Sand Chairs | Floating Chairs | How to get a beach wheelchair |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connell Memorial Pool, Pool | Weymouth | 1 | 0 | Talk to lifeguards or staff at the pool. |
| Demarest Lloyd State Park, Beach | S. Dartmouth | 1 | 0 | Beach is unguarded. Talk to park staff. |
| Fort Phoenix State Reservation, Beach | Fairhaven | 0 | 2 | Talk to lifeguards at the beach. |
| Horseneck Beach State Reservation, Main Beach | Westport | 5 | 0 | Talk to park staff at contact station or call (508) 636-8816 in advance. |
| Blue Hills Reservation, Houghton’s Pond | Milton | 2 | 1 | Talk to lifeguards at the beach. |
| Massasoit State Park Campers Beach | E. Taunton | 1 | 0 | Beach is unguarded and for campers only. Talk to park staff at the contact station or call (508) 822-7405. |
| Myles Standish State Forest, College Pond | Carver | 1 | 0 | Beach is unguarded. Talk to park staff at the headquarters or call (508) 866-2526 |
| Nickerson State Park, Beaches | Brewster | 1 | 0 | Beaches are unguarded. Talk to park staff at the contact station. |
| Scusset Beach State Reservation, Beach | Sandwich | 4 | 2 | Talk to lifeguards at the beach or park staff at the contact station or headquarters. |
| South Cape Beach State Park, Beach | Mashpee | 1 | 0 | Beach is unguarded. Talk to park staff. |
| Spectacle Island, Beach | Boston Harbor | 1 | 0 | Beach is unguarded. Talk to park staff at the visitor center. |
| Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve | East Falmouth | 1 | 0 | Talk to park staff at the visitor center. (No public access to waterfront: access only for research and education purposes and active shellfishers with licenses.) |
| Watson Pond State Park, Beach | Taunton | 1 | 0 | Beach is unguarded. Talk to park staff at the comfort station. |
Central region beach wheelchair locations
| Location | Community | Sand Chairs | Floating Chairs | How to get a beach wheelchair |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland State Park, Beach | Ashland | 1 | 0 | Beach is unguarded. Talk to park staff at the comfort station. |
| Cochituate State Park, Beach | Natick | 1 | 0 | Beach is unguarded. Talk to park staff or boat rental office staff. |
| Douglas State Forest, Wallum Lake Beach | Douglas | 1 | 2 | Talk to lifeguards at the beach. |
| Dunn State Park, Dunn Pond Beach | Gardner | 0 | 1 | Talk to lifeguards at the beach or park staff at the visitor center. |
| Erving State Forest, Laurel Lake Beach | Erving | 1 | 1 | Talk to lifeguards at the beach. |
| Hopkinton State Park, Beaches | Hopkinton | 2 | 1 | Talk to lifeguards at Lower/Main Beach or Upper Beach. |
| Lake Dennison Recreation Area, Day Use Beach | Winchendon | 1 | 2 | Talk to lifeguards at the day use beach. |
| Lake Wyola State Park, Beach | Shutesbury | 1 | 1 | Talk to lifeguards at the beach. |
| Quinsigamond State Park, Regatta Point Beach | Worcester | 1 | 1 | Talk to lifeguards at Regatta Point Beach. |
West region beach wheelchair locations
| Location | Community | Sand Chairs | Floating Chairs | How to get a beach wheelchair |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beartown State Forest, Benedict Pond Beach | Monterey | 1 | 0 | Beach is unguarded. Talk to park staff at headquarters or call (413) 528-0904 in advance. |
| Chicopee Memorial State Park, Beach | Chicopee | 1 | 1 | Talk to lifeguards at the beach. |
| DAR State Forest, Day Use Beach | Goshen | 1 | 1 | Talk to lifeguards at the day use beach. |
| Hampton Ponds State Park, Beaches | Westfield | 2 | 2 | Talk to lifeguards at Kinglsey Beach or Lambert Beach. |
Additional Resources
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Open DOCX file, 698.2 KB, DCR Beach Wheelchair Locations (English, DOCX 698.2 KB)
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| Date published: | September 15, 2022 |
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| Last updated: | June 5, 2025 |