Beach wheelchair use and safety
Because of the large balloon tires on beach wheelchairs, you can't use them on your own—instead, you'll need to bring a companion with you. Your companion needs to be in physical and mental condition to push you in the beach wheelchair and maintain control of it, and to provide transfer assistance if you need it. You and your companion are responsible for knowing your own capabilities and limitations and for using the chair safely. You and your companion are also responsible for storing your personal mobility devices while you are using the beach wheelchair. Please note that DCR staff can't physically assist you with transferring into or out of the chair or push the chair for you.
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. If you are travelling up or down a ramp or another incline, move in a straight line instead of diagonally.
To keep yourself secure in the chair, wear the seatbelt or harness whenever you are moving. Sand and sunbathing beach wheelchairs have a parking brake to use when you are stopped to keep the chair from rolling. Floating beach wheelchairs don’t have a parking brake, so your companion should always stay nearby to secure the chair.
Each type of beach wheelchair has weight limit for the user. The weight limit for sand and sunbathing beach wheelchairs is 275 pounds. The weight limit for floating beach wheelchairs is 300 pounds. Please respect the weight limit of the chairs. Only one person is allowed on a beach wheelchair at a time. You should only sit on the seat, never on the arms or the handles of the chair.
You can use beach wheelchairs during good weather and calm conditions, on leveled areas of the beach without rocks or debris. You can’t use the chairs on steep areas of the beach, like dunes, or uneven surfaces, like rocks. If there are cobblestones or other natural marine debris at the tideline, you may not be able get up to the edge of the water in your beach wheelchair.
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.
You will need to bring a U.S. Coast Guard certified lifejacket to the beach and wear it while you are floating in a beach wheelchair. Floating beach wheelchairs can float in the water in gentle, calm conditions when lifeguards are on duty. Please be sure to stay in range of the lifeguards while floating in your chair and follow their directions. Floating beach wheelchairs can’t go into the water in dangerous or rough water conditions, like waves, rip currents, and undertow. When floating in a beach wheelchair, your companion will need to stay with you to control the chair while you are in the water. Floating beach wheelchairs will stay upright in calm water if you are sitting in the chair securely, but if you rock or jump in the chair or if it is tipped, the chair can flip over.
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 your companion pushes the chair with the 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! Please keep your seatbelt fastened while using the chair and set the parking brake when you stop. Most models of sand beach wheelchairs have a movable arm for easy transfers into the chair.
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. You sit in a reclined position in this chair, with your legs out in front of you. These chairs are made of aluminum with three wheels. The front wheel swivels to make turning easier. Your companion can pull your floating beach wheelchair using a strap in the front, or by pushing a handle on the back. The chair back is adjustable to three angles 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 sand and can't take them into the water.
When floating in a beach wheelchair, your companion will need to stay with you to control the chair 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. You will need to bring a U.S. Coast Guard certified lifejacket to the beach and wear it while you are floating in a beach wheelchair. Please be sure to stay in range of the lifeguards while floating in your chair.
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 | 2 | 2 | Talk to lifeguards at the beach. Chairs are kept at McCormack Bathhouse at 165 William J Day Blvd. |
| Constitution Beach Park, Beach | E. Boston | 1 | 1 | Talk to lifeguards at the beach. |
| Blue Hills Reservation, Houghton’s Pond | Milton | 2 | 1 | Talk to lifeguards at the beach. |
| Mystic Lakes State Park, 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. |
| Wollaston Beach, Quincy Shores Reservation | 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. |
| Spectacle Island, Beach | Boston Harbor | 1 | 0 | Talk to staff at Visitor Center. Beach is unguarded. |
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 or contact Salisbury Beach State Reservation. |
| Walden Pond State Reservation, Beach | Concord | 2 | 2 | Pathway to beach is steep. Talk to lifeguards at the beach or 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. |
| 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 | 2 | 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. |
| 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 | 1 | 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 | 2 | 1 | Talk to lifeguards at the beach. |
| Rutland State Park, Whitehall Pond | Rutland | 0 | 1 | Talk to lifeguards at the 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, 661.53 KB, DCR Beach Wheelchair Locations (English, DOCX 661.53 KB)
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| Date published: | September 15, 2022 |
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| Last updated: | February 10, 2026 |