A wheelchair-accessible road trip heavily depends on the planning stage. This guide helps you make the right choices, from selecting a chair suited for travel to loading it properly, finding truly accessible rooms, and planning where to stop for a rest during your journey.
Choose a Mobility Device That Travels Well
Your everyday chair might not be the best road trip chair. The Jazzy Air 2 power wheelchair, for example, is 202 lbs and does not fold. A chair like that only comes along if your vehicle has a lift or a ramp.
Folding and portable models are designed for the trunk. The Jazzy Ultra Light power wheelchair has a carbon fiber frame and weighs a very light 33 lb. without the battery. The Pride Victory LX Sport scooter is easy to disassemble, but the heaviest part still weighs 77 pounds. If one companion will be lifting all the pieces, go through our travel power wheelchairs and folding mobility scooters and compare the heaviest piece number first.
Rated range is a best-case figure. The Jazzy Air 2 is rated for up to 20 miles per charge and the Victory LX Sport for 19.7 miles. When you plan a sightseeing day, expect about two-thirds of the rated capacity because hills, rough pavement, extra cargo, and cold mornings drain the battery faster.
Charge each night, even if it's a short day. Place the charger in the cabin, not under luggage. Keep a spare charger for extended trips longer than a week. Older downtown streets are hard on batteries, too; read our article on how power wheelchairs handle curbs and uneven sidewalks to learn what your mobility device is capable of.
Decide How Your Device Rides in the Vehicle
No need to lift a vehicle yourself when there’s a vehicle lift. We stock inside, outside and truck lifts, all of which are designed for a different vehicle.
|
Lift Type |
Where the Device Rides |
Works Best for |
Trade-Off |
|
Inside lift |
Cargo area of an SUV, minivan or van |
Keeping the device dry and out of sight |
Uses cargo space and sometimes a seat |
|
Outside (hitch) lift |
Platform on a rear hitch |
Sedans and smaller SUVs |
Device is exposed to rain and road spray |
|
Truck lift |
Pickup bed |
Pickup owners |
Takes bed space; device is exposed to weather |
Your mobility device is exposed for hours on the highway with outside and truck lifts. A fitted cover for a power chair or scooter protects the seat and controller. Our guide on whether you can use an electric wheelchair in the rain explains how much moisture these electronics can handle.
If You Ride Seated in Your Wheelchair
Whenever possible, use the vehicle’s seat. The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on Wheelchair Transportation Safety points out that vehicle seats and belts are crash-tested. Most wheelchairs that don't meet the WC19 standard are not strong enough to withstand crash forces.
If you need to stay in your chair, a WC19-compliant frame with four crash-tested securement points will keep you safer. Use a crash-tested 4-point tie-down or docking system to secure it forward, then buckle the vehicle's lap and shoulder belts. The positioning belt that comes with your wheelchair isn't a substitute because most positioning belts haven't been crash-tested.
Book Accessible Hotel Rooms the Right Way
Here's a place where the ADA really gives you leverage. Their Accessible Lodging factsheet states that hotels must provide accessible rooms exactly like other customers. They also need to provide a sufficient description so you can determine if the room is suitable for you. They must hold the room for you until all other rooms of that type have been sold. They must also block the specific room you reserve.
A website listing still leaves gaps, so call the hotel two days before you arrive. Double-check if it's still under your name and ask:
- What type of shower is provided (roll-in or tub with transfer bench)?
- What is the height of the bed, and will there be space below for the patient lift?
- Are there any outlets near the bed for overnight charging?
- Does the paved path from accessible parking to the room have a step-free path?
Know your chair's size before calling. This guide to ADA wheelchair width clearance requirements covers the 32-inch door opening and the 60-inch turning radius, and you can compare those requirements with your own device.
Plan Parking and Park Entry Along Your Route
Make sure your home-state placard travels with you. The Federal regulation 23 CFR 1235.8 requires each state to accept disability placards and plates issued by other states and countries.
Local details still differ. A Congressional Research Service report found that even if they honor out-of-state placards, states might have rules that visitors aren't aware of. Before parking, look at the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) website for each state you'll go through.
Planning on visiting national parks? The Interagency Access Pass is a free, lifetime pass for U.S. citizens and permanent residents with permanent disability. At per-vehicle sites, it allows you and the passengers of your (non-commercial) vehicle to enter.
Protect Your Skin on Long Drives
Sitting pressure points build up hour after hour, mile after mile. The University Health Network's spinal cord rehab program recommends rotating your body every 15 minutes and holding each shift for 1-2 minutes. The Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center recommends that if your chair has power tilt, it should be no more than 15 degrees.
Plan to stop every 100 miles to have a rest and stretch a bit. Spend some time in the car seat on your pressure cushion, too, and replace it once it has flattened. Our comparison of tilt vs recline power wheelchairs shows you which is better for relieving pressure during long trips.
Conclusion
Most road trip issues come down to a late decision, so make the big ones early: a device you can load, a lift that fits your vehicle, rooms confirmed by phone, and stops spaced for your battery and your skin. If you are still choosing mobility equipment, call 1-800-677-6293, and our team will help you match a chair and lift to your vehicle and route.
