How to Have a Fun Wheelchair Accessible Getaway in Pensacola, Florida

As someone that lives in the southeastern U.S., I frequent the beautiful beaches of Florida several times per year usually. I’ve had wonderful experiences in Clearwater, Key West, and Panama City Beach to name a few, but one of my favorites is Pensacola, Florida. I have been to Pensacola numerous times and every time I visit, I love it even more than the previous time. Not only does Pensacola have some of the prettiest accessible beaches in the world, it also has so many incredible attractions and wheelchair accessible things to do aside from the beaches. No matter what your interests or abilities are, you’re sure to have a fun getaway in Pensacola! 

I recently spent a few days exploring the best of Pensacola, Florida as a wheelchair user and I discovered a plethora of amazing things to do! From relaxing on the beach to shopping downtown and trying new-to-me restaurants, I had a memorable trip and I already cannot wait to be back in Pensacola to enjoy even more of it. If you’re looking for wheelchair accessible Pensacola Florida attractions, places to eat, or where to stay, I’ve written about it all below. Here’s your accessible guide to all of the fun in Pensacola –

Wheelchair Accessible Pensacola Florida Attractions & Things to Do

Spend a day at Gulf Islands National Seashore

As I previously said, I have visited Pensacola, Florida multiple times in the past, but I had never explored Gulf Islands National Seashore until this most recent trip. And WOW, I have apparently really been missing out because this place is awesome. My mom and I spent about half a day exploring here. Whether you want to unwind on an accessible beach or wander around a historic fort, you can do it all at Gulf Islands National Seashore, which is located just a short fifteen minute drive or so from all of the action in Pensacola Beach.

Check out the video below to see some of the best wheelchair accessible things to do at Gulf Islands National Seashore!

While Pensacola does have several places to enjoy wheelchair accessible beaches, Langdon Beach is one of the best and it is just past the entrance of Gulf Islands National Seashore. Langdon Beach has a Mobi-Mat (also known as a beach access mat), so I was able to remain in my powered wheelchair and go on the beach. However, if you’d like to venture closer to the water, complimentary manual beach wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis from the Campground Office near the beach. As you come into the Gulf Islands National Seashore from Pensacola Beach, the Campground Office will be on your right and Langdon Beach will be on your left. 

Other accessibility features at Langdon Beach include accessible picnic tables and accessible restrooms. This would be a great place to spend the day and since this beach isn’t in the main part of Pensacola Beach, I’ve heard that it doesn’t get as crowded as other beaches, which is nice. When I visited (in mid-March), there were only a couple other people at Langdon Beach.

The most visited area of Gulf Islands National Seashore is undoubtedly Fort Pickens. This fort was built to defend Pensacola and the Pensacola Navy Yard and Depot from foreign attacks in the nineteenth century. Construction of the fort was completed in 1834, but it still remains today as a vital piece of Pensacola’s history. 

I can’t talk about Fort Pickens without mentioning that it was largely built by enslaved people. It’s a terrible part of its history, but the interpretive signs throughout Fort Pickens do a good job of explaining the real truth of Fort Pickens’ harsh history. I was glad to see that they told the true side of history, even though it isn’t pretty. 

I was also tremendously impressed with the wheelchair accessibility of Fort Pickens. There were paved paths throughout the fort, so I was able to easily access most sections of it. Wheelchair accessible parking spaces were near the entrance of the fort as well. 

Right beside Fort Pickens is the Discovery Center, which was the last wheelchair accessible Pensacola Florida attraction that I visited at Gulf Islands National Seashore. The Discovery Center is a museum that further explains the history of Fort Pickens, but it also explains the area as a whole with a focus on how to best care for the ocean and the animals that live in it. 

The Discovery Center is a smaller museum, but was completely accessible and had some interesting exhibits that I enjoyed seeing. Depending on when you visit, you may be able to attend a special event here as well. On the day that I visited, there was a book reading and discussion with an author that wrote about Fort Pickens.

To access everything that Gulf Islands National Seashore offers, you can use a National Parks Access Pass for free entry. Be sure to get an Access Pass before your trip online here or you can also get one in-person at no cost once you arrive to Gulf Islands National Seashore. The Access Pass will grant you free entry to national parks around the country, so it’s definitely worth getting… and it’s free to get, so no excuses! 

Take in the views from Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier

For the best views in Pensacola Beach, be sure to visit the Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier. This pier is over 1,400 feet long and is the perfect place to take in the views as a wheelchair user. 

I was able to roll to the end of the pier in my powered wheelchair, but it was quite bumpy. The pier is made of wood and since it’s older, it’s worn out and pretty rough to roll on, but the views are certainly worth it. I could see the beach, marinelife in the water below, and it was fun to see what the many fishermen and women were catching. 

If you would like to fish from this pier, no fishing license is required. You can also rent bait, fishing rods, and more at the Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier. Or if you just need a space to relax and sit down, there are many benches along the pier. 

Unwind on Casino Beach 

Right by the Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier is Casino Beach. This is a public beach and one of the most wheelchair accessible beaches in the Pensacola area. 

I was so happy to see a Mobi-Mat at Casino Beach and it was really smooth to roll on. I sat at the end of the Mobi-Mat in my powered wheelchair for a while and just took in the gorgeous scenery. I could see the ocean, the many beach goers, and the long pier from this spot. There’s truly nothing better than feeling the ocean breeze and this was a wonderful spot to enjoy it. 

If you’d like a powered beach wheelchair that can roll on the sand though, check out Access Mobility of Pensacola. This locally-owned company has motorized beach wheelchairs available for rent and the chairs are awesome! I’ve used them during multiple trips to Pensacola and they’re always a lot of fun. 

Experience Historic Pensacola’s many attractions

If you’re a history buff and want to learn all about Pensacola, Florida’s fascinating past, you should definitely consider visiting Historic Pensacola. Located downtown, you can experience a variety of attractions in Historic Pensacola. 

When you buy a ticket to Historic Pensacola (just $12), you will get access to the Historic Pensacola Village, which is a living history museum, but you also get access to the Pensacola Museum of Art, the Pensacola Museum of History, the Pensacola Children’s Museum, and more. It’s really mind blowing that you can do all of those museums and attractions for that low of a price! 

All of the museums are wheelchair accessible, but some of the buildings in the Historic Village aren’t. However, there is enough that is accessible that you could stay busy for a full day with the Historic Pensacola ticket! I spent about three hours enjoying the many Historic Pensacola attractions and even within that amount of time, I couldn’t see everything. 

If you have a limited amount of time, I’d highly recommend visiting at least the Pensacola Museum of History and the Museum of Commerce, as they were my personal favorites and where I spent most of my time. In the Museum of Commerce, you can experience a recreated 1890s streetscape and feel like you’ve gone back in time. And then, the Pensacola Museum of History has so many interesting permanent exhibits and depending on when you visit, there may be a great temporary exhibit as well. 

All of Historic Pensacola’s museums and attractions are open Tuesday-Saturday from 10am until 4pm. Some museums (The Pensacola Museum of History, the Pensacola Children’s Museum, and the Pensacola Museum of Art) are open on Sunday as well, but only from 12pm-4pm.

Shop and have fun along Palafox Street

As I previously mentioned, I’ve been to Pensacola, Florida several times in the past, but I had never explored downtown Pensacola until my most recent trip. It turns out that downtown Pensacola, and specifically Palafox Street, is the place to be! It’s such a fun and lively downtown area and there is a lot to do on Palafox as a wheelchair user. 

Palafox Street has dozens of shops and restaurants worth exploring. Some of my favorite shops/eateries were Bodacious (I loved trying all of the different olive oils here, but they also have a coffee shop!), Bubba’s Sweet Spot (lots of yummy candy and ice cream!), and Peterbrooke Chocolatier (even more yummy candy!). 

The whole downtown area is very rollable with smooth curb cuts and nice sidewalks. And all of the shops that I saw were wheelchair accessible, so I was able to have a great time rolling along Palafox Street and popping into stores every now and then. 

If you’ll be in Pensacola, be sure to take some time away from the beach and explore downtown. I promise you’ll love it and it’ll be a nice respite from soaking up the sun for a while. After seeing how much downtown Pensacola has to offer, I’m just mad that I didn’t take time to explore this area sooner! 

Where to Eat in Pensacola

The Grand Marlin

Every time I visit Pensacola, The Grand Marlin is one of my must-visits for a spectacular dinner! It’s one of the area’s best restaurants for numerous reasons. The Grand Marlin is wheelchair accessible and has an elevator to get up to the dining area, which has amazing views of the water, and the food is absolutely delicious. Some of my favorite dishes include the crispy lobster fingers appetizer and the grouper piccata entree. You really can’t go wrong with any of the seafood choices here because it’s all so fresh! I would highly recommend getting a reservation at The Grand Marlin before you arrive, as it is extremely popular and usually crowded. 

The Fish House

My meal at The Fish House, located in downtown Pensacola, was too good not to tell you about! We started with the “Soul Rolls” for an appetizer and they are spring rolls stuffed with roasted chicken & collard greens. They serve them with peach chutney and it is phenomenal! Then, for my entree, I had The Fish House’s signature dish, “Grits à Ya Ya”, which is spiced gulf jumbo shrimp topped with sautéed spinach, portobello mushrooms, applewood smoked bacon, garlic, shallots, and cream over a bed of smoked Gouda cheese grits. Without a doubt, it was THE BEST shrimp & grits I’ve ever had… and I’m not exaggerating at all. I am already looking forward to visiting Pensacola again just so that I can eat that again. If you’re in Pensacola, do yourself a favor and eat at The Fish House!

Water Pig BBQ

If you’re in the mood for some delicious barbecue (and who isn’t?!) in Pensacola Beach, look no further than Water Pig BBQ. They have open-air seating and all of their meats are smoked daily. I enjoyed a chopped brisket sandwich with macaroni & cheese and slaw on the side. Everything was delicious! As someone that loves barbecue and eats it frequently, I am a bit of a tough critic when it comes to barbecue, but I can fully say that Water Pig BBQ is fantastic! This will definitely be a new go-to spot for me in Pensacola Beach. 

Where to Stay: Margaritaville Beach Hotel

While in Pensacola, Florida, I stayed at the Margaritaville Beach Hotel! I am a big fan of all things Margaritaville, so I love this hotel. I’ve actually stayed in this hotel several times and it’s always great. 

For this most recent trip, I stayed in a wheelchair accessible room with two beds. There was plenty of clearance underneath them for a hoyer lift/hoist. My room had a beautiful view of the ocean. There was also a mini fridge, a desk, and there was plenty of space to maneuver within the room. Unfortunately, the balcony was not wheelchair accessible, as it had a step to get onto it, but I still enjoyed the ocean view. 

In the bathroom, there was a pull-under sink, grab bars, and a roll-in shower with smooth entry. The bathroom really couldn’t have been any better for my accessibility needs. 

The Margaritaville Beach Hotel also has an on-site restaurant called Frank & Lola Love Pensacola Cafe and a beach bar/restaurant called LandShark Landing. There was a zero-entry pool and an accessible route to the beach, but you would need to rent a beach wheelchair to use. 

The Margaritaville Beach Hotel is definitely worth considering for any trip to wheelchair accessible Pensacola Florida! Learn more about accessibility at the Margaritaville Beach Hotel in my full article all about it here.

Pensacola, Florida is one of my favorite beach destinations and after my recent trip, I’m even more in love with this special place. There is so much to do in Pensacola and you’re sure to have a great trip as a wheelchair user. Now, start planning your own wheelchair accessible Pensacola Florida getaway and enjoy the ocean breeze in your hair, the sun on your skin, and all of the excitement that the destination has to offer. 

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*Thank you to Visit Pensacola for working with me on this trip and showing me the best of wheelchair accessible Pensacola Florida! While my experiences were complimentary, all opinions expressed are authentic and my own.

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