Accessible Camping: A Complete Guide for Wheelchairs, Casts, and Everything In Between
Updated: Oct 7
Every so often a message lands in my inbox that stops me mid-scroll. It usually goes something like this: "Squatch, I use a wheelchair. Can I actually camp?"
Short answer: yes. Longer answer: it takes more planning than a typical trip, and anybody who tells you it's "no big deal" hasn't done the homework. So I did the homework. A lot of it. This is the guide I wish I could hand to every one of those messages.
A few honest things up front. I'm an RV guy, not a doctor, an occupational therapist, or a lawyer. You know your body and your equipment better than I ever will, and nothing here replaces advice from your medical team. What I can do is dig up the facts, tell you where I've seen RVs fall short, and help you ask sharper questions than the average first-timer (which, if you've read my posts on my own camping mistakes, is a low bar and I clear it with a running start).
I also wrote this to cover a wide range on purpose: a broken ankle in a boot, a cane or walker, a part-time manual chair, a full-time power chair, and everything in between. Skip to the section that fits you. Nothing about you needs fixing. The campsite is the thing that needs to meet you.
Accessible Camping Isn't One Thing (and That's the Point)
"Accessible" means something different depending on who's asking. Here's how I think about it:
Where you are | The usual hurdles | A good place to start |
Cast, boot, or crutches (temporary) | RV steps, uneven ground, the walk to the bathhouse | A site close to the bathhouse, a portable step with a handrail, and a short first trip |
Cane, walker, or limited stamina | Distances, steps, long days on your feet | Short route from parking to bathroom, seating everywhere, a site with power for fans or heat |
Manual wheelchair | Firm ground, route width, door width, bathroom turning space | A designated accessible site (paved or firm pad, accessible table) and a real ramp or lift into the RV |
Power chair or scooter | Weight, charging, lift/ramp access, heat and battery strain | Sites with electric hookups, a ramp or lift you trust, and a written backup power plan |
Medical equipment (CPAP, oxygen, refrigerated meds) | Reliable power all night | Shore power, backup batteries, and a plan approved by your doctor or equipment supplier |
Other needs count too: low vision, hearing loss, cognitive or sensory needs, service animals. Those change the checklist (visual smoke alarms, clear paths, quiet sites), and I'll touch on a few below. Service animals are generally welcome even where pets aren't, but confirm with the campground before you book.
What "Accessible" Should Actually Mean at a Campground
Here's the frustrating part: a campground can put the word "accessible" on a listing and mean almost anything. There's no single yardstick every campground follows.
The closest thing to a benchmark is the federal outdoor accessibility standards from the U.S. Access Board. They apply to federally managed sites (National Park Service, Forest Service, Army Corps of Engineers, and so on) that are newly built or altered. Here's what they call for, in plain English:
Firm and stable ground at the picnic table, fire ring, and grill. That means the surface doesn't sink or shift under a wheelchair.
A gentle slope, generally no steeper than 1:48 (about a 2% grade) in the clear space around those features. Non-paved surfaces can go up to 1:20 where needed for drainage.
At least 36 inches of clear space along the usable sides of a picnic table, with a table designed so a wheelchair can pull up to it.
Routes at least 36 inches wide, with 60 inches needed for two people in mobility devices to pass each other.
State parks and private campgrounds may follow different rules, and I'm not a lawyer, so treat this as a yardstick and not legal advice. The takeaway: don't assume. Ask. Gravel that looks fine to a truck tire can swallow a front caster wheel whole.
And don't forget the bathhouse. It's half the trip. You want a paved or firm route from your site, a door wide enough for your chair, roll-in shower access, grab bars, and a place to sit.
The Phone Call That Makes Accessible Camping Work
Online listings only tell you so much. A five-minute call to the campground (or the ranger office) tells you the rest. Here's what to ask:
What's the surface of the pad and the route to the bathhouse: paved, packed, gravel, or grass?
How level is the site? Is there room to deploy a ramp or lift on the door side?
How far is the route from the site to the bathhouse, and is it firm the whole way?
Does the bathhouse have a roll-in shower, grab bars, a bench, and a door that fits my chair?
Is there a picnic table I can pull up to, and can I reach the fire ring, water spigot, and electric pedestal?
What electric hookups does the site have, and which side of the site is the pedestal on?
Is there any construction, closure, or seasonal change that affects the accessible sites?
What proof of disability do you need at check-in? (Some parks can cancel a reservation if you can't show it, so bring it.)
Two more tricks. First, search the campground's Google Maps reviews for words like "wheelchair" and "ramp," and look through the user photos. People post the real story there. Second, many booking sites have an accessibility filter, but accessible sites are limited, so book as far ahead as you can.
Saving Money: The Access Pass and Tennessee State Parks
Accessible camping shouldn't cost more, and a couple of great programs make it cheaper. Both change over time, so verify before you go.
The federal Access Pass. This is a free, lifetime pass for U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a permanent disability (it doesn't have to be a 100% disability). It covers entry to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites, and at many of them it takes 50% off camping and similar fees. You'll need documentation, such as a statement from a licensed physician or paperwork from an agency like the VA or Social Security. It's free if you get it in person at a participating federal site; ordering online or by mail adds a small processing fee. The Tennessee Valley Authority may honor it for camping discounts too, which matters around here.
Tennessee State Parks. Disabled campers, whether Tennessee residents or not, get roughly 25% off base camping rates in season and roughly 50% off in the off-season, with proof of eligibility. Premium sites are excluded, and there are rules about whose vehicle is registered, so ask when you book. Every state park with overnight stays has ADA options (campsites and cabins), but the numbers are limited, so call 1-888-867-2757 and specifically request an ADA site when you reserve. Tennessee resident veterans with a 100% service-connected disability can get 50% off, too.
Middle Tennessee Starting Points
A few places worth putting on your list. Call before you go, because sites, construction, and rules change.
Henry Horton State Park (Chapel Hill). The park's own accessibility page lists RV sites 1, 53, and 54 as wheelchair accessible, and says to request them specifically. Site 1 has a paved path across the road to the bathhouse, a fire ring, and a wheelchair-accessible picnic table. The park has mentioned ongoing improvements, so confirm the current situation on the phone.
Old Stone Fort State Park (Manchester). One write-up notes ADA-accessible campsites, a bathhouse, laundry, and a picnic shelter. It also flags a narrow one-way bridge on the way to the campground, so ask about height and weight limits before you bring a big rig.
J. Percy Priest Lake (Army Corps of Engineers). Campgrounds like Anderson Road, Poole Knobs, and Seven Points are close to home. I couldn't confirm which specific sites are ADA-designated, so check Recreation.gov and call the lake office. Access Pass holders can often get half off at Corps campgrounds.
A good test drive: Tennessee State Parks also offers ADA cabins. If you're not sure how a camping trip will feel, a cabin is a low-risk first step before you commit to buying or renting an RV.
Choosing an RV You Can Actually Use
Time for the honest section, because honesty is the whole brand. Most RVs, including most of the ones sitting on any dealer lot, were not designed around a wheelchair. Standard entry doors run about 24 to 28 inches wide, while 32 inches is often cited as the minimum for accessibility. Hallways are tight, bathrooms are small, and controls are mounted at standing height.
That doesn't mean it can't work. It means you shop differently.
Motorhomes. Some manufacturers offer accessible-equipped motorhomes with wheelchair lifts, swivel front seats for easier transfers, lowered dining tables, roll-in showers, and controls mounted at reachable heights. There are also accessible Class B camper vans with powered rear ramps. These are specialty builds and they're priced that way. If you're comparing sizes, my posts on [Class B vs. Class C] and [types of campers] will help you sort the basics first.
Towables. You've got three realistic paths:
Purpose-built or custom-built. A few builders, such as Dune Sport, make wheelchair-accessible trailers and toy haulers with lifts, roll-in showers, and lowered features.
Toy haulers and 5th wheels with rear ramp doors. These can offer a wide entry point, but the ramp angle and the width of the interior still matter. My [5th wheel vs. travel trailer] post covers the basics of each.
A standard towable plus modifications. Lifts, ramps, roll-in showers, and even wider doors can be added by qualified technicians. Widening a door can mean modifying the frame, so get quotes before you buy the RV, not after.
Ramp math. The common accessibility rule of thumb is 1 inch of rise for every 12 inches of ramp length. Measure the height of the RV floor from the ground. Many RV ramp doors are a lot steeper than that, and a steep ramp is a hazard for a manual chair and a real strain on a power chair.
Weight. Lifts, ramps, batteries, and mobility equipment stored in the RV all count against your cargo carrying capacity. Check the yellow sticker on the RV and ask for real numbers. My [towing guides] walk through how to read those weights.
What to measure before you fall in love with a floor plan:
Entry door width and the height of the threshold
Hallway width and turning space (bring your chair, or its exact dimensions, to the dealer)
Bathroom door, toilet clearance, and shower entry
Bed height for transfers
Height of controls, switches, and slide-out buttons
Whether you can reach the table, sink, and fridge from a seated position
Riding and towing. This one is serious: never ride in a travel trailer or 5th wheel while it's moving. It's unsafe and illegal in many states. Wheelchair users should ride in the tow vehicle with proper crash-tested securement, which your mobility equipment dealer can set up. Some wheelchair-accessible vans can still take a factory hitch after conversion, but tow ratings are often modest (one dealer cites 3,500 pounds for certain minivans), so verify with your dealer and your owner's manual. If you drive with hand controls, ask about putting the trailer brake controller within easy reach.
Setup and hookups. Camp setup is part of accessibility. Can you reach the tongue jack, stabilizers, water and sewer connections, and the power cord? Look at electric tongue jacks, automatic leveling, powered stabilizers, and remote controls, and don't be shy about camping with a companion for the first few trips.
Renting first. Some rental platforms list wheelchair-accessible RVs, and some rigs can be delivered and set up at your campsite. Renting is the cheapest way to find out what you actually need. If renting first is the right call, that's the right call. I'll always tell you to try before you buy.
The Temporary Version: Cast, Boot, and Crutches
Breaking something doesn't have to cancel the trip. It just changes the plan. First, get the okay from your doctor and follow your weight-bearing instructions to the letter. Then:
Pick the site for the route, not the view. Level ground, close to the bathhouse, and close to parking beats a lakefront spot that's a hillside hike from the bathroom.
Handle the steps. RV steps are tall, and hopping a tall step on one leg is a good way to make a bad situation worse. A portable step with a handrail, or a second set of hands, is a smarter option. One RVer who lost a leg wrote that the first summer took about 20 minutes and two adults to get up the steps. Eventually it got easy. Give yourself grace.
Swap the crutch tips. Outdoor-friendly tips grip better on wet grass and gravel than the standard rubber ones.
Keep the cast dry and the leg elevated. A camp chair with a footrest, extra blankets, and a cast cover are worth the packing space.
Watch for kids and dogs. They forget about the injury faster than you do. Point your chair so they can't barrel into your cast.
Sleep smart. A taller air mattress or a cot can make getting up much easier, and a bed near the bathroom saves you midnight trips.
Don't overdo it. This is a recovery trip, not a hero trip. Have a plan B (a short drive home) and keep your first trip short.
Power, Medications, and Batteries
For many campers, power isn't a luxury. It's the trip. Ballpark numbers help you plan (check your own device's label for the real figures):
CPAP: roughly 30 to 90 watts, typically 7 to 8 hours a night
Power wheelchair or scooter charger: roughly 200 to 500 watts, typically 6 to 8 hours to fully charge
Medication refrigerator: roughly 100 to 150 watts
Oxygen concentrator: roughly 300 to 600 watts, running continuously
What that means for your trip:
Book a site with electric hookups whenever you can, and ask which side the pedestal is on.
Build a backup plan. Redundancy is the whole game: an RV battery with an inverter, a portable power station, or a generator to recharge them. Test everything at home first, and measure your device's real draw with an inexpensive watt meter.
Plan for at least 72 hours of backup for anything that keeps you mobile or healthy, and follow your doctor's or equipment supplier's outage plan for critical devices.
Mind the temperature. Extreme heat stresses wheelchair batteries as well as people, so plan accordingly.
If you use oxygen, ask your supplier about fire safety around propane appliances, cooking flames, and campfires.
Safety Comes First
I'm dropping the jokes for this part, because this is the section that matters most. RV fires and carbon monoxide are fast, and getting out takes longer for someone with limited mobility. The good news is that planning ahead makes a real difference.
Know your exits, and know how they work. A lot of RVs have only one door, and a window can't be an option for every camper. Ask what happens if a power lift loses power, and whether it has a manual backup.
Sleep near an exit whenever the floor plan allows it.
Practice the escape. Have everyone in the RV run the drill, including how to unlatch doors and egress windows. Check that those exits open easily.
Get the alarms right. Smoke alarms make a huge difference; NFPA data cited by RV manufacturer Thor showed about 20 tragic RV fires without a working smoke alarm versus one with, from 2008 to 2017. Test yours weekly while you're camping, and replace them roughly every ten years. If you're deaf or hard of hearing, use alarms with strobe lights or bed shakers.
Mount your CO alarm about halfway up the wall (roughly five feet), away from cooking appliances and the bathroom.
Keep a small extinguisher reachable from a seated position. An extinguisher is for a small fire with your exit behind you. If in doubt, get out.
Have a severe weather plan. Tennessee storms don't wait. Know how you'll reach shelter and how you'll get alerts.
For the full details, see my posts on [RV fire safety], [carbon monoxide in your RV], [propane safety], [RV severe weather], and the [RV 911 emergency guide].
Squatch Tips
Call before you book. Every time. Five minutes on the phone beats five hours of frustration at the campground.
Bring your paperwork. Proof of disability at check-in can be the difference between keeping your accessible site and losing it.
Pack a "just in case" ramp. A lightweight portable ramp and a portable step earn their space in the storage bay.
Bring a buddy on the first few trips. You don't need help forever, but a second set of hands makes setup faster and safer while you learn the routine.
Reserve the site nearest the bathhouse, not the prettiest site. The pretty site can wait until you know how the trip goes.
Start short. A one- or two-night trip close to home teaches you more than a two-week road trip.
Write your power plan down. Wattage, hours, backup, and who to call. Tape it inside a cabinet door.
Check the weather for your equipment, not just for you. Heat and cold both affect batteries.
Ask for what you need without apology. Campgrounds would much rather answer your questions than fix a bad experience.
Buy last, not first. Rent, borrow, or use a cabin first. If the smartest move is to wait or go smaller, I'll always tell you that.
Print This: Accessible Camping Checklist
Before you book
[ ] Called the campground and asked the questions above
[ ] Confirmed surface, slope, and bathhouse access
[ ] Reserved an ADA site (Tennessee State Parks: 1-888-867-2757)
[ ] Packed proof of disability for check-in
[ ] Applied for the Access Pass (if eligible)
The site
[ ] Firm, level pad with room for a ramp or lift
[ ] Route to the bathhouse is firm and wide enough
[ ] Table, fire ring, and water reachable from a seated position
[ ] Electric pedestal on the door side (if you need power)
The RV or cabin
[ ] Entry door and hallways measured against my chair
[ ] Ramp or lift tested, with a manual backup
[ ] Bathroom, bed height, and controls checked
[ ] Cargo carrying capacity checked with equipment loaded
Power and medical
[ ] Wattage and hours written down for every device
[ ] Backup battery, inverter, or generator tested at home
[ ] 72-hour plan in place, approved by my doctor or supplier
[ ] Medications and spare supplies packed
Safety
[ ] Smoke and CO alarms tested (visual or vibrating if needed)
[ ] Escape plan practiced, including a manual lift backup
[ ] Small extinguisher reachable from a seated position
[ ] Severe weather alerts turned on
Pack
[ ] Portable ramp and step
[ ] Spare batteries and chargers
[ ] Crutch tips or all-terrain wheels for the ground
[ ] Phone, list of contacts, and a copy of this list
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