Things to do in a Wheelchair: Atlanta Edition shares accessible attractions, trails, and activities to enjoy around the city. Discover unexpected experiences, outdoor areas to explore, and more!
What you’ll find in this post:
- Wheelchair accessible things to do in Atlanta, Georgia
- Paved Atlanta trails to explore the outdoors in a wheelchair
- Fun things to do with a child in a wheelchair
- Wheelchair rental: Atlanta attractions and venues that offer wheelchairs for guests
Wheelchair Accessible Atlanta Attractions & Experiences
1. Take a Food or History Tour with Unexpected Atlanta
Join our guided Atlanta tours for an accessible, educational experience!
For instance, try the the Grant Park food tour and taste 8 dishes at 3 local food stops. The tour covers 1.2 miles, including a peek at Historic Oakland Cemetery. Additionally, share dietary restrictions in advance and our restaurant partners can adjust the tasting to your needs.
Or, opt for the King Historic District tour. On this tour, learn about the people and places that inspired Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. See the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church as well as Dr. and Mrs. King’s memorials.
Let us know ahead of time if you will be using a wheelchair. Because these experiences include some city sidewalks, your tour guide can help you with a few small curbs along the way.
Make it a full day and explore other downtown Atlanta sites after your tour. Accessible nearby attractions include Centennial Olympic Park, Georgia Aquarium (see below), Zoo Atlanta, the CNN Center, and World of Coca-Cola. Browse more Atlanta tours here, and check with venues for their accessibility protocols and accomodations.
2. Discover Dinosaurs at Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Explore science, history, dinosaurs, and more at this museum in the Druid Hills area. All experiences at Fernbank Museum and their outdoor WildWoods experience are ADA accessible. Furthermore, Fernbank offers a limited number of wheelchairs available for free rental.
Fernbank also offers all-gender, private restrooms on its upper level. Additionally, you can find nursing and feeding stations on the upper level.
3. Catch a Show at The Fox Theatre
Seeing a show at The Fox is a classic Atlanta experience. The Fox offers a variety of accessible seating options, concessions, and more. For example, a limited number of aisle seats on the orchestra level have removable sides for guests with limited mobility. Be sure to request accessible seats or other accessibility needs when you book tickets by phone.
Additionally, The Fox offers wheelchair loans on a first-come, first-served basis. Find more accessibility information on The Fox’s website, including directions to accessible parking.
The Fox also offers seats near the front of the theatre for guests with limited vision or hearing loss. Furthermore, The Fox offers assisted listening devices, sign language interpreted performances on certain days, and closed captioning services upon request.
4. Soar Above Atlanta in the SkyView Ferris Wheel
Soar above the city and see amazing views of the Atlanta skyline. Located in downtown Atlanta, this ferris wheel is a fun experience for tourists and locals alike.
SkyView has 2 standard gondolas that allow for wheelchair access. Additionally, this activity is located nearby other attractions on this list. For instance, pair this activity with our MLK, Jr. Atlanta tour or a visit to the Georgia Aquarium.
5. Enjoy Fun for All Ages at the Center for Puppetry Arts
This Midtown Atlanta cultural gem holds the world’s largest collection of Jim Henson puppets, costumes, and props. It’s also an accessible experience for people who use a wheelchair.
Additionally, the Center occasionally hosts Sensory Friendly Sundays. On these days, guests on the Autism spectrum and guests with sensory sensitivities can enjoy an extra welcoming environment. Puppetry performances and activities are operated with reduced sound, adjusted lighting, and more space to explore and play.
Finally, on Sensory Friendly Sundays, the Center offers special supplies upon request. These include fidget toys, social stories, sound-reducing headphones, light-reducing sunglasses, coloring supplies, and puppets to play with.
6. Visit Krog Street Market
Located just off the paved Atlanta Beltline Eastside Trail, Krog Street Market is a fun spot for Atlanta foodies to explore. Travel and Leisure called this “one of the world’s best food halls.”
Krog’s environment includes a chic industrial feel with concrete floors, brick walls, and 20-foot ceilings with exposed steel trusses. An on-site lot and across-the-street deck make parking easy.
Inside the market, food options include 16 food and drink vendors serving up a variety of cuisines. Soul food, dumplings, craft beer, Indian food, juices, pho, Mexican, pastries, pizza – you’ll find it all here! Plus, Krog’s wheelchair friendly open environment and communal seating make getting around easy, especially on less-crowded weekdays.
7. See Ocean Critters Up-Close at Georgia Aquarium
The Georgia Aquarium is an especially welcoming attraction, according to blogger and wheelchair user Curb Free with Cory Lee.
First, wheelchairs are available for free rental on a first-come, first-served basis with a picture ID. In the aquarium’s parking deck, you’ll find accessible parking on levels 2-5. Additionally, parking for oversized vehicles is on level 1.
Once you’re inside aquarium, you’ll find accessible touch pool experiences throughout the space. You’ll also see wheelchair emblems on the floor at designated exhibits for unblocked viewing access. The Georgia Aquarium also offers services for guests with limited vision, hearing loss, and guests on the Autism spectrum. Explore more than 11 million gallons of mesmerizing ocean critters!
Finally, a note for participating in a Snorkel or SCUBA Dive Encounter. Georgia Aquarium’s entire Dive Immersion Team is certified by the Handicapped Scuba Association as either Divemasters or Instructors.
8. Eat at “Restaurant Row” in Downtown Atlanta
If you’re exploring downtown, check out some recommended accessible restaurants in the area. Wheelchair Traveling recommends both Der Biergarten and Max’s Coal Fire Pizza.
Der Biergarten offers elevator access into the restaurant (brief phone call required for access). Wheelchair Traveling recommends this spot as a “must visit” due to the quality of the food and experience. Additionally, Max’s Coal Fire Pizza is an accessible spot in the area with no stairs and concrete floors for easy navigating.
Outdoor Atlanta Experiences Accessible in a Wheelchair
9. Visit the Chattahoochee Nature Center
Visit the Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell to see interactive exhibits, live animal habitats, and a paved nature trail.
The half-mile River Boardwalk Trail is a self-guided experience that allows you to read information about the habitats along the river. This experience is best for non-rainy days, as the boardwalk can get slippery during wet weather. For more fun, explore Georgia’s Living Wetlands Garden on the property. This spot is home to more than 200 species of native plants.
Additionally, the Chattahoochee Nature Center offers a limited number of wheelchairs and strollers for visitors to check out free of charge.
10. Ride Along the Paved Atlanta Beltline
The Beltline is a public project that aims to connect dozens of Atlanta neighborhoods through paved trails, greenspace, and more.
A popular section of the Beltline is the 3-mile paved Eastside trail, connecting Atlanta’s Reynoldstown and Midtown neighborhoods. Bear in mind, this section of the trail tends to get crowded on weekends. The trail ends in Piedmont Park, a beloved Atlanta spot with paved trails and more than 180 acres of greenspace.
For a more solitary, quiet experience, check out the other Beltline trails. For example, the Northside Trail is a picturesque 1-mile paved trail that runs adjacent to the Bobby Jones Golf Course.
Additionally, the Westside Trail offers 3 miles of paved path, stitching together some of Atlanta’s most historic neighoborhoods.
11. Explore 60+ Miles on The Silver Comet Trail
The Silver Comet Trail is a 61.5-mile-long paved trail. In fact, this non motorized trail runs from Smyrna all the way to the Georgia-Alabama state line! As a result, this trail is a great spot to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature in a wheelchair.
Feeling more adventurous? The end of the Silver Comet Trail connects to the paved Chief Ladiga Trail in Alabama, for another 33 miles of exploring through nature.
12. Take in Lake Views at Lenora Park
This scenic Snellville park has a 1.5-mile paved trail that you can enjoy in a wheelchair. Also, you’ll find 8 designated accessible parking spots with striped access aisles for vans.
On the park’s paved trail, you can take in beautiful views of the lake. There are benches and picnic tables along the route to rest or enjoy a snack. Additionally, Lenora Park offers a gymnasium, fishing, a playground, picnic pavilions, and more.
More Resources for Exploring Atlanta in a Wheelchair
Looking for additional ideas? Here are some great resources for finding more accessible things to do in Atlanta and throughout the state of Georgia.
- Curb Free with Cory Lee: Top 10 Wheelchair Accessible Things to Do in Georgia
- Accessible Nature: Georgia Guide
- Georgia Department of Natural Resources: Accessible Amenities in Georgia
- Spin the Globe: 12 Wheelchair Accessible Family Friendly Things to Do in Atlanta
- MARTA public transportation Mobility Guide
We wish you well as you explore, eat, and adventure your way through Atlanta!
