In Iowa, one of our main priorities is making all visitors feel welcome and free to explore beautiful state no matter their age or abilities. From wheelchair accessible trails and attractions to inclusive playgrounds, Iowa strives to embrace everyone despite our differences.
When You Get Here
Des Moines International Airport
When landing in Des Moines, visitors can find appropriate airport accommodations here and schedule rides through HIRTA, which can make accommodations for accessibility and offers free rides for caregivers. DART offers paratransit and other modifications. Handicap van rentals can also be made through Cummings Mobility or Mobility Works.
Eastern Iowa Airport (Cedar Rapids)
Find the airport's available accommodations here and schedule handicap van rentals through Iowa Mobility.
Statewide Rentals
Lodging
Discover luxurious and accessible lodging options throughout the state. Discover more options here.
Experience an Iowa Great Lakes getaway at Fillenwarth Beach in Okoboji. Their units include a variety of accessible options through portable mobility and communication aids.
Located in the heart of downtown Iowa City, the Graduate Hotel offers an abundance of accessible features in their guest rooms and public spaces, including wheelchair accessible rooms and bathrooms and Braille/large print used throughout the hotel.
Accommodating Adventures
Attractions
Explore Iowa's river history with a barrier-free experience at the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium. The museum offers accessible parking and restrooms, "free to borrow" wheelchairs and assisted listening devices in the 3D/4D theater.
Other accessible museums include Des Moines' Science Center of Iowa, the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, or the National Czech and Slovak Museum & Library in Cedar Rapids.
In Urbandale, Living History Farms takes visitors back through our state's agricultural past. Improved building thresholds, wide doorways, realigned boardwalks, modified ramps and paved or wood-chipped paths ensure all guests can enjoy a unique journey back in time.
Enjoy a breath of fresh air with self-guided tours of the Pappajohn Sculpture Park in Des Moines or the Literary Walk in Iowa City, which features famous authors with ties to Iowa on plaques along the sidewalks.
Find more exciting attractions here.
Outdoors
Iowa's State Parks invite all visitors to explore the natural beauty of our state.
The Lost Lake Trail at Ledges State Park is a designated ADA accessible trail that leads from the parking lot to the lake. It is surfaced in crushed rock and contained five high-quality self-guided interpretive panels.
At Mines of Spain Recreation Area, the John and Alice Butler Trail is paved for about a half mile and overlooks a beautiful prairie and forest. There is also a paved trail leading to the Julien Dubuque monument as well as a paved river walk offering beautiful views of the Mississippi River. Additionally, the old quarry's paved trail allows visitors of all abilities to see the the limestone bluffs and search for fossils.
Big Creek State Park near Des Moines now has Action Trackchairs for visitors to use (for free) when visiting the popular park. They're available on a first-come, first-served in-person basis at the concessionaire building near the park's beach. The chair is specially designed to handle slopes of up to 30 degrees and features a cushioned seat, adjustable reclining backrest and headrest and allows visitors to enjoy the park's beach, grassy areas and pathways.
For more stunning views of the Mississippi, Bellevue State Park features a scenic overlook and trails throughout the community, as well as a paved path through the butterfly garden.
Another great stop is Pikes Peak State Park, where an accessible overlook and boardwalk gives visitors an up-close view of the effigy mounds.
For water recreation, plan a visit to Easter Lake's Athene North Recreation Area, which welcomes visitors of all ages and abilities, including those with limited mobility, sensory input conditions and vision impairments and is one of the most universally accessible parks in the country. The beach has been transformed into an accessible oasis. A zero-entrance ramp into the water makes the beach available to all visitors; the watercraft dock is equipped with a transfer bench system and guide rails; and there’s a separate accessible fishing dock. The park also offers a full inventory of adaptive rental equipment from fishing gear, bikes and trikes to kayaks and paddle boards with tow motors, tandem kayaks, etc. It also features a playscape and splashpad that are wheelchair accessible and include a “We-Go-Round” and “We-Saw,” plus natural barriers to create a cozy nook feel. Wider sidewalks wind throughout the park and allow space for wheelchair, walker or assisted device users to walk side-by-side with their families and caregivers. There’s also adult changing tables and Braille on the park signs, and the concession stand counter is lower to be more inclusive.
For accessible fishing piers, head to Lake Darling State Park, which also features a paved trail system and ADA compliant cabins for rent. Lake MacBride State Park offers an accessible sidewalk along the Causeway for shoreline fishing and an accessible boat rental dock and sidewalk connecting to the sand beach. Green Valley State Park's two ADA fishing piers and paved waling trails offer another great location for accessible outdoor recreation.
To find more Iowa accessible trails, download the All Trails or Trail Link apps.
For a outdoor thrills, head to Cone Park in Sioux City. This thrilling outdoor destination offers family fun all year, from snow tubing, ice skating and skiing/snowboarding in the winter to a splash pad and river tubing in the summer. Call ahead for special accommodations, or participate in their All Abilities Day held each winter.
Accessible Sports
Iowa's community's are embracing a growing dedication to making their sporting experiences more accessible.
As the host of an annual adaptive skiing event and the Special Olympics Iowa Winter Games, Dubuque's Sundown Mountain takes pride in being able to offer winter recreation to people of all abilities. Through hosting such events, the resort has collected adaptive ski equipment along the way and now offers private lessons with certified instructors. The adaptive equipment can suit any skier's needs and includes a Monique Mono Ski and two Bi-Unique Bi Skis, which are sit-skis with a low center of gravity, and an Alpine/Downhill Slide Unique and six Stand-Up Outriggers, which assist stand up skiers with two additional skies and arm support. Simply call the resort and pick a date (must be one week in advance).
The Sioux City Miracle League is the largest park of its kind in the world and is uniquely and exclusively designed to accommodate individuals with disabilities. It features two baseball fields -- the CNOS Field which has a wheel-chair friendly rubber surface, and the Scheels Field, a 200-foot all turf field that welcomes youth sports, travel teams and other community programs and is just as accessible. The park is also home to the all-inclusive Tyson Foods playground, a toddler-friendly playground, buddy swings, a nine-hole mini golf course with adaptive equipment that allows all abilities to swing a club, and two splash pads that cater to all ages.
The following communities also have Miracle League programs and opportunities:
- Des Moines
- Dubuque
- Waukee
- Cedar Valley (Cedar Falls & Waterloo)
Inclusive Playgrounds
The Des Moines metro has a growing number of parks and playgrounds that cater to every outdoor adventurer. This list provides all the need to know information for parents.
Families can also visit:
- Inis Grove Park, Ames,
- Willow Creek Park, Iowa City
- Kiwanis Park, Iowa City
- Greenhill Park, Cedar Falls
- Kiwanis Park, Pella
- Leif Erikson Park, Sioux City
- Dream Playground, Council Bluffs.
