California is made for exploration—by everyone. Whether you’re watching waves roll in along the San Diego coast or admiring alpine views in Shasta Cascade, the Golden State offers adventure for travelers of all abilities.
California also leads the way in accessibility, with some of the strongest disability rights protections in the country. Federal guarantees through the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mandate that hotels provide accessible entrances, public areas, restrooms, and a certain number of ADA-compliant guest rooms.
The California Building Code adds even more requirements for features such as ramps, signage, and parking. Plus, the Unruh Civil Rights Act, established in 1959, ensures full and equal accommodations in all business establishments.
For more room to move, many wheelchair users can opt for extended-stay hotel chains including Extended Stay America, Residence Inn by Marriott, and Homewood Suites by Hilton, which typically offer larger rooms.
From San Francisco to Palm Springs and beyond, you’ll find hotels that not only meet the standards but exceed them. These 10 properties—from luxury resorts to wine country hideaways—offer exceptional comfort and design for travelers using wheelchairs or other mobility aids.
Tallman Hotel, Upper Lake
Once a busy Lake County stagecoach stop, the Tallman Hotel is a lovingly restored 19th-century inn, offering Old West charm with modern comfort. The ground floor Farmhouse Suite, for example, was built with full wheelchair accessibility in mind. Located just 35 feet from an ADA parking space, it offers luxury linens and charming antique furnishings alongside widened doorways, lowered coat hangers, an accessible desk, and a roll-under sink.
Throughout the property, guests will find accessible routes to the hotel’s public spaces, including the wraparound verandas and the on-site Blue Wing Saloon. Located just off Highway 20, the Tallman offers a serene, inclusive base for exploring Clear Lake wineries, birdwatching at the nearby wetlands, and boating on California’s largest freshwater lake.
Cavallo Point, Sausalito
Located near the Golden Gate Bridge’s northern end in the serene 75,000-acre Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Cavallo Point delivers all of the relaxation and romance of a secluded retreat within easy reach of downtown San Francisco.
The resort has a wide selection of ADA-compliant rooms so you can find one that suits your style. Choose from a contemporary king room with sleek bamboo furnishings, a two-bedroom historic suite featuring period details, and more. The hotel has reserved accessible parking, too.
Plus, the hotel’s onsite farm-to-table Farley Bar, its award-winning Cooking School, and the Zen-like Healing Arts Center and Spa (which has a meditation pool with lift access) are all ADA-accessible.
Tenaya at Yosemite, Fish Camp
Just two miles from the south entrance of Yosemite National Park, Tenaya at Yosemite in Fish Camp has welcomed nature-loving adventurers for more than 30 years. The resort also has a strong tradition of inviting guests of different abilities to experience the wonder of this stunning national park.
Choose from ADA-compliant cabins with a spacious layout and roll-in shower, or lodge rooms with lowered features and grab bars. Unwind in the hot tub, indoor pool, or outdoor pool—all with chair lifts. Tenaya also offers tours of Yosemite aboard a lift-equipped bus, and has rental wheelchairs to take into the park if you prefer to explore on your own.
Everline Resort & Spa, Lake Tahoe
Everline Resort & Spa is a four-season alpine escape cradled by the stunningly scenic Olympic Valley in North Lake Tahoe.
The resort welcomes guests in wheelchairs with ADA-compliant guest rooms featuring wide entryways, roll-in showers, and lowered amenities for ease of use. Take in the mountain views from the year-round heated pool and hot tub—both equipped with chair lifts—or enjoy a warm stone massage or lavender body polish treatment in the spa.
If you’re up for some outdoor exploration, a concierge can help you choose from paved hikes like the Truckee River Bike Path and the Dennis T. Machida Memorial Greenway.
River Terrace Inn, Napa
Located in the town of Napa, this 106-room inn provides a convenient base for exploring wine country, and nearly every corner of the property is fully accessible for those in wheelchairs. Its ADA guest rooms feature grab bars above the marble bathtubs, as well as lower closet rods, portable shower seats, and raised vanities.
Overlooking the Napa River, the hotel is just a few feet from the paved riverside pathway that leads to Oxbow Public Market, CIA at Copia, and the Napa Valley Wine Train depot. Service animals are always welcome, of course, and the hotel can provide a loaner dog bed and bowl during visits, as well as biscuits and a wine bottle–shaped toy for a small fee.
Hotel Californian, Santa Barbara
Tucked between Santa Barbara’s West Beach and the buzzy Funk Zone, Hotel Californian blends Moorish-inspired architecture with laid-back luxury. The property is home to several ADA-compliant rooms, thoughtfully designed with features like roll-in showers, grab bars, and lowered beds.
The onsite Majorelle Spa has a Moroccan sensibility with soothing steam rooms (widened door frames for wheelchair access), an aromatherapy bar, and customizable treatments. Enjoy coastal cuisine at Blackbird or saddle up to the Djinn Library Bar to sip on a glass of local wine—the northern section of the bar can be lowered to suit different guests’ needs.
Beverly Wilshire, Los Angeles
Right at the foot of Rodeo Drive, the Beverly Wilshire is pure Hollywood glamour. The legendary Four Seasons hotel, whose fame grew after its appearance in Pretty Woman, offers a range of ADA-compliant accommodations.
Impeccable service starts with check-in: Registration can take place wherever you feel most comfortable—no need to travel to the desk. Rooms such as the 950-square-foot Corner Beverly Suite are equipped with roll-in marble showers and raised vanities.
Guests can enjoy Sasanian caviar and Jidori chicken at THE Blvd or dig into a dry-aged ribeye at CUT by Wolfgang Puck. Both restaurants are wheelchair accessible, as are the glitzy rooftop pool and full-service spa.
Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa, Indian Wells
Framed by the stunning Santa Rosa Mountains, the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa spans 23 acres of lush, Mediterranean-inspired grounds. The gardens, waterfalls, and serene lakes deliver a blissful desert oasis in Coachella Valley.
Guest rooms with mobility features (think both transfer and roll-in showers) are available as either single rooms or executive suites. Easily access Spa Esmeralda to explore the Renew Recovery Lounge, offering state-of-the-art wellness therapies including advanced sleep recovery treatments, designed to promote a restful slumber.
The entire property is dog-friendly, too, ensuring that any service animal feels just as welcome as their human.
Pendry Newport Beach
The Pendry Newport Beach, which opened its doors in 2023, is one of the newest luxury hotels in Orange County. Situated next to sugar sand beaches, the Art Deco-meets-California-cool hotel has a number of ADA Garden King rooms. Floor-to-ceiling windows make it easy to enjoy the palm-tree dotted view, and many bathrooms have roll-in showers.
Reserve a cabana to sip on a hibiscus margarita and soak in the sun at the glitzy—and fully accessible—courtyard pool. Later, you can drop any kids off at The Paintbox, the Pendry chain’s signature kids club, and head to the spa for a hydrating facial or deep tissue massage.
Paradise Point, San Diego
With a full mile of uninterrupted beach access on the shores of San Diego's Mission Bay, Paradise Point feels like a secluded coastal escape in the heart of a big city. Set on its own 44-acre island, this hideaway blends bungalow-style accommodations with tropical landscaping, winding lagoons, and firepits scattered along the sand.
Mobility-friendly rooms are available in multiple configurations and are designed with features like roll-in showers. Accessible routes, meanwhile, make it easy to get from your room to the resort’s five swimming pools and three onsite restaurants, all with waterfront views. Roll through the gardens on a self-guided botanical tour of tropical flowers and tranquil lagoons, or ask the concierge to book you an accessible boat tour.