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Jens Theß

Where can you borrow a free beach wheelchair in San Diego?

4 min read Checked October 6, 2026

At lifeguard stations around the county. The City lends manual and power beach chairs free at Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, La Jolla Shores, Ocean Beach and Mission Bay; Coronado, Imperial Beach, Del Mar and Oceanside have them too.

Cost
Free

Everywhere listed

City program
Mar–Dec

9 locations, (619) 525-8247

Reserve ahead
Imperial Beach

Power chairs, (619) 685-7972

New in 2025
Freedom Trax

Mission Beach lifeguard station

The short version

  • The City of San Diego's Therapeutic Recreation Services lends manual and power beach wheelchairs free from March through December at nine locations, including Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, La Jolla Shores and Ocean Beach.
  • Since June 2025, the Mission Beach lifeguard station also lends Freedom Trax, a motorized attachment for your own wheelchair, and portable Access Trax mats.
  • Coronado lends manual chairs from its main lifeguard tower, 8 a.m. to sunset, first come, first served, with a photo ID.
  • Imperial Beach has two power beach chairs you reserve in two-hour blocks.
  • Del Mar, Torrey Pines, Oceanside, San Elijo and South Carlsbad state beaches also have chairs, and Moonlight Beach in Encinitas has floating chairs.

Regular wheelchairs sink in sand. Beach wheelchairs have wide balloon tires that roll over it, and some even float. San Diego has more of them than most people realize, almost all free. The catch is that most are first come, first served, so a quick call first saves a wasted trip.

Where to borrow a beach wheelchair
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Leaflet © OpenStreetMap contributors

City of San Diego

Other cities

Mission Beach pin from OpenStreetMap; others approximate. Programs and phone numbers from the City of San Diego, Coastal Commission, Coronado and Imperial Beach, checked October 6, 2026.

How to borrow one

  1. 01

    Call ahead

    Confirm a chair is available. City program: (619) 525-8247. Mission Beach station: (619) 980-1876.

  2. 02

    Bring ID

    Most locations ask for a photo ID and a signed release.

  3. 03

    Reserve power chairs where you can

    Imperial Beach's two power chairs are booked in two-hour blocks; bring your own cushion. There's a 250-pound limit.

  4. 04

    Ask about mats

    Imperial Beach, Moonlight Beach and Cardiff State Beach (summer) have roll-out mats that reach toward the water.

SOURCES

Everything above traces back to one of these. Follow them — if one has changed and we haven't, that's our mistake, not yours.

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