Accessibility

 

The Access Pass

Did you know you may qualify for the person's with disabilities FREE lifetime Access Pass? This pass provides access to hundreds of federal recreational areas across the country. It provides access for the cardholder and any others in their vehicle into Canaveral National Seashore.
 

Accessibility Page Options

You may choose any of the following links if there is something specific you are looking for.  Otherwise, continue scrolling down the page to see all of the content in long form that is located on the links.
 
 
A beach boardwalk ramp leading to the beach. Saw palmettos line the sides of the ramp.

NPS/Photo

Apollo Beach

Parking Areas one through five provide wheelchair accessible entry onto the beach and accessible parking spaces are located at the front of each ramp. The ramps are flush with the parking lot and range from flat to having slight incline leading to the beach. Once at the top of the ramp there will be a platform to stop and enjoy the sea breeze where an informational interpretive sign may be present. There may be a slight decline leading to the sand, but some ramps traverse if the dunes are tall.

 
 
The Apollo Beach Visitor Center
The front of the Apollo Visitor Center.

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The Apollo Beach Visitor Center


The Apollo Visitor Center is located at Apollo Beach. Upon entering there are interpretive displays, a gift shop, and a large auditorium for enjoying the park video that is closed captioned. The entire building is accessible by wheelchair as well as the pavilion and the dock behind the visitor center.
 
 
Beach Wheelchair at Apollo Beach

NPS/Photo Makayla Barlow

Apollo Beach Wheelchair

At the Apollo Beach Visitor Center, a beach wheelchair is available to be checked out at the visitor center. It may be checked out for a period of two hours use at the beach access ramp located across the street from the visitor center.

Apollo Visitor Center contact information: 7611 S. Atlantic Ave, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32796. Call to check its availability, (386) 428-3384 extention zero.

Playalinda Beach does not currently have a beach wheelchair.






 

Turtle Mound


Turtle Mound is one of the most significant archeological sites on the east coast of Florida. The mound is a treasure trove of artifacts, history and culture. It is composed primarily of oyster shells. Upon entering Apollo Beach the Turtle Mound parking area is approximately one half of a miles drive into the park on the right hand side of the road.

The boardwalk leads from the parking area to the top of the mound. Stay on the path if you intend to reach the top of the mound. Once at the top three stopping points provide access to the north, south and west sides of the mound.
 
 
Castle Windy Trail Head

Castle Windy Trail


Castle Windy Trail is a walking trail located at Apollo Beach parking area three. Park at beach parking area three and the trail is directly across the street. It leads across the barrier island ending at the Castle Windy archeological site located at the edge of the Mosquito lagoon.

The path is nature ground path with some rooty spots. It can be navigated with a cane but a wheelchair would need all-terrain wheels. The ground is packed with a slight incline with the peaks at the middle of the trail. Take this path in the winter time to reduce the chance for mosquitoes.
 
Accessibility to Seminole Rest

Seminole Rest


There is a loop trail leading around the Seminole Rest Historic Site which is wheelchair accessible. It is approximately half a mile in length. A large portion of the path is a cement sidewalk, while the remainder is a wooden walkway that traverses across the top of the mound. This wooden portion has small inclines and declines while traversing fourteen feet of Timucua shell mound. The paved portion is relatively flat with one small incline as it encircles the base of the mound. There is one railing next to the first interpretive sign along the path. The rest of the path does not have railings. There are five benches to rest on placed strategically around the path near each of the informational interpretive signs.

There is a dock located about halfway though the trail. The first half is a fixed piling dock with wooden railings. The second half includes a ramp that leads down to a floating dock that does not have railings.

Located at the top of the mound are two historic homes. When the Seminole Rest main home is open it is accessible to enter the first floor. Please call the Apollo Visitor Center to check if the house is open before your visit at this phone number (386) 428-3384 extension zero.
 
 
Rocket launch from Playalinda parking area number one.
Atlas V rocket launch from Playalinda Beach boardwalk number one.

NPS/Photo Anthony Peritore

Playalinda Beach


Playalinda Beach is located at the southern end of Canaveral National Seashore just a stones throw away from the northern most rocket launch pads of Kennedy Space Center. There are vistas, which are vehicle pull offs to view the freshwater ponds and the rocket launch pads 39A and 39B.

For beach access there are thirteen beach parking areas where all have accessibility parking spots located at the entrance of the beach access ramps. The first five beach ramps traverse a tall dune. Once you travel as far as parking area number eight, the beach dune is flat allowing for much easier beach access.
 
Beach Access Boardwalk Ramp Playalinda
This ramp is located in Playalinda Beach traversing a tall portion of the dune at one of the first five parking areas.

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This is a service pony that took a tour of Seminole Rest.

Service Animals

Service animals are allowed in all facilities and on all trails unless an area has been closed by the superintendent to protect park resources.

Definition of Service Animal

NPS policy regarding service animals mirrors guidelines established by the Department of Justice. A service animal is defined as any animal that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.

Animals that are not trained to perform tasks that mitigate the effects of a disability, including animals that are used purely to provide comfort or emotional support ("therapy animals"), are considered pets. Pets are subject to the park's pet regulations and are not allowed on trails or boardwalks.

Things to Know

Where domestic animals and wildlife overlap there is a possibility of exchanging diseases between the two groups. Domestic dogs can introduce disease into wildlife habitats and the park's canids (coyotes and foxes) are vulnerable to domestic diseases such as canine distemper, parvo virus, rabies, mange,etc. Likewise it is possible for domestic dogs to acquire these diseases from wild animals.

To further prevent the spread of disease:

  • Service animals must always be leashed or harnessed on a 6 foot lead, under control, and attended at all times.
  • Food and food containers must never be left unattended and must be kept out of reach of wildlife.
  • Service animal fecal matter must be picked up and disposed of properly. Fecal matter should be disposed of in a trash receptacle, toilet, pit toilet.
 
 

Blind & Partially Sighted

Apollo Beach Audio Tour


Apollo Beach has many exciting places to emplore. Listen to the following audio excerpts about the natural and hisitorical places to visit at Canaveral National Seashore. Enjoy your listening experience.
 
 
 
 
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Duration:
5 minutes, 45 seconds

Explore Seminole Rest Historic Site's history and why it is preserved today. We hope that you enjoy your tour.

Last updated: March 28, 2023

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

Canaveral National Seashore, Headquarters
212 S. Washington Ave.

Titusville, FL 32796

Phone:

386 428-3384 x0

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