Finding the right vacation rental can take time and effort, especially if you’re looking for specific types of properties — like those that meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Thankfully, many companies offer search filters that make finding accessible properties easier.

Let’s take a look at how to find wheelchair-accessible vacation rentals.

Finding wheelchair-accessible vacation rentals by platform

Traveling with a wheelchair can add requirements to your search for accommodations, such as a ramp, a step-free shower or wider doorways. So, how do you know if the rental you’re looking at has what you need?

Let’s take a look at how to perform these types of searches with Airbnb, Vacasa and Vrbo.

Airbnb Adapted rentals

As a massive home-sharing platform, Airbnb has robust search functions to find properties that’ll meet your needs. At the end of 2022, Airbnb created an entire category of stays called “Adapted,” which displays homes that are verifiably accessible.

To be eligible, properties must have step-free access in at least one bedroom and bathroom, plus at least one additional bathroom adaptation. Examples include a shower grab bar, toilet grab bar, step-free shower, or shower or bath chair.

To find these listings, head to Airbnb.com. To look for a specific location or date, input your destination, travel dates and number of guests in the search bar at the top. Airbnb will present you with your search results, including a dynamic map and photos of eligible listings.

Then, use the Filters button on the right-hand side of the page to find ADA-compliant vacation rentals.

In the pop-up window, scroll down to Accessibility Features, which shows you a variety of options. Although there is no way to specify wheelchair-accessible vacation rentals with a roll-in shower, you can search for options such as a shower chair or step-free access.

If you’re flexible on location, you might consider finding your next stay with Airbnb’s category functionality, which displays a broad array of listings that all have something in common — in this case, accessibility. The tool is useful if you want to browse a variety of locations, rather than starting your search with a predetermined destination.

Adapted homes are verified wheelchair-friendly properties. Airbnb uses 3D imaging to confirm homes claiming to be accessible truly meet these mobility criteria. The scan even produces a floor plan so guests can see the exact layout of the listing, as well as detailed photos with exact measurements of door frames.

Vacasa wheelchair-accessible rentals

Vacasa is another vacation rental platform, with properties in North America, Belize and Costa Rica. To find a wheelchair-accessible vacation rental, head to Vacasa's homepage.

From there, enter your travel information, including your destination and dates of travel. As with Airbnb, you’ll be presented with search results that include a map and eligible listings. In the center of the page, you’ll find the Filters tab.