Travel

These coastal cities provide wheelchairs for beachgoers in the Grand Strand

Mary Gainey is led up the beach by volunteers after a successful surf session at the “Wheel to Surf” Adaptive Surfing Clinic in North Myrtle Beach on Saturday. Forty participants with mental and physical disabilities took to the water with help from over 100 volunteers. “Today is a life changing experience for most of us,” said Brock Johnson, founder of “Wheel to Surf.” The clinic was hosted with support from Coastal Adaptive Sports, Ocean-Cure, and the Adaptive Sports Project.
Mary Gainey is led up the beach by volunteers after a successful surf session at the “Wheel to Surf” Adaptive Surfing Clinic in North Myrtle Beach on Saturday. Forty participants with mental and physical disabilities took to the water with help from over 100 volunteers. “Today is a life changing experience for most of us,” said Brock Johnson, founder of “Wheel to Surf.” The clinic was hosted with support from Coastal Adaptive Sports, Ocean-Cure, and the Adaptive Sports Project. J.LEE jlee@thesunnews

Some coastal cities in the Grand Strand allow beachgoers to borrow wheelchairs made specifically for traveling through the sand.

In North Myrtle Beach, guests can borrow wheelchairs for free. They are equipped with large balloon tires for beach use and are available Monday through Friday at the Beach Services Warehouse, according to the city’s website. The wheelchairs can be used up to a week at a time. Call 843-280-5684 for reservations.

Beachgoers can use the delivery and pickup services for $25 each time during the summer.

Surfside Beach offers free wheelchairs to in-town visitors, according to the chamber’s website. Call 843- 913-6368 or visit the Surfside Beach Public Safety Department at 811 Pine Drive to get one.

Garden City also allows guests to reserve beach wheelchairs. Contact rental service at 843-381-8000 or email beachwheelchair@horrycounty.org. Reservations must be made two days in advance, the chamber’s website stated.

Beach access points

North Myrtle Beach

  • Main Street

  • Sea Mountain Highway

  • 4th Avenue North

  • 6th Avenue South
  • 9th Avenue South

  • 15th Avenue South

  • 17th Avenue South

  • 21st Avenue South

  • 27th Avenue South

  • 39th Avenue South
  • 46th Avenue South

Surfside Beach

  • 3rd Avenue North
  • Surfside Drive (near Surfside Pier)
  • Melody Lane

There are also companies that rent beach wheelchairs in Myrtle Beach.

  • Wheelchairs and Scooters on Celebrity Circle is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day. Call 843-446-8723 for more information about reservations, according to the company’s website.
  • Mobility Center of the Grand Strand on North Kings Highway is open weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For weekend delivery, customers must make reservations before 4:45 p.m. on Fridays, according to the company’s website. Call 843-692-8001 for more information.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly listed options from the city of Myrtle Beach. The city no longer provides beach wheelchairs to locals and visitors.

This story was originally published July 16, 2022 at 5:00 AM.

MB
Maya Brown
The Sun News
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