A day at the Jersey Shore should be something everyone can enjoy.

Many New Jersey beach towns now offer accessibility features such as ramps, mobility mats, accessible boardwalk entrances, ADA restrooms and specially designed beach or surf wheelchairs. These services can make it easier for people with disabilities, older adults and visitors with limited mobility to reach the sand and, in some locations, enter the water.

Here are 10 accessible beaches along the Jersey Shore, plus important planning tips for a smoother beach day.

Accessibility equipment, beach-mat locations and reservation procedures may change during the season. Call the town or beach patrol before traveling.

Asbury Park offers accessible entrances and adaptive WaterWheels chairs designed to travel across the sand and enter the water with assistance.

WaterWheels are available in two-hour reservation periods during the regular guarded beach season. Two caregivers are required to assist with each chair. Reservations can be made through the City of Asbury Park.

Best for: Visitors who want an accessible beach day paired with boardwalk restaurants, shopping and entertainment.

Before going: Ask which beach entrance is closest to the chair pickup area and whether beach mats are in place that day.

Avon-by-the-Sea provides ramps and beach-access mats at several entrances, along with surf chairs that help visitors travel across the sand.

Accessible restrooms are available near key beachfront locations, including the Avon Pavilion area.

Best for: Visitors looking for a smaller, quieter beach community.

Before going: Contact the borough or beach patrol to confirm current surf-chair availability and the easiest accessible entrance.

Long Branch offers accessible ramps, beach mats and beach wheelchairs at selected oceanfront locations.

The Pier Village area also provides a relatively compact destination where visitors can combine a beach outing with oceanfront dining and shopping.

Best for: Visitors who want resort amenities and restaurants close to the beach.

Before going: Contact the Long Branch Beach Patrol at 732-571-5697 to ask about chairs, pickup locations and accessible entrances.

Island Beach State Park offers a more natural Shore experience, with accessible facilities available in selected areas.

The Fisherman’s Walkway provides an accessible route through the dunes toward the ocean, and an accessible pavilion includes restrooms, showers and a food concession. Beach wheelchairs may be available seasonally, and mobile beach mats are installed at beach entrances in the accessible area.

Best for: Nature lovers and visitors seeking a less commercial beach environment.

Before going: Contact the park at 732-793-0506 to confirm wheelchair availability, parking procedures and operating conditions.

Avalon provides accessible beach entrances and mobility mats at several locations. Free surf chairs have traditionally been available from designated beachfront stations.

Best for: Families and visitors who prefer a calm Seven Mile Island beach town.

Before going: Call 609-967-7587 to confirm current chair locations, reservation procedures and beach-tag policies for visitors with disabilities.

Cape May maintains ADA-compliant beach mats and provides beach wheelchairs along the beachfront.

The city has added 12 beach wheelchairs, generally available between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Special arrangements can be requested through Cape May Beach Patrol headquarters at 609-884-9520.

Beach tags are required for visitors ages 12 and older, including those using the accessible beach mats, unless another exemption applies.

Best for: Visitors who want to combine an accessible beach day with Victorian architecture, restaurants and shopping.

Before going: Ask which entrance has the longest mat and whether a chair can be reserved for your preferred time.

Ocean City offers one of the Jersey Shore’s most extensive beach-accessibility programs.

Features include beach mats, accessible boardwalk entrances, accessible restrooms, shaded boardwalk pavilions and beach-accessible surf chairs. All listed public boardwalk and beach restrooms are accessible.

Surf chairs are available seasonally from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Reservations are recommended, and chairs are distributed from designated lifeguard stations.

Reservations: Call 609-554-0352.

Best for: Families, grandparents and visitors who want boardwalk attractions near an accessible beach.

Sea Isle City provides accessible entrances, beach mats and surf chairs at several beachfront locations, including the JFK Boulevard area. VisitNJ identifies JFK Boulevard as an ADA-accessible route to both the beach and promenade.

Best for: Families looking for a walkable beach town with restaurants and a promenade.

Before going: Call 609-263-0050 to confirm chair availability and the closest accessible entrance.

Atlantic City’s famous boardwalk is accessible, and beach mats are available at many entrances to help visitors cross the sand.

Free surf chairs may be available through the Atlantic City Beach Patrol.

Best for: Visitors who want a beach day combined with casinos, restaurants, shopping and indoor entertainment.

Before going: Call Beach Patrol District 7 at 609-347-5307 to ask about reservations and chair pickup.

Margate offers accessible beach entrances, accessible restrooms and surf chairs through the beach patrol.

Assistance may also be available for transporting visitors across the dune area to the beach.

Best for: Visitors seeking a quieter alternative close to Atlantic City.

Before going: Call the Margate Beach Patrol at 609-823-7948 for surf-chair information. For questions about dune transportation, call 609-517-5245.

Beach wheelchairs and surf chairs are limited and may be distributed by reservation or on a first-come, first-served basis. Reserve several days ahead when possible, especially for summer weekends.

A beach wheelchair helps passengers travel over sand. A surf chair or floating WaterWheels chair may also enter shallow water, usually with assistance. Not every location provides both types.

Some beach mats stop near the dune line, while others extend farther toward the water. The distance can also change because of tides, storms and beach conditions.

Beach patrol personnel may provide the chair but may not be permitted to push, transfer or accompany the passenger. Ask whether caregivers are required and how many people are needed.

Accessible entrances and equipment do not necessarily mean admission is free. Beach-tag policies vary by town, and some communities offer disability-related exemptions while others do not.

Ask for the nearest accessible parking space, curb cut, restroom and equipment pickup point. A beach town may be broadly accessible while still requiring a considerable trip from the parking area to the sand.

From adaptive WaterWheels in Asbury Park to extensive beach-mat and surf-chair programs in Ocean City and Cape May, New Jersey communities are working to make the Shore easier to enjoy for visitors of all abilities. VisitNJ maintains an additional statewide resource for beaches with ramps, mobility mats and beach wheelchairs.

A little advance planning is still essential. Confirm the current services directly, reserve equipment and ask exactly where to park and enter. That can make the difference between a difficult outing and a relaxing day beside the ocean.