How I Spent a Long Weekend in Scottsdale as a Wheelchair User

I've been to Scottsdale a couple of times before, but this trip felt different. I met up with my friend, Carly, and we were able to try some places the local tourism people recommended. Although we went in November, the weather was in the high 70's and low 80's, so it's a great city to visit during the colder months.

I use a manual wheelchair and brought my Whill scooter attachment, which helped with some of the trails. But overall, Scottsdale is very accessible. I wasn't worried about getting around in my chair, and that doesn't happen very often when visiting another city.

Accessible Things to Do in Scottsdale

Hike the Bajada Nature Trail – McDowell Sonoran Preserve

We went to the Gateway Trailhead to do the Bajada Trail, and it was one of my favorite parts of the trip. A lot of trails are paved in a way where you feel like you're just going down the block, but you get the real experience being out in nature and hiking in the desert

The trail is gravelly but firm enough that I could push through in my manual chair. I also used my Whill scooter, which helped, but I also did portions without it and had little to no trouble. I had the same exact experience as any other person walking next to me. We all took the same trail and hiked the same way.

The trailhead has tons of accessible parking, which was fantastic. There are restrooms with accessible stalls too. The staff was helpful and one volunteer even offered us water. One thing to know: because it's gravelly, there's a chance your wheels could get stuck depending on conditions. It's nice to have someone with you depending on your ability level. I think people in power chairs would be able to use it, but an outdoor wheel or freewheel attachment might help.

Accessibility: Compressed granite surface, accessible parking and restrooms, easy trails.

Stroll Around Old Town Scottsdale

We spent an afternoon walking around Old Town, which is Scottsdale's downtown area. It's been around for a long time with lots of shops and restaurants, but most areas have curb cutouts. A lot of places keep their doors propped open during the day (with not many automatic doors) which I'm guessing is because of the temperature. You can't really run an automatic door in that heat without your AC bill going through the roof.

If you use equipment where you can't easily open doors yourself, that could be annoying. But it's such a busy area with people constantly going in and out that you'd probably find help pretty quickly. Overall, Old Town is quite accessible. Some of the older sections have uneven sidewalks or unexpected drop-offs where you need to be careful. I hit a few steeper slopes that came out of nowhere and needed Carly to help push. A power chair probably couldn't handle some of those transitions. But the main sidewalks downtown were easy and I wasn't concerned.

Explore the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA)

We went to SMoCA and I wasn't sure what to expect, but it ended up being really cool. Some of the exhibits were interactive, others were sound-based. It was neat to see the variety as you move through. From an accessibility standpoint, everything was wide and there were basically no doors between the exhibits. I had no issues getting around at all.

Accessibility: Ground-level entrance, smooth cement floors, 60+ inches turning space, all exhibits viewable from wheelchair. View detailed accessibility info.

Do a Wine Tasting at the Wine Collective

We went wine tasting at the Wine Collective, which is a local spot that's not too bougie. It's casual but intimate, right off the little town square. We worked with one of the servers to do a wine tasting paired with different chocolates. The chocolates are local too, and the company has a family member with a disability, which felt like a nice full-circle moment anytime you're experiencing inclusivity. We also got a charcuterie board, which was delicious. Everything felt local and the price point wasn't crazy. It's not far out of the way either, just right off the Quarter.

One heads-up: the sidewalk area around the town square is a little funky. There are some drop-offs and uneven spots. It's an older part of the city, so the ground isn't perfectly level everywhere. But it's doable. I made it up there without major issues.

Accessibility: Medium-slope ramp at entrance, 33-inch door, 60+ inches turning space inside, accessible restroom. View detailed accessibility info.

Browse Scottsdale Quarter

We checked out Scottsdale Quarter, which is an upscale outdoor shopping center with lots of stores and restaurants. Like most malls, it's pretty accessible. Most doors were already open when we visited, so I didn't have to deal with that. There are multiple parking areas with accessible spots. We visited a few local shops and picked up some candles. If I went back and wanted to do some shopping, I'd definitely go there again. It was an easy experience.

Where I Stayed in Scottsdale

Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows

Andaz Resort & Bungalows might have been the most accessible hotel room I've ever stayed in. It was a Bungalow and there was plenty of space throughout. The bed was lowered to a height that made transfers straightforward, and the bathroom – the bathroom was huge. I literally dream about the shower and can never see another shower the same. It had a roll-in setup, a bench, and soap right next to the bench. Plus, they had grab bars. The whole setup felt very safe and luxurious at the same time.

Beyond the room, the whole Andaz property was accessible. It's a big resort, but they clearly thought about accessibility in the design. Wide pathways, ramps where you need them, a pool lift. Even the restaurant bar top was lowered, where I was able to sit and have drinks with my friend. That almost never happens for me. Staff moved chairs when needed without making it a big production, and they let me pick the table that worked best. I'd go back a hundred times over.

Accessibility: Roll-in shower with seat and grab bars, 24-inch bed height with 7 inches clearance underneath, 60+ inches turning space in bathroom/bedroom/balcony. View full verified accessibility details

Where to Eat and Drink

Brunch at Daily Dose Old Town Bar & Grill

We went to Daily Dose for our first brunch. They had an open area into the patio, so there wasn't any gate where you had to go through the inside. I was able to go straight to the patio while Carly went inside to grab us a table. It's always nice when there's no second route because you just don't know if you're going to run into somebody. The patio was a little bit narrow and everything was tighter, but not bad at all and still very accessible. I didn't have to open the door on my own, which always helps.

Step-free entrance, 33-inch door, tables with good clearance underneath, accessible restrooms with grab bars. View detailed accessibility info.

Serves: Brunch and all-day bar fare.

Dinner at The Americano

We did a girl dinner at The Americano one evening. It's a nice Italian place, dark and cozy. I had some bread, caprese, salad, and drinks. It was delicious. The staff was very attentive and moved the chairs without me having to ask. It was easy to get around and I had no issues. We had the pulled mozzarella where they pull it in front of you and turn it into caprese, which was fancy and delicious. I'd definitely go back.

Serves: Italian-American – pasta, charcuterie, salads, cocktails and wine.

Dinner at Restaurant Zuzu – Hotel Valley Ho

We went to Restaurant Zuzu at Hotel Valley Ho, and the hotel itself was very funky and very accessible. It had ramps inside and automatic doors. They had a lot of different table configurations, and I was actually able to transfer to a little two-top with a large chair, which was fun. I rarely get to do that and it just added a little bit of pizzazz to the meal. The whole place was gorgeous with a cool vibe, and because it's a hotel, everything was very spaced out. I had no issues with accessibility. I was able to get down to the bathrooms through a ramp. I had the breakfast fried rice and an espresso martini, and it was absolutely delicious.

I'd say Zuzu was my favorite restaurant we went to, and I will definitely go back next time I'm in Scottsdale. I absolutely loved it and it was just such a fun vibe.

Serves: American bistro – brunch and dinner menus, full bar with craft cocktails.

Brunch and Dinner at Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen – Andaz Scottsdale

We ate at Weft & Warp a couple of times since it's the restaurant at the Andaz, the hotel we stayed at. We did brunch on the patio and it was fantastic. Everything was delicious. The staff moved chairs as needed and allowed me to pick the table that was best for me and my wheelchair. For dinner one evening, we sat at the lowered bar top for a bit, which is always fun because I never get to sit at a bar top as a wheelchair user. We had to go around one table that was a little tight, but there were no real issues. Very easy to get in and out.

Serves: Southwestern-inspired brunch and dinner, full bar.

Drinks at the Canal Club – The Scott Hotel, Old Town Scottsdale

We went to the Canal Club at The Scott Hotel one evening. It was very accessible since it's inside a hotel. There were ramps inside and a lot of the seating was lowered if you wanted to sit at the bar area. They had signage for people with disabilities directing you to different sections of the restaurant, which was helpful. The place was beautiful, especially outside. I'd absolutely go back there again.

Serves: Cocktails, wine, and light bites in a hotel bar setting.

Getting Around Scottsdale

We rented a vehicle and that was our main mode of transportation. We went through Wheelers, a local company providing wheelchair van rentals. Another option to consider if you're there is United Access. There is an accessible metro available that I've taken before, but it only goes to specific locations. We didn't have any trouble though. We were able to find accessible parking everywhere we went.

One thing that was really cool: I took a Waymo wheelchair-accessible ride when I was in the Phoenix area, and they operate in Scottsdale. Waymo is free for wheelchair users. I called for a pickup without planning it in advance and it took about an hour for them to come get me, which honestly isn't bad at all. I was able to stay in my wheelchair the entire time, which is always a huge factor for travelers who can't transfer into standard rideshares. If you have flexibility on time, it allows you to be more independent if you're traveling solo.

In general, Scottsdale's infrastructure was very accessible. Everything was pretty easy. There were definitely some steeper slopes that came out of nowhere where I needed Carly to help, but for all of the sidewalks downtown and around the hotel, it was easy and I wasn't concerned. Just something to consider if you're by yourself and use equipment that doesn't allow you to get close to doors, most places don't have automatic door openers. In my scooter, I probably would have had a little trouble getting into places if the doors were closed.

Plan Your Visit With Verified Accessibility Details

Wheel the World has verified accessibility information for hotels, activities, and restaurants around Scottsdale. That includes types of entrances, restroom details, room measurements, and a whole lot more. You can browse listings, filter by your specific equipment needs, and book directly through Wheel the World at wheeltheworld.com.

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