This Travel Booking Site Just Made It Easier for Travelers With Disabilities to Find Accessible Campsites

When you go online to book your campsite, you might filter by sites that are dog-friendly, or campgrounds that allow campfires. But when you’re a person with a disability, there’s a lot more to consider. Is there a ramp to the bathroom? A wheelchair-accessible shower? Is the campsite level, or are there steps between the parking spot and the campsite? 

The information most people with disabilities need to feel comfortable booking outdoor travel is simply not available. According to a survey by Pitchup.com, a booking engine for camping and glamping sites in 67 countries, 83 percent of respondents avoid outdoor travel completely due to accessibility issues.

The survey also worked to identify the challenges people with neurodivergence, chronic illness, and physical disabilities face when looking for outdoor accommodations. One key takeaway was the need for technical details — such as if toilets and showers are wheelchair accessible and if the campground has steps and ramps.

To combat this information gap, Pitchup.com announced the addition of accessibility-focused website filters. The filters, which allow campers to sort campgrounds by features like wheelchair-accessible toilets and step-free campsites, are aimed at providing detailed technical information to campers who may rely on a wheelchair or crutches to get around. There are also filters aimed at people who are neurodivergent or living with chronic illness, like the “dedicated quiet space” selection.

“Enhancing accessibility is not only a commercial opportunity but also the right thing to do,” Dan Yates, founder and managing director of Pitchup.com, said in a press release shared with Travel + Leisure. “Many people feel that this kind of holiday is not an option for them. We are failing the disabled community by not providing the equal opportunity to reap the many benefits of outdoor vacations, from affordability in a cost-of-living crisis to the health benefits of connecting with nature.” 

Campers and glampers on Pitchup.com will now have the option to sort out campsites that fit their needs, including campgrounds with features like well-lit paths, accessible parking, wheelchair-accessible bathrooms, and campsites or glampsites with things like step-free access. Site managers also have the option to upload photos so campers can see the features for themselves. 

Pitchup.com is also in the process of developing guides aimed at helping people with disabilities enjoy a day out in the booking engine’s most popular destinations, such as the new Pitchup guide to the Accessible Lake District.  

“By tackling travelers’ challenges head-on, our goal is to inspire the outdoor travel industry to enact necessary changes to ensure that experiences in nature are accessible to all travelers,” Yates said.

The Pitchup.com survey was done in partnership with Purple Goat, a disability-led marketing agency. The survey polled over 2,000 people who experience a spectrum of challenges, including both physical and neurological limitations.