Accessibility

Longwood Gardens covers many acres. Walking or using a wheelchair or electric scooter (see below) are the primary ways in which to experience it. There are no shuttles within the Gardens.

It takes about 1½ hours to walk the entire 20-room Conservatory, which covers ½ mile. To walk the 20 outdoor gardens (2¼-3¼ miles) takes two to three hours. The Heritage Exhibit in the Peirce-du Pont House takes ½ to one hour.

On crowded days there may be a farther walk from the parking lot to the Visitor Center. Our double traffic lane in front of the Visitor Center allows you to drop off passengers at the main entrance before parking. 

Longwood is easily accessible to visitors with disabilities.

There is reserved handicapped parking at the front of the parking lot close to the Visitor Center. Non-motorized wheelchairs, electric scooters and children's strollers can be rented from the Information Desk in the Visitor Center, on a first-come first-served basis. Scooters, wheelchairs and children's strollers are all are free for Garden Passholders. All others are charged the following:

Electric scooters: $15
Wheelchairs: $4
Children's strollers: $6

Scooters are not available during rainy or snowy weather, or when the temperature is below 36°F. (In consideration of other visitors, scooters must be parked outside the Open Air Theatre, Peirce-du Pont House, and the Terrace Restaurant when visiting those facilities.)

Most restrooms and drinking fountains are wheelchair accessible. The Conservatory and the Terrace Restaurant are equipped with elevators, and several of the doors in the Visitor Center, Conservatory, and Terrace Restaurant are automated. Most garden paths are wide and paved, and a wheelchair route is suggested on the Guide Map. The Lookout Loft* is the only ADA accessible treehouse. The Chimes Tower and some of the Peirce-du Pont House are not wheelchair accessible.

*Please note: Improvements are being made to the Lookout Loft's pathway and the wheelchair ramp may be unavailable to guests in early to mid July 2009.

Service dogs providing assistance for visitors with disabilities are permitted anywhere at Longwood.

TDD equipment for use with Longwood's pay telephones is available at the Information Desk in the Visitor Center.