Plan before you go

Plan before you go

Start with the part of the trip that would be hardest to change: a particular seat, a wheelchair-accessible vehicle, an interpreter, an adult changing facility or a route without steps. Confirm that part before building the rest of the day around it.

For any venue, describe the arrangement you need and ask:

• Which entrance should I use, and how do I reach it from my parking space or drop-off?
• Can I reach every part of my visit without stairs, and is the elevator operating?
• Where can I find the nearest suitable restroom, seating or quieter space?
• Does my request need advance notice, a reservation or a particular ticket?
• Who should I ask for if the agreed arrangement is missing when I arrive?

We have not measured doorways, tested equipment or assessed a complete route between these places. Published provision can change. An unlisted venue has not been assessed here; it is not a statement about who can visit it.

Information checked October 4, 2026. Where an organization’s own pages disagree, the disagreement is stated below.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport

Wheelchair assistance and security

Request wheelchair or mobility assistance through your airline. CLT recommends at least 24 hours’ notice and extra time at the airport or during a connection. Its published wheelchair meeting points are Door 4 on Departures/Ticketing for American Airlines and Doors 1–3 for other airlines. Transport to the gate is prioritized by departure time. If you need assistance sooner than the recommended notice, contact the airline immediately rather than assuming help is unavailable. CLT wheelchair services

Security-screening support is a separate request. CLT directs travelers to TSA Cares at 855-787-2227 and recommends contacting it at least 72 hours before travel. Explain the screening support or equipment issue you need help with. TSA Cares at CLT

Sunflower items and visual assistance

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program lets travelers discreetly signal that they may need additional support or time. CLT does not require documents to obtain an item. Its official page lists pickup locations and their different hours, including information desks before security and locations inside the terminal. Ask separately for any specific assistance you need; the item does not arrange it for you. Sunflower locations and hours · How the program works

Aira provides live visual interpretation through a smartphone camera for blind and low-vision travelers. CLT says use is free and unlimited on airport property, including before reaching the terminal. Aira at CLT

Restrooms and somewhere quieter

CLT lists universal adult changing stations in selected family restrooms, including near A6, A32, the A Connector and C7, as well as the ticketing lobby by United and baggage claim near carousel 3. Use its facility page and map to choose one that fits your route. A family restroom does not automatically mean an adult changing station is present. Family restrooms and changing stations

The airport’s FAQ says it has no dedicated sensory room. It suggests the interfaith chapel on the Atrium mezzanine and the Concourse A Connector as quieter options; these remain shared spaces, so quiet cannot be guaranteed. CLT also says it has no motorized passenger carts. Quiet spaces and mobility FAQs

Service-animal relief areas are listed on both sides of security. Check the nearest location before setting off toward your gate. Relief-area locations and map

Accessible ground transport

CLT’s taxi page places the taxi queue on the Arrivals/Baggage Claim outer curb, Zone 1, and says wheelchair-accessible taxis can be requested from Parking Dispatch at 704-359-4038. Its accessible-ground-transport page also directs passengers to the curbside attendant, whose published hours are 6:45 a.m.–12:15 a.m. These are two ways to ask for help. If you are arriving outside staffed hours or need a particular vehicle configuration, confirm arrangements beforehand; neither listing guarantees a waiting vehicle or pickup time. Taxi locations and accessible-vehicle requests

CLT also lists accessible parking shuttles and says rental agencies request at least 48 hours’ notice for accessible rental cars. Ask the provider which features are available and whether they meet your needs. Accessible ground transport at CLT

For airport accommodation questions, contact ADACoordinator@cltairport.com. See CLT accessibility and our airport layover guide.

Getting around by bus rail and STS

CATS buses and trains

CATS says its fixed-route buses and trains are accessible. Buses have ramps or lifts, wheelchair securement and priority seating; light rail has level boarding and priority seating near the doors. Buses provide spoken and displayed announcements, and riders can ask bus operators to announce a stop.

The vehicle is only part of the journey. Check the path to the stop, street crossings, the route from the arrival station and any current disruption before relying on a trip.

For one-to-one travel training, reasonable modifications or Braille information, call CATS at 704-336-7433 or email telltransit@charlottenc.gov. Service animals are permitted. CATS accessibility and request contacts

See Getting around Charlotte for the wider transport plan.

STS paratransit

Special Transportation Service is for eligible people whose disabilities prevent some or all use of the fixed-route system. Plan it in advance. CATS’s rider guide describes shared, pre-scheduled trips, with service generally tied to the local fixed-route service area and its operating times. Confirm both your pickup and destination with STS.

The October 2024 rider guide says bookings are accepted for the next day or up to five days ahead, with scheduling open 8 a.m.–5 p.m. daily. It does not offer same-day trip requests. Call 833-656-7699 for current booking instructions, fare/payment requirements and the return-trip plan. STS rider guide, PDF

For a local eligibility application, start with the certification page. It describes professional verification, an in-person interview and a possible functional assessment. The result may be full eligibility, conditional eligibility or ineligibility, with an appeal route.

Check the return instructions before sending documents: the certification page and STS FAQ currently list different mailing addresses. The certification contact is 704-336-5055.

Visiting Charlotte? Ask about visitor status before beginning the full local process. The STS FAQ describes eligible visitor use for up to 21 days in a 12-month period, including travelers with ADA paratransit eligibility from their home system. It also explains what may be requested from visitors without that documentation. Call 704-336-5055 with your travel dates and transport needs. Visitor STS requirements

Museums

The Mint Museum

The two buildings have different arrival details. At Uptown, the Mint lists drop-off by elevator access on Levine Avenue of the Arts and accessible garage spaces on P1 and P2. Randolph permits drop-off at its main entrance and lists four accessible parking spaces, including a van space.

Both locations offer free manual wheelchairs on a first-come basis, elevators, sensory packs and wellness rooms. Social Narratives are available for preparing a visit. The Mint publishes accessible-restroom information separately for each building; ask about the particular facilities you need rather than assuming the layouts are identical.

Support-person admission is complimentary to ticketed exhibitions when the disabled visitor cannot otherwise attend alone. Service animals are welcome. For requests, call 704-337-2017. Mint accessibility, sensory resources and building details

Charlotte Museum of History

The museum distinguishes its accessible main building from the hillside historic homesite. Its published guidance describes accessible single-stall restrooms, limited gallery seating and a paved path to the homesite, with gravel in the herb garden and on the kitchen path.

The Rock House, log kitchen and springhouse interiors are not wheelchair accessible. A paved approach does not remove those interior restrictions. Tours involve walking and periods of standing. Ask about an adapted visit before booking if those conditions affect your plan; the museum also links a virtual Rock House tour.

Call 704-568-1774 or email info@charlottemuseum.org. Museum of History access details and virtual tour

Harvey B Gantt Center

The Gantt is at 551 South Tryon Street. Its disability-assistance page says wheelchairs are available and asks visitors to contact staff about arrangements.

There is more information in its July 2025 building map, PDF: elevators are marked on floors 1–3, Visitor Experience is on floor 2, and the map states that all restrooms are accessible. The map does not establish elevator dimensions, current operation or a complete step-free arrival route.

The directions page points drivers to the Levine Center for the Arts garage entrance at 101 West Brooklyn Village Avenue, with visitor parking on P1 and P2. Ask Visitor Experience for the discounted parking pass. Blue Line riders are directed to Brooklyn Village station. Confirm the route from your parking or drop-off point and any sensory, interpreting or listening support you need: 704-547-3700 or gsa@ganttcenter.org.

Stadium and arena visits

Bank of America Stadium

Choose your seat and arrival plan together. For Panthers accessible-ticket assistance, the published contact is 704-358-7800. Other events may have their own ticket arrangements. Ask for help before buying a seat you cannot use; do not rely on a same-day move being available.

The stadium lists ramps outside its gates, elevators at the North, East and South gates, and wheelchair escorts to and from seats. Loaned stadium wheelchairs cannot be retained throughout an event or taken off the property. Guest Relations can help with arrival, facilities and seat questions. Stadium accessibility

Parking and the accessible shuttle. The stadium states that it has no reserved accessible parking. It describes a placard-required shuttle from 720 East Morehead Street, and a disability drop-off at Mint and Morehead. However, its accessibility page says the shuttle is for Panthers games only, while its A–Z guide also includes Charlotte FC. Confirm your event, price, pickup and return service with the published shuttle contact, 704-358-7275. Do not assume the shuttle operates for a concert.

For hearing and sensory support, the A–Z guide lists listening devices and sensory kits through Guest Relations. Check that the service is available for your event. The stadium’s accessibility page also describes captioning of public-address announcements. Event facilities and policies

Public tours are offered only on a limited request basis. Have a tour and its access arrangements confirmed before traveling for one. Current tour request information

Spectrum Center

Spectrum Center is at 333 East Trade Street. Its ADA Seating page recommends the Fifth Street entrance near the disability drop-off and also describes an elevator just inside the Trade Street entrance. Confirm the entry route for your particular event.

Accessible tickets and interpreting need an early check. Two official pages give different instructions. The A–Z guide directs accessible-seat purchases to Ticketmaster; the ADA Seating page gives the Guest Experience phone number. Both indicate availability is limited. Start with the event’s official ticket page and contact Guest Experience if the needed seating is unclear.

For interpreting, the A–Z guide recommends requesting it as early as possible, preferably 30 days before the event. The ADA page instead says within three weeks after concert ticket sales begin. Contact Guest Experience immediately rather than assuming either statement settles your request: 704-688-8128 or arenainfo@hornets.com.

The A–Z guide lists listening-device loans at sections 102 and 208, a sensory room outside section 108, and sensory-kit checkout through Guest Experience. It also describes exceptions for medical and disability-related bags. Verify the arrangements for your event before leaving home. Current A–Z services and entry policies

Outdoors

A greenway’s distance or paved surface alone is not enough to choose a workable trip. Start with the county’s greenway maps, then ask about the exact segment and access point you intend to use:

• Surface condition, slopes and cross-slopes
• Steps, curb cuts, gates, bollards and narrow sections
• Distance from accessible parking to the trail
• Benches, shade, restrooms and a place to turn back
• Flooding, closures, maintenance or temporary detours

We do not yet have measured, route-by-route information for those features. Treat a map as planning help rather than an accessibility guarantee.

Mecklenburg County announced an all-terrain-wheelchair program in November 2024. Its published locations include Quest at Latta Nature Preserve and Reedy Creek Nature Center and Preserve. Contact the location before planning around a chair: ask about current operation, reservation eligibility, transfer assistance, companion requirements and the permitted routes. The launch announcement does not establish that equipment is available on your date. County program and reservation contacts

For inclusive recreation and program modifications, contact Therapeutic and Inclusive Recreation Services at 980-314-1192. The county encourages accommodation requests at registration or at least 48 hours before a program; therapeutic programs have their own assessment requirements. Inclusive recreation services

Service animals

For ADA-covered public places, the U.S. Department of Justice says service dogs do not need certification or a special vest. Emotional support alone is not the trained task required by the ADA. Do not buy a certificate because a venue page uses the word “certified.” Staff may ask the two permitted questions when the dog’s role is not apparent, but cannot require service-animal certification. Federal service-animal guidance

Air travel has separate rules. Airlines may require the U.S. Department of Transportation’s service-animal forms. Check directly with your airline before travel and use DOT’s air-travel guidance. If an airline disability-access problem cannot be resolved, ask for its Complaints Resolution Official.