A family visit to Raleigh often means long days. A museum in the morning. A walk downtown. Dinner across town. That pace can be hard on a parent or grandparent who tires on long walks. A rented mobility scooter can let them keep up and enjoy the trip.
This guide covers how a multi-day rental works, what to plan before the visit, and a few accessible places to start.
A note first. We rent equipment. We are not doctors or therapists. If you are unsure what is safe for the person you are planning for, ask their doctor or therapist before you rent.
How a multi-day rental works
Personal rentals in Raleigh and the Triangle are set up by phone, with a real person. There is no account and no online checkout.
- Ask for a quote. Use the form on our Raleigh rentals page or call. Tell us the dates, the equipment and your ZIP code.
- A person calls you back. We confirm the dates, the equipment and whether you pick up or we deliver. Delivery is confirmed for each request.
- Pick up or take delivery. Questions during the rental? Call the same number.
Every rental is quoted for your dates. What is free on those dates is confirmed when we call back.
Scooter or wheelchair?
Start with the day you have planned and who will be with the rider.
- A mobility scooter is driven by the rider. It suits someone who can steer and get on and off on their own. See mobility scooters.
- A push wheelchair needs a companion to push it. We have more than one size. Leg lifts and foot rests may be available. See wheelchairs.
A few rules for our scooters, so you can plan:
- The maximum passenger weight is 400 lbs.
- Only the person named on the rental may ride. Booking for a parent? Put their name on the rental.
- Baskets are for lightweight items. Keep valuables on your person.
- Our staff do not lift or transfer riders. If the rider needs help getting on and off, plan for a family member to help.
Not sure which fits? Tell us about the outing and how far you expect to go. We go over both options on the call.
Plan the visit around the rider
A little planning before the trip saves stress on the day.
- Ask about the lodging. Check that the hotel or home has a step-free entrance and room to park and charge a scooter overnight.
- Plan the car rides. If you will drive between stops, ask us how the scooter travels and what fits in your vehicle. Have a plan for who loads it.
- Check each stop before you go. Call ahead or read the venue's accessibility page. Ask about step-free entrances, elevators and accessible restrooms.
- Build in rest. Plan a sit-down break between big outings. Charge the scooter every night.
- Keep the plan flexible. Some days will be shorter than planned. That is fine.
Accessible places to start in Raleigh
These details come from the venues' and Visit Raleigh's own pages. Check them again before your visit, since details can change.
- North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Visit Raleigh reports that the museum offers wheelchairs free of charge.
- North Carolina State Capitol. Per Visit Raleigh, all areas except the third floor are accessible.
- North Carolina Museum of Art. Visit Raleigh lists docent-led ASL tours on the third Saturday of the month, plus assistive listening devices and tactile tours on request.
- Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Gardens. Visit Raleigh notes sloped paths for wheelchair access and an accessible water feature.
- Dorothea Dix Park. The park says accessible parking spaces are in all paved lots. It also says some areas, including some event spaces, have uneven surfaces and are not fully accessible. Plan your route with that in mind.
Getting around Raleigh by transit
If the rider would rather not ride in a car every time, Raleigh's transit system has options. Two points worth knowing before the visit:
- GoRaleigh Access is the City's paratransit service for riders who qualify under the ADA. According to the City, eligible out-of-town ADA riders can use it for 21 days within a 365-day period. Visitors must contact the City's Paratransit Services Certification Office first, on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Trips must be booked at least one day ahead. The call center number is 919-996-3459.
- The R-Line is paused. GoRaleigh says R-Line service was paused beginning August 9, 2026. GoRaleigh lists other routes that serve the same downtown area.
Check with GoRaleigh before you rely on a route for a scooter trip.
When to book
Book once your travel dates are set. That gives us time to confirm the equipment and work out pickup or delivery. If the visit is a short notice trip, call. We tell you what we can do.
If you live in a nearby town, we also serve Durham, Cary, Garner and other Triangle towns. See all personal rentals.
Next step
Ask for a quote on our Raleigh rentals page, or call (919) 533-8846 and talk it through with a person.