Chicago Water Taxi offers limited wheelchair-accessible service, and using it takes advance planning. The essentials: accessible rides are available on weekdays only, subject to availability, and must be reserved at least 5 days ahead by calling (312) 337-1446. The accessible service runs as round-trip rides from the Michigan Avenue dock. Because availability and boarding vary by day and dock, that phone call is the one step you can't skip, it's how you confirm an accessible trip for your specific route and date. This guide walks through what to expect and how to plan, but the call is what makes your trip real.
Is Chicago Water Taxi Wheelchair Accessible?
The honest answer is: sometimes, with advance planning. Chicago Water Taxi states that it has limited wheelchair-accessible route options on weekdays, subject to availability, that must be reserved 5 days in advance. It describes this as round-trip ADA-accessible rides from Michigan Avenue.
What that means in practice: don't assume a particular dock or departure can accommodate accessible boarding just because it appears on a route map. Weekend service and some routes may not have an accessible option. The only way to confirm accessible boarding for your trip is to call (312) 337-1446, at least 5 days before you travel. You can also reach the team by email at taxi@wendellaboats.com to inquire.
How to Book an Accessible Trip
There's no self-service online path for accessible trips, booking is by phone, in advance.
- Call (312) 337-1446 at least 5 days before travel. Accessible options are weekday-only and subject to availability.
- Give your route, preferred dock, and travel date. Availability varies by all three.
- Describe your mobility needs and device. This lets the team confirm whether your requested boarding can be accommodated (see the note on wheelchair types below).
- Ask specifically about your dock. Reaching river level can be a separate question from boarding the boat.
- Don't finalize the rest of your day until it's confirmed. Hold off on connecting transit, tickets, or reservations until accessible boarding is settled.
Chicago Water Taxi, like any public accommodation, can be asked to make reasonable modifications to accommodate a disability; the advance call is how you start that conversation for your trip.
Which Docks Are Accessible?
Dock access varies, and not every location is documented as accessible. Here's what's known:
Chicago Water Taxi's accessible service operates from Michigan Avenue, and it's a Wendella company, so it shares the Michigan Avenue riverfront infrastructure with its sister brand. For that location, Wendella publishes the following (which describes the same 400 N Michigan Avenue riverfront):
- The West Dock is ADA accessible by elevator, reachable from Michigan Avenue (between 400 and 410 N Michigan Avenue) and from 401 N Wabash Avenue. This elevator is the step-free way to river level.
- The main Michigan Avenue tour dock has 62 steps from street to river level and no elevator, so it is not the step-free route; the elevator/West Dock is.
The Chinatown and Ogilvie/Union docks are not documented as accessible in the available sources. Don't assume either way, ask when you call. That's exactly why the phone reservation exists: to match you to an accessible boarding point for your route.
Boarding and Onboard
Getting to river level and boarding the boat are two different steps. Once at river level, Wendella states that its boats can accommodate manual wheelchairs on the upper deck using accessible ramps. Note two important limits that the sister company publishes and that you should confirm for your water taxi trip by phone:
- Manual wheelchairs only. Battery-operated (electric) wheelchairs and mobility scooters are not accommodated on board. If you use a power chair or scooter, raise this on your call so the team can advise before you travel.
- Service animals are welcome under the U.S. Department of Justice definition (a dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability). Pets and emotional support animals are not permitted.
Also good to know: at most docks, boarding involves crossing a boarding plank, and all water taxi vessels have restrooms. For general vessel details, see the boat information page, but it doesn't replace confirming accessibility by phone.
A Note on Your Rights
The Americans with Disabilities Act is a federal civil rights law prohibiting discrimination against people with disabilities, and it requires businesses serving the public to make reasonable modifications to policies when needed to serve customers with disabilities. In practice, that's the basis for requesting an accessible accommodation from Chicago Water Taxi. One useful detail: under the ADA, staff may ask only two questions about a service animal, whether it's required because of a disability, and what task it's trained to perform. This is general context, not a legal assessment of any specific dock or boat; for your trip, the operator's phone line is the place to sort out current options.
Trip Planning Checklist
- Call (312) 337-1446 at least 5 days ahead (or email taxi@wendellaboats.com).
- Confirm an accessible option exists for your weekday, route, dock, and date.
- Ask whether your dock has elevator access or requires stairs.
- Confirm the boarding process for your specific trip and device.
- Plan for a manual wheelchair; power chairs and scooters aren't accommodated on board.
- If traveling with a service animal, confirm it meets the DOJ definition.
- Keep an alternate time or nearby accessible dock in mind as a backup.
- Don't finalize other plans until the accessible trip is confirmed.
Quick Facts
- Weekdays only: accessible route options are limited to weekdays, subject to availability.
- 5 days: minimum advance reservation, by phone.
- Round trip from Michigan Avenue: how the accessible service is described.
- (312) 337-1446: the number for accessibility inquiries and reservations (or taxi@wendellaboats.com).
- Manual wheelchairs only: electric wheelchairs and scooters aren't accommodated on board.
- Michigan Avenue: step-free access is via the West Dock elevator; the main tour dock has 62 steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chicago Water Taxi wheelchair accessible?
It has limited wheelchair-accessible route options on weekdays, subject to availability, described as round-trip rides from Michigan Avenue. Accessible boarding isn't guaranteed at all docks or on all departures, and you must call (312) 337-1446 at least 5 days in advance to reserve an accessible trip.
How do I book a wheelchair-accessible trip?
Call (312) 337-1446 (or email taxi@wendellaboats.com) at least 5 days before your trip. The team will confirm whether an accessible departure is available for your route, dock, and date. Calling ahead is the only way to confirm accessible boarding, there's no self-service online option.
Which docks have wheelchair access?
The accessible service runs from Michigan Avenue. As a Wendella company, Chicago Water Taxi shares that riverfront's infrastructure, where step-free access to river level is via the West Dock elevator (reachable between 400 and 410 N Michigan Avenue and from 401 N Wabash Avenue); the main tour dock there has 62 steps and no elevator. The Chinatown and Ogilvie/Union docks aren't documented as accessible, so ask by phone.
Can I bring an electric wheelchair or mobility scooter?
Battery-operated (electric) wheelchairs and mobility scooters are not accommodated on board; only manual wheelchairs can be accommodated, on the upper deck via ramps once at river level. If you use a power chair or scooter, raise it on your reservation call so the team can advise before you travel.
Are service animals allowed?
Yes. Service animals are welcome in line with the U.S. Department of Justice definition, a dog individually trained to perform tasks directly related to a person's disability. Pets and emotional support animals are not permitted.
What if accessible boarding isn't available on my date?
Ask the team at (312) 337-1446 about alternative departure times or another dock with accessible boarding. Because the accessible service is weekday-only and limited, calling well in advance (at least 5 days) gives you the most options, and it's wise to keep a backup plan.
Plan With the Official Pages
For general planning, use the Main Branch route and stops, fares and passes, boat information, and FAQ, then call (312) 337-1446 to confirm current accessibility options for your route and dock.
