Written by Brittany Ferri, OTR/L
When you imagine traveling with an electric wheelchair, one of your first thoughts might be calculating the amount of inconvenience, difficulty, (and perhaps worse) that could happen on your trip... While these thoughts are present among all travelers -let's be honest - traveling with a wheelchair intensifies these possibilities.
If this sounds like you, then you are not alone! There are 25.5 million Americans that have self-reported travel-limiting disabilities, according to the Bureau of Transportation. So, I ask you: what if you had a wheelchair that was designed to be your travel companion? How would this open your world? Whether you are traveling on vacation or simply exploring your local park, there are electric wheelchairs designed for that purpose!
This list highlights our favorite travel power wheelchairs, educates you on the important features to consider, and answers frequently asked questions. Read on to find your perfect travel wheelchair!
1. Best Overall: Resten City Wheelchair by 5 Minds
2. Best Storage Space: Power Wheelchair LiteRider Envy by Golden Technologies
3. Best for Small Spaces: Jazzy Passport Lightweight Power Wheelchair By Pride Mobility
4. Best Heavy-Duty: EWheels EW-M45 Power Wheelchair
5. Best Color Options: Go Chair | Powered Wheelchair By Pride Mobility
6. Best All Terrain: Geo Cruiser Elite LX Lightweight Power Wheelchair by Pathway Mobility
7. Best on a Budget: Compact Holding Power Wheelchair By Vive Health
If you have an active lifestyle that often requires you to move from one place to the other all the time, it’s only wise to choose a wheelchair with enough battery span to keep you working as you want. Most travel wheelchairs have a battery life of about 5-15 miles, depending on which chair you choose. A 5-mile battery might not seem like a lot (in comparison to a 15-mile battery), but stop and think about it -- 5 miles is a lot! If you are just doing errands or visiting family, a 5-mile battery should be plenty. You will have to charge it more frequently, but most users are okay with that. A 15-mile battery is beneficial for users on vacation, who frequently travel, or who don't want to regularly charge their chair. Additionally, some wheelchairs come with optional upgrades for backup batteries, which means that you can adventure to your heart’s content without worrying about frequent recharges.
An ideal travel power wheelchair should be easy to transport when necessary. For most wheelchairs that fold, they tend to be lighter and weigh about 60-ish pounds. Foldable chairs are the easiest to take on the go; simply fold the chair, and the top of the backrest becomes your carry handle. If you have enough storage space for a power wheelchair, then that will be your best option.
Now, imagine this. You are taking a trip, and your car is packed with suitcases and everything. Now, where do you put the power wheelchair? Solution: there are other travel power wheelchairs don't fold, but rather can disassemble into a few lightweight pieces. Those types of chairs are usually about 130-ish pounds, but it's because each piece is an easy-to-handle size/weight. These chairs are best suited for car trunks that also have other items like a suitcase.
The turning radius refers to the minimum diameter it takes to turn your wheelchair in a circle. If you will be using your wheelchair primarily indoors, it would be best to get a wheelchair with a tight turning radius. This will allow you to easily navigate around corners and small spaces. If you will be using your wheelchair primarily outdoors, then the turning radius is not as important. Still, consider if there will be small spaces wherever it is you are exploring.
Another feature that might be more important to some customers than others is storage pieces attached to the wheelchair itself. These include pouches, baskets, and cup holders, and can be incredibly useful whether you like to take drinks and snacks with you on the go or you have a required assistance device that you have to keep on you at all times.
For valuable items, such as a purse, it’s best to store them in an under-seat storage basket/pouch. Since the storage is right under you, it’s easily accessible and always in your line of sight. Alternatively, if you need to store a water bottle or miscellaneous items, it’s best to use a pouch that’s located on the back of the seat. Keep in mind that the back pouch is a little harder to reach, and you can’t keep a close eye on it.
Speaking of taking your wheelchair with you, many wheelchairs are clearly designed with transport in mind. Some are foldable to easily fit in a vehicle or on an airplane; likewise, some have extraneous pieces, such as armrests and footrests, that can be removed so that the wheelchair takes up less space. Certain models can even be entirely disassembled and put back together for ultimate portability!
If you plan on taking your wheelchair outside of your home, it might be worth considering how it will fare in less-than-ideal terrain conditions. Most wheelchairs roll just fine on a hard floor, but even thick carpet can cause trouble for certain types of casters. Many higher-end wheelchairs have flat-free tires that are capable of braving the outdoors, while others come with inflatable rubber wheels that will have a better time on the sidewalk than typical plastic casters but aren’t recommended for all-terrain use. Make sure the wheelchair you buy is ready to take you where you need to go!
| Name | Battery Life | Wheelchair Weight | Weight Capacity | Turning Radius | Storage Space | Portability | Tires (front and rear) |
| #1 Resten City Wheelchair | 12 miles | 66 lbs | 265 lbs | 36" | Rear Pouch, Underseat Pouch | Folds | 7"/ 12.5" |
| #2 Power Wheelchair LiteRider Envy | 15 miles | 123 lbs | 300 lbs | 26" | Rear Pouch, Underseat Basket | Disassembles into 4 parts | 6"/ 9" |
| #3 Jazzy Passport Lightweight Power Wheelchair | 5-8 miles | 60 lbs | 250 lbs | 25" | Rear pouch, underseat pouch, cup holder | Folds | 8"/ 11.2" |
| #4 EWheels EW-M45 Power Wheelchair | 15 miles | 59 lbs | 400 lbs | 31" | Rear Pouch | Folds | 8"/12.5" |
| #5 Go Chair | Powered Wheelchair | 13 miles | 128 lbs | 300 lbs | 25.5" | (2) Underseat Storage Bins | Disassembles into 6 parts | 6"/9" |
| #6 Geo Cruiser Elite LX Lightweight Power Wheelchair | 15 miles | 59 lbs | 330 lbs | 34.5" | Underseat Pouch | Compact fold | 8"/10" |
| #7 Compact Folding Power Wheelchair | 12 miles | 95 lbs | 220 lbs | 47 in. | None | Folds | 7.5"/ 15.7" |
The Compact Holding Power Wheelchair by Vive Health is the seventh on our pick due to its comfortable parts and easily controlled settings.
It has a compact folding design that allows you to pack it up in seconds without worrying whether it would be damaged during air, water, or road travel. It has a maximum speed of 4mph, and is powered by a rechargeable battery that can last for 12 miles with a single charge.
When it comes to wheelchairs, you want something easy to be maneuvered. No one wants to spend too much time adjusting and readjusting the driving of a wheelchair while on a trip. It would help if you had a lightweight power wheelchair that moves elegantly and smoothly on grass. You also want something that can easily comfort you without needing extra cushions. One prominent distinctive feature of this wheelchair is its durability. It's able to smoothly navigate and drive across several surfaces without necessarily impacting the person's well-being on the chair or the chair itself. Surfaces like grass, carpeted floors, gravel, pavement, and other hard surfaces give no challenge to the chair. This product's other exciting features include a USB charging port that offers the user quick access to charge their phone. Also, a 360-degree joystick controller makes the wheelchair simple and fun to navigate. You also have several speed controls, safety horns, and weight support of up to 220 lbs.
The seat is heavily padded with breathable and soft cushions for maximum support.
With its sleek and compact folding design, balanced seating, and lightweight steel frame, it's no wonder this chair made it on our list.
Safety comes first and is brilliantly assured with the Geo Cruiser Elite LX Lightweight Power Wheelchair by Pathway Mobility. All the wheelchairs from Geo, including this one, have been adequately tested and approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and were even granted a 510 k Premarket Notification award, which is essential for safe manual and electric wheelchairs. This is one of the reasons it comes sixth on our list. Before anything, safety first! Let's move on to the features.
The Geo Cruiser comes with complete and independent mobility. This means you can attend social functions, go shopping, attend festivals, participate in several events without necessarily worrying about lack of relaxation. Its indoor and outdoor all-terrain capacity gives you all the confidence you need to attend and participate in events while also giving you the ample and safe relaxation time your back needs. This makes it highly convenient for ship cruises, airplane travel, and other outdoor activities.
Although the chair is essentially created to withstand hectic lifestyles, it's also perfect for travel. Due to its foldable design and lightweight frame, it's easy to pack and transport without worrying about space or damage to its structure. It also has durability support for taller users due to providing a 4-position backrest and a 3-position footrest. These features allow for more comfortable sitting, excellent support, and easy positioning. With this chair, you don't have to worry about strains or any other stress-related ache that comes with working from the sitting position.
This chair is accompanied by a comforting and highly breathable soft foam for its armrests and seats to strengthen user enjoyment and satisfaction. The seat covers can be removed and washed to prevent them from wearing out too quickly. Other distinctive features include a titanium alloy frame, an extended weight accommodation of 330 lbs.
The Go Chair by Pride Mobility can accurately be called a game-changer. This chair comes with certain perks that the owner would enjoy a lot. These features include a feather touch design that aids in assembling and dismantling the chair. You never need to worry about transport issues regarding the Go Chair due to its highly sophisticated and intricate foldable design. The heaviest part of the chair, when dismantled, weighs only 36 pounds. This enhances easy storage and comfortable transportation for long distances. Ultimately, this is an excellent chair for travels and vacations.
The chair has optional upgrades (sold separately), which include various accessory mounts that allow you to store your extremely essential things for quick accessibility. You can keep your cane, oxygen holder, or water bottle here without worrying about it falling off while bustling down rugged terrain.
Speaking of terrain, the Go Chair is built with a steep and sturdy frame that enables you to ride on any floor without hindrance. It moves smoothly on grass, cement, gravel, or even sand. Its weight capacity goes as high as 300 pounds while also providing complete maneuver control to the owner. There's also an appropriately large footplate to accommodate your feet and shoes without having them slip off. When it comes to the electricity aspect, this chair does not disappoint. Its battery capacity would last for 13.2 miles after a single charge. The chair can also go as fast as 3.8 mph. This chair is proof that you don't have to sacrifice speed or range for mobility – you can have them all! With this chair, you can go on several journeys and vacations without compromising one part for another during transportation.
When it comes to incredible weight capacity and exceptional mile range, the EW-M45 Power Wheelchair by EWheels is hands down one of the best wheelchairs you'll see out there. This extremely lightweight and utterly foldable chair comes with a mobile joystick that enables smooth maneuvering, especially in tight spaces. You can't compare the total control you get from the joystick from this wheelchair to others. While many wheelchairs tend to be limited with their confined features, the E45 intends to make you as active as possible while also providing the adequate comfort and relaxation that your body deserves. Many distinctive features come with this wheelchair, and some will be explained below.
First, the wheelchair has an intricate foldable design. This makes it easier to transport and creates more space for other items.
With fascinating weight support of up to 400 lbs, comfort and space allowance would not be a problem. The weight capacity alone makes the chair ahead of its competitors by a mile. Speaking of miles, the incredible mile range on the chair can't be compared as well. With a 15.5 mile range after a full charge, your chair can last the whole day. If you would like more capacity, there are chances to upgrade. Extended ranges such as 3 lithium batteries for the 23-mile range and 4 lithium batteries for the 31-mile range are available for the E45. This chair provides unlimited possibility with exceptional maneuver control, incredible battery capacity, and mile range. Its fantastic wheel build allows for more excellent traction and enables you to move swiftly through uneven and rough terrains and a wide seat for optimized comfort and relaxation.
Transport yourself comfortably and easily with the Jazzy Passport Lightweight Power Wheelchair by Pride Mobility. This lightweight wheelchair offers complete support and relaxation at its very best! It ranks at #3 on our list!
Its turning radius (of 25”) allows you to smoothly drive around tight spaces without getting stuck in a corner. Its durable and sturdy wheels let you enjoy a simple trip to the mall or grocery store without worrying about the uneven roads and rough terrains. The chair is accompanied by a soft yet firm cushion that offers comfortability and relaxation while making sure you're balanced at the same time. It also has a standard 40-inch safety belt that provides complete safety and comfort.
It offers maximum weight support of 250 lbs, which makes it the best at accommodating most users. It is offered with multiple battery upgrade options. After a single charge, it can go as far as 4.6- 8.6 miles, depending on which battery option you select. Its top speed it 3.6mph. Its motor-driven and maneuverable wheels make it perfect for indoor and outdoor use. Its compact and securely foldable design makes it the best choice for traveling.
It has an under-seat storage pouch, which can store essential items and provides quick and easy accessibility. It also has a back seat pocket and a cup holder. Its footplate was built to be generous and accommodating of the user's feet. Likewise, the cushions and armrests were made with comfortable and breathable specialty foam design to enhance relaxation even while working. Another distinctive feature of this wheelchair is that it's FDA approved, which means it can fully provide the support and comfort you need when you need to work or relax. The choice is yours.
When it comes to having a compact chair that folds with comfort and style, the Power Wheelchair LiteRider Envy by Golden Technologies takes the cake. This chair was built to provide convenience and portability. It can be disassembled into four different lightweight parts that easily fit into tight spaces while traveling. This chair is our 2md favorite travel power wheelchair.
The chair comes with a 26-inch turning radius, allowing the owner to maneuver around tight spaces easily. The basket underneath the seat is easily accessible while sitting; it’s the perfect spot to put your purse or other valuable items you travel with. In addition to the basket, there is even more storage on this chair! The pocket at the back of the chair provides accessible reach to necessary items such as water bottles and oxygen containers. The footplates are widely sized to provide the adequate support your feet need. When dismantled, the heaviest part weighs only 35 pounds which allows for easy lifting to fit into the trunk of any vehicle. Available in different colors, you might add style to the comfort already provided by the LiteRider. The chair also comes with several optional upgrades such as an orange flag and an adjustable oxygen tank holder (upgrades are not included, and they are sold separately). Its tubular frame design and breathable cushions enhance more comfort and aid your relaxation. Ranking third on our list, it's safe to say the chair was built with the owner in mind. You can have an active lifestyle without necessarily sacrificing your comfort. It comes with standard 22Ah batteries and a mile range of 15.5 miles. It can also go as fast as 3.5mph.
When it comes to durability, stability, and maximum comfort, the Resten City Wheelchair by 5 Minds is our #1 choice! Asides from the fact that this foldable chair can be transported easily on airplanes, ship cruises, or road trips without any damage, its weight support and mile range make it all the more alluring. Your independence and mobility can be thoroughly assured and enhanced with the Resten City Wheelchair! A critical feature of this chair is that it's one size fits all. Due to its safety controls and adjustable settings, this chair can be used by anyone of any age living with physical challenges. It has soft and padded seating accompanied by a generous and comfortable back support. The frame was built with solid aluminum alloy to ensure durability and sturdiness. Its built-in brushless motors allow you to have the time of your life with complete reliability on its power. Lightweight and completely travel-friendly, this wheelchair would provide all the support you need and even more.
The Resten chair does not in any way limit your ability to go around the world and explore like most wheelchairs. Instead, it gives you the support and flexibility you need to do whatever you need to do without necessarily causing a strain on either yourself. This is due to its lightweight size and foldable design that allows you to pack it up quickly when going for an extended vacation or quick travel. It's also imbued with shock absorber springs to help facilitate a smoother and easier drive around uneven and rough patches of the road. The cushioned armrests provide extended support and relaxation for users that weigh as much as 265 lbs. The wheels were also built with solid polyurethane that prevents them from going flat quickly while in transit. The rear wheels have fender covers, so your chair doesn’t throw gravel/dirt/etc when you are traveling over outdoor terrain. It also contains a well-built electromagnetic braking system that lets you be in control all the time. With a single charge on its 2 lithium batteries, it can go as long as 12-15 miles.
A: Due to the presence (or absence) of motors in a wheelchair, they typically weigh between 50-250 pounds. Materials used and accessories can also be considered when determining the weight of a standard power wheelchair.
A: While all the Jazzy-powered wheelchairs are FDA approved and recommended for older patients, the best one for travel is the Jazzy Passport. This wheelchair allows the elderly to run their usual errands and enjoy life with the family without any stress or discomfort.
A: Medicare part B provides comprehensive insurance for all powered vehicles like scooters and wheelchairs. However, your doctor would need to submit a written order confirming that you need the wheelchair for your safety and condition. Speak with your doctor and insurance company for more information, as RehabMart can’t guarantee your coverage.
Please keep in mind that RehabMart does not accept insurance nor Medicare. What we can offer you (upon request), is an itemized receipt that you can use to apply for reimbursement from your insurance provider.
A: As you can see from our list, the best folding power wheelchair is the Jazzy Passport Lightweight Power Wheelchair By Pride Mobility. It compactly folds, making it the perfect traveling companion. You may check out several others from our list if you have something more specific in mind.
A: These days, many power wheelchairs come with compact foldable designs that allow you to easily fold them up in seconds so you can take them on-the-go. All wheelchairs on the list above are either foldable or easily disassembled into a few manageable pieces. You can easily assemble and dismantle them without causing any damage to the chairs.
A: A lightweight power wheelchair provides comfort and relaxation to the user and caregiver. It gives the caregiver more time to tend to themselves since they don't necessarily have to push the user around all the time. The user can experience seamless and smooth transportation both indoor and outdoor without any assistance.
A: Depending on your selection and specifications, a standard electric chair goes about 3-18 miles after a charge. This depends on the type of battery and how much the user weighs. The EWheels EW-M45 Power Wheelchair has a 15.5 mile range, and if you purchase an extra batteries, then the range can go up to 31 miles!
A power wheelchair reduces the need of being frequently pushed from one place to another. You get complete and absolute freedom while gaining more control on your wheelchair. Since all the wheelchairs mentioned above are portable, you can bring one on your trip without worry.
Due to its elder-friendly frame and durable support, the Resten City Wheelchair comes first on our list. Its dependable batteries and soft but firm cushions make it the best or one of the best power wheelchairs out there for the elderly.
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Brittany is an occupational therapist who has worked in a variety of rehab facilities. She has always expressed an interest in patients’ internal motivation for therapy and the use of assistive devices, which led her to pursue a PhD in Integrative Mental Health. This research-based training has also led her to develop her writing career to educate patients of all ages on how to improve their health. Brittany has published four books, written over 300 articles, and has been quoted in media outlets such as WebMD, Healthline, and NBC News.
