The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University welcomes people of all abilities and is committed to facilitating a safe and engaging experience for all who visit. This page provides information for visitors who may have accessibility concerns.
For accessibility-related questions, please contact our Visitor Engagement team at 617.384.5209 or arbweb@arnarb.harvard.edu.
Plan Your Visit
The Arnold Arboretum is free and open to all daily from dawn until dusk. For general information, visit our Plan a Visit Page.
Parking
Accessible spaces are available at the following gates: Arborway Gate (main gate with access to the Hunnewell Building and Visitor Center), Forest Hills Gate, Walter Street Gate, Centre Street Gate.
General parking is available along the Arborway, Bussey Street, and Walter Street. Please do not pull onto any part of the sidewalks on Bussey Street, which need to remain clear and accessible to pedestrians and wheelchairs.
Driving Permits
This 2-hour driving permit is available by online reservation Monday – Friday for visitors with accessibility needs. Please enter through Arborway Gate. You may proceed past the sawhorses and other indicators this entrance is for authorized vehicles only, by signing up online you receive permission to enter the gate. Pick up your physical permit in the Visitor Center upon your arrival. Vehicles must be cars or vans (15-passenger maximum); school buses and coach buses are not allowed. Please drive at most 5 mph with your hazards on, and stay on the paved roads. Gates close at 4pm, so be sure to exit on time.
Accessible Restrooms
Wheelchair-accessible restrooms are available at the Hunnewell Building at 125 Arborway, from 10am–4pm on weekends and 9am-4pm on weekdays. Wheelchair-accessible portable restrooms are located near the Arborway Gate and at the base of Peters Hill (on the main loop near the Peters Hill Gate).
Wheelchairs
Manual wheelchairs are be available, free of charge, on a first-come, first-served basis at the Visitor Center at the Hunnewell Building at 125 Arborway, from 10am–4pm daily. The only requirement is a photo ID, which is held for the duration of the loan. Please note that during days of high visitation, including special events, wheelchair availability can be limited. Please inquire in the Visitor Center as soon as you arrive to check availability.
Roadways and Trails
As an outdoor institution, the conditions of our paths and trails can vary due to weather. Also, due to the Arboretum’s natural terrain, portions may be inaccessible. If you are looking for assistance in planning your visit, please contact our Visitor Engagement team at 617.384.5209 or arbweb@arnarb.harvard.edu.
Service Animals
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), service animals are welcome in the Arnold Arboretum landscape, as well as in the Visitor Center located in the Hunnewell Building.
For Visitors Who are Blind or Have Low Vision
Contact our Visitor Engagement team at 617.384.5209 or arbweb@arnarb.harvard.edu to learn about seasonal tour opportunities for visitors who are blind or have low vision.
Harvard University has a site-wide license to Aira, a visual interpreting service. Much like a video relay interpreter for members of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing community, Aira’s team of expertly trained Visual Interpreters provide on-demand visual information for the blind and low vision community. Aira is available to all visitors of the Arboretum who have Aira downloaded to their phone.
For Visitors Who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing
If you need would like to schedule American Sign Language interpretation for a scheduled tour, program, or event, please indicate this when you register. You can also email our Visitor Engagement team at arbweb@arnbarb.harvard.edu at least three weeks prior to the program and we will do our best to schedule an interpreter.
Expeditions, the Arnold Arboretum’s Mobile App
Through a combination of text, images, and audio, the app helps visitors explore the Arboretum, whether they’re on the grounds or at home. The app meets standard accessibility criteria for vision- or hearing-impaired users. This includes HTML formatting that renders the app fully readable by screen readers, with transcripts for audio segments and alternative text for images.
Website Accessibility Statement
The Arnold Arboretum is committed to enhancing usability for all website users by upholding Harvard University’s digital accessibility standards. These standards can be accessed by clicking the link below.