At the beginning of September, I drove about an hour and a half west of Toronto with two of my best friends to spend a few days in Oxford County. To be honest, I never would have thought of this part of Ontario’s Southwest for an accessible trip, but it completely blew me away.

Over a few days we soaked at a fully accessible Nordic spa, had a sunset picnic with donkeys, wandered through flower fields and ate some incredible food. At the end of each day, we went back to an accessible Airbnb that was so peaceful I truly forgot where I was.

It’s always nice to find a place that does accessibility right, and if you’re looking for a relaxing wheelchair accessible getaway in Ontario, this is the one I’d recommend first. Here’s everything you need to know to plan your own wheelchair accessible Oxford County trip.

This trip was a paid collaboration with Tourism Oxford, Ontario’s Southwest, and Destination Ontario. This post also includes affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you book through them. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

Why Oxford County Is the Perfect Relaxing Getaway for Wheelchair Users

Oxford County has two things that are hard to find anywhere else in Ontario: a fully accessible Airbnb designed by a wheelchair user, and one of the only fully accessible Nordic spas I know of in the province. Either one would be worth the drive on its own, and they’re only about 30 minutes apart!

You can also round out your trip with a beautiful sunset picnic with farm animals, incredible fine dining, art galleries, flower fields, and so much more. Just keep in mind that the farm stops have grass, gravel and some hills, so I’ve included terrain details for each one below.

Wave Nordic Spa: The Most Wheelchair Accessible Spa I’ve Visited in Ontario

If you only have time for one thing in Oxford County, make it Wave Nordic Spa. Spas are one of my favourite ways to unwind, but accessibility is usually where they fall short. Wave is one of the only fully accessible Nordic spas I’ve been to, and I honestly couldn’t believe how well they’d thought everything through.

Wave sits on the grounds of The Oxford Hills in Mount Elgin, about 10 minutes off Highway 401. Along with hot pools, cold plunges, saunas and steam rooms, you’ll find hot stone beds, salt rooms, fire pits and meditation spaces.

What Makes Wave Nordic Spa So Accessible

Most Nordic spas I’ve visited build their saunas as small wooden huts with narrow doors and a few steps up to get inside. They look beautiful, but they’re usually impossible to get into with a wheelchair, which means missing out on the main part of the experience. At Wave, I could roll right into every sauna and steam room without a single step. The doorways were wide too, so I never had to line my chair up perfectly or squeeze through.

What I loved most is that none of this came at the expense of the design. Wave still feels like a beautiful, luxurious Nordic retreat, and the accessibility is built into the space instead of added on as an afterthought.

For the pools, Wave has a portable lift that staff move between the different pools and hot tubs. It isn’t set up all the time, so just let a staff member know when you want to get in and they will set it up wherever you’d like. Because it moves around, you can enjoy the whole circuit instead of being limited to one pool. The paths connecting everything are smooth concrete, so getting around was easy in my power wheelchair.

The only thing I’d love to see Wave add is an adult-sized change table. Getting in and out of a wet bathing suit is one of the hardest parts of any spa day for me, and a change table would have made it much easier. With that being said, the accessible washroom had plenty of space, so I made it work by reclining my chair back.

Sunset Dinner at KALOS After Your Spa Day

We ended our spa day with a sunset dinner at KALOS, the restaurant at The Oxford Hills, and it was the perfect way to finish the trip. It’s right on site, so there’s no need to get back in the car.

We shared the baked brie (soooo good!) and mussels to start. I had the pickerel and chips, while my friends ordered the steak frites and the smoked pork loin, and we finished with a few desserts and some wine. My favourite part was that we got to eat in our robes, which felt so special and relaxing — especially with the gorgeous sunset behind us!

KALOS takes reservations online or by phone at 519-926-3040. If you want a sunset dinner like ours, plan your spa visit for a Thursday, Friday or Saturday and book a later seating. KALOS at The Oxford Hills

How to Book Wave Nordic Spa

You can book your day pass on their website, you’ll pay a deposit when you reserve. There’s no time limit on your visit. Wave is open Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and it’s closed on Mondays. Plan to arrive 15 minutes before your booking at 324183 Mount Elgin Road.

Country Oasis: The Wheelchair Accessible Airbnb in Ontario You’ll Want to Book

Country Oasis Accessible Retreat in Innerkip is a reason to visit Oxford County on its own. A wheelchair user and his family own the property and designed it to be fully accessible, and you can tell from how well all the little details are taken care of.

The whole house is spacious, with plenty of room to move around the kitchen and living areas. It’s also incredibly peaceful, and even if you never leave the property, it’s the most beautiful place to relax.

Accessible Features Inside Country Oasis

The accessible bathroom has a roll-in shower with a handheld showerhead, grab bars around the toilet and a roll-under sink. It also has heated floors, and there’s a second bathroom for the rest of your group.

The house has three bedrooms and sleeps up to seven people. Two of the beds are adjustable, and one bedroom has both a double and a single bed. Parking is right out front with a ramp up to the entrance, and inside you’ll find a full kitchen, laundry and Wi-Fi.

Free Accessibility Equipment and Accessible Outdoor Spaces

What really sets Country Oasis apart is that the owners will provide a portable Hoyer lift, a tilting shower commode or a shower bench free of charge if you ask when you book. If you’ve ever tried to rent equipment for a trip, you’ll know what a relief that is!

Outside, a ramp leads up to the deck, and there’s a screened-in dining and sitting area that’s perfect for eating outdoors without the bugs. There’s also a hot tub, a fire pit and a BBQ. Please note that the hottub does not have a chair lift to aid in getting in/out.

How to Book Country Oasis (Plus 20% Off with TORI20)

You can book Country Oasis on Airbnb. The owners were also generous enough to offer my readers 20% off, now through the end of June 2027 (please note that this property does not accept bookings through the winter). To claim your discount, simply message the owners before you book and mention the code TORI20, and they’ll give you 20% off your stay. It’s also a good time to request any equipment you need. If you’d rather discuss via email, you can also contact the owners at info@countryoasis.ca

✅ BOOK HERE: Country Oasis Accessible Retreat

If Country Oasis isn’t available for your dates, the Best Western Plus Woodstock Inn & Suites is about 15 minutes away and has a king accessible room with a roll-in shower. I haven’t stayed there myself, so I’d call ahead to confirm the room details, but it appears to be a great option. Best Western Plus Woodstock Inn & Suites

More Wheelchair Accessible Things to Do in Oxford County

The spa and the Airbnb might be why you visit Oxford County, but these stops are great additions to your relaxing weekend, and most are 15 to 30 minutes apart by car.

Sunset Picnic with Donkeys at Udderly Ridiculous Farm Life

A short drive from Country Oasis, Udderly Ridiculous Farm Life offers a private sunset picnic with their miniature donkeys. We were amazed by how gentle and sweet they were, and I left feeling so happy and calm. There’s something so therapeutic about spending time around animals.

The picnic was a spread of cheeses, crackers, salads and coleslaw from local vendors. It’s lighter than a full meal, so if you’re a big eater, I’d treat it as an appetizer and plan dinner afterwards.

Keep in mind that you’re on a working farm. The ground is bumpy and uneven, with grass, gravel and wood chips plus a few small hills. I managed fine in my power wheelchair, but it isn’t a super smooth ride, so I took things slow. There’s an accessible washroom in the farm shop, though I didn’t use it myself. Unfortunately, pets and service animals aren’t allowed for the welfare of the animals.

The picnic lasts two hours for two to four people aged 16 and up. At the time of writing, it costs $190.80 plus tax for two people or $318 plus tax for three to four. You can book online through their website, and gluten-free and vegetarian options are available with 48 hours’ notice.

Gunn’s Hill Artisan Cheese: An Accessible Cheese Factory Tour in Woodstock

Oxford County is known as the Dairy Capital of Canada, so a cheese factory tour felt like a must, and it ended up being one of my favourite parts of the trip. Gunn’s Hill Artisan Cheese is a family-owned business just outside Woodstock, and they welcomed us with open arms. We went behind the scenes to see how the cheese is made, and they let us taste so many cheeses, which was a dream for a cheese lover like me.

The factory and tour were completely accessible, and there’s an all-gender accessible washroom if you need a stop before heading on. The shop is at 445172 Gunn’s Hill Road and is open Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please note that for food safety reasons, they can only book tours when they are not in production which is usually in the afternoon.

Woodstock Art Gallery: A Quiet, Fully Accessible Indoor Stop

For a quiet indoor stop, the Woodstock Art Gallery at 449 Dundas Street in downtown Woodstock is a nice way to spend an hour or two of your day. The galleries are wide and spacious, and there’s an elevator to the second floor along with automatic doors and accessible washrooms on every floor. Wheelchairs and sensory support kits are available at the front desk.

Admission is by donation (PWYC), and the gallery is open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There’s an accessible parking spot at the main entrance and free two-hour street parking nearby.

Brunch and Flower Fields at Makkink’s Flower Farm in Tillsonburg

Makkink’s Flower Farm in Tillsonburg is a family flower farm and bakery café, and I can’t even tell you how amazing the flowers smelled! We came for brunch and ordered avocado toast, soup, and sandwiches with iced coffee and tea. We also got a lavender loaf, which was beyond delicious. In addition to brunch, you can cut your own bouquet to take home, try a flower tasting with edible flowers or book high tea.

The café is large and easy to get around, and there are big accessible washrooms. The fields, however, are mostly grass, some hills and a fair distance to cover between the different flower beds. I didn’t have any trouble in my power wheelchair, but manual wheelchair users may want someone to help push.

Makkink’s is at 164604 Kellett Road and is open seasonally from May until Christmas Eve. Hours vary, so check their website before you go.

Where to Eat in Woodstock: Accessible Restaurants Worth Knowing

Amicucci’s Risto by Dolcetto: Upscale, Accessible Italian in Woodstock

For something upscale, Amicucci’s Risto by Dolcetto was exceptional, and we had some of the best food and wine of the trip there. I had the mushroom risotto, and my friends ordered the Atlantic salmon and the linguine di mare (which was a fabulous seafood pasta).

The restaurant has lots of space to move around between tables. The wheelchair accessible washroom is behind the bar rather than with the other washrooms, so ask your server if you can’t find it.

Upper Thames Brewing Co.: Casual Craft Beer in Woodstock

If you want something more casual, Upper Thames Brewing Co. is Oxford County’s first craft brewery and has great beer and pub food. We shared a tasting flight, nachos and their beer cheese dip. They have standalone all-gender accessible washrooms, and you’ll find them at 225 Bysham Park Drive in Woodstock.

Getting to Oxford County from Toronto in a Wheelchair

Driving, Parking and Nearby Road Trip Stops

I drove my own accessible vehicle, and it took about an hour and a half from Toronto, mostly along Highway 401. You’ll need a car here, since the stops in this guide stretch from Innerkip to Tillsonburg. If you don’t have your own vehicle, you can compare rental cars from Toronto here, although you’ll need a specialty accessible rental company for a wheelchair accessible van. Universal Motion is a great pick for wheelchair accessible van rentals in Toronto, if that’s something you need.

Parking was easy everywhere we went, and in downtown Woodstock we used street parking for the art gallery and Amicucci’s.

If you want to turn this into a longer road trip, Stratford is about 40 minutes from Woodstock and Waterloo Region is about 40 minutes from Innerkip. You can find all my favourite stops in my wheelchair accessible Stratford and wheelchair accessible Waterloo Region guides.

Final Tips for Your Wheelchair Accessible Oxford County Getaway

• Let the staff at Wave Nordic Spa know when you want the pool lift, and they’ll set it up at whichever pool or hot tub you choose.
• For a sunset dinner at KALOS, go on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday and book a later seating.
• Message the Country Oasis owners with code TORI20 for 20% off, and request any equipment you need when you book.
• Expect grass, gravel and small hills at the farm and flower fields. Manual wheelchair users may want someone to help push.

I went into this trip not knowing what to expect and came home more relaxed than I’ve felt in a long time. Sometimes the best trips really are right in your own backyard, so if you’ve been looking for an excuse to book a local getaway, let this be it! If you’re planning more accessible trips close to home, check out my guides to wheelchair accessible Petawawa and Central Huron.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wheelchair Accessible Oxford County