Deserts

You need to go.
There's nowhere to go.

A Restroom Desert is a high-traffic area with no public restroom in reach. They're not accidents — they're the result of decades of policy neglect. And they affect millions of people every day.

See your city's deserts → Why this matters
What Is a Restroom Desert?
A gap in coverage where people are left without options.

A Restroom Desert is any high-traffic area — a park, a neighborhood, a trail corridor, a commercial strip — where public restroom access is non-existent or severely inadequate given the volume of people present.

The term was coined by the nonprofit PHLUSH and cited by AARP as a critical lens for understanding public space equity. PortaDash uses community-verified data to map these gaps across cities around the world.

"Cities do not have sufficient public restrooms, and those that are available often do not accommodate people with a variety of needs." — AARP Principles in Action, 2022
The numbers don't lie
8
Public restrooms per 100,000 people in the U.S. — compared to 56 in Iceland
5×
Average number of restroom visits per person per day, according to the Dutch Toilet Organization
~1M
Americans who lack basic sanitation — the majority in urban, low-income communities

Why It Matters

Restroom access is an equity issue, not a convenience one.

🏃
Runners & Cyclists
Long-distance routes through restroom deserts force detours, early stops, or worse. Access along trails and greenways is a basic infrastructure need.
👴
Older Adults
Uncertainty about restroom access leads older adults to limit outdoor activity and social participation — reinforcing isolation and health decline.
👶
Parents & Caregivers
Traveling with young children requires predictable access. Restroom deserts make entire neighborhoods feel off-limits for families.
♿
People with Disabilities
Accessible facilities are rare even where restrooms exist. For people with mobility or medical conditions, a desert isn't just inconvenient — it's exclusionary.
🏥
Chronic Health Conditions
People with Crohn's, IBS, incontinence, or other conditions need reliable nearby access. Deserts can confine them to their homes.
🏙️
Everyone Who Walks
Walkability, tourism, and public life all suffer when people can't confidently venture out. Restrooms are infrastructure — like sidewalks.
Interactive Map
Find the deserts in your city.
Search any city to see where public restrooms exist — and where they don't. Zoom in to level 11+ to load OSM data.
Public restroom (verified)
Community pin (user-reported)
Porta potty (user-reported)
Library
Museum
Desert zone (no facility within ½ mi)

We count dedicated public toilets and park facilities. Commercial spaces like restaurants and retail are not included.

Search your city to see its restroom gap. Try "Richmond, VA" or "Austin, TX"

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Community Pins
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OSM Facilities
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Visible on Map
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OSM data © OpenStreetMap contributors · Community pins from PortaDash users · For civic planning purposes only
Data updated continuously by the PortaDash community. Request a city report for your council →

Our Ambition

The first neighborhood-by-neighborhood map of restroom deserts in America.

We started in Richmond. We are not stopping there. Our goal is every census tract, every city, every state — the most comprehensive public restroom access dataset ever created, so no community gets left behind.

In progress
Phase 1
Richmond, Virginia
Tract-level gap analysis. Best and worst five neighborhoods. A real report in the hands of city council.
Next
Phase 2
50 U.S. Cities
Peer city comparisons at neighborhood scale. Enough data to show national patterns and earn press coverage.
Future
Phase 3
Every City. Every State.
All 73,000 U.S. census tracts. State and national averages. A public dataset any city council, researcher, or resident can use.

This changes when we map it together.

Every pin added to PortaDash makes the picture clearer. Download the app, add your local restrooms, and help us turn data into action.

Request a City Report