Contact Us
| Contact |
Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge
|
| Location | Nestled in the heart of the Prairie Pothole Region of North America, the Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge is located 27 miles northeast of Aberdeen, SD. |
| Hours | Visitor center/main office
open Monday-Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm with the exception of federal holidays. Refuge lands are open daylight hours only. Refuge interior lands, gates, and roads, including Wildlife Drive are open to the general public from April 1 thru mid October. Walk-in only access is allowed from February 1 to April 1. Roads may close periodically after April 1 due to weather conditions. |
Getting Here
NOTE: When using this feature, you will be leaving
the US Fish & Wildlife Service domain. We do not control the
content or policies of the site you are about to visit. You should
always check site policies before providing personal information
or reusing content.
These driving directions are provided as a general guide only. No representation is made or warranty given as to their content, road conditions or route usability or expeditiousness. User assumes all risk of use.
From Aberdeen, SD
Take State Highway 12 east six miles to Brown County Highway 16 at Bath
corner. Turn north onto Brown County 16 and follow brown directional
signs. Headquarters visitor center is located on Brown
County Highway 16 approximately 8 miles north of Columbia, SD. Or take
State Highway 281 north to Highway 10 east. Travel east on Highway 10 to
Brown County 16. Follow brown directional signs to refuge headquarters, three
miles south on Highway 16.
Take Highway 12 west out of the Minneapolis area (Wayzata) to six miles east of the Aberdeen area, approximately 230 miles. At Bath, SD, watch for brown highway directional signs. Turn north onto Brown County Highway 16 at Bath, SD. Follow brown directional signs. Refuge headquarters and visitor center are located on Brown County 16 approximately 8 miles north of Columbia, SD.
From Fargo, ND
Travel south on Interstate 29 to South Dakota
State Highway 12 exit at Summit, SD. Turn west onto State Highway 12. Travel
approximately 68 miles to Brown County Highway 16 at Bath, SD. Turn
north onto Brown County 16. Follow brown directional signs. Refuge
headquarters and visitor center is located on Brown County 16
approximately 8 miles north of Columbia, SD.
From Sioux Falls, SD
Travel north on Interstate 29 to
the State Highway 12 exit (Aberdeen, Summit) . Turn west onto State Highway 12. Travel
approximately 68 miles to Brown County Highway 16 at Bath, SD. Turn
north onto Brown County 16. Follow brown directional signs. Refuge
headquarters and visitor center is located on Brown County 16
approximately 8 miles north of Columbia, SD.
From Pierre, SD
Take Highway 14 east to Highway
281. Travel north on Highway 281 through Aberdeen to Highway 10 east.
Travel east on Highway 10 to Brown County 16. Follow brown directional
signs to refuge headquarters, three miles south on Highway 16.
From Rapid City, SD
Travel east on Interstate
90 to Highway 281 exit (near Plankington, SD). Travel north on Highway
281 through Aberdeen to Highway 10 east. Travel east on Highway 10 to Brown
County 16. Follow brown directional signs to refuge headquartes, three miles
south on Highway 16.
From Jamestown, ND
Travel south on Highway 281
through Ellendale, ND into South Dakota. Turn east onto
Highway 10 to Brown County 16. Follow brown directional signs to
refuge headquarters, three miles south on Highway 16.
Local Communities
Aberdeen, SD
-Population 26,091
-27 miles southwest of the refuge headquarters
-Gas, groceries, restaurants, lodging, entertainment, commercial airport, and other amenities.
Contact the Aberdeen Convention and Visitor's Bureau
for more information.
Houghton, SD
-Population less than 100
-7 miles east of the refuge headquarters
-Restaurant, camping, no gas
Columbia, SD
-Population 134
-8 miles south of the refuge headquarters
-Restaurant, small hotel, camping, post office, no gas
Hecla, SD
-Population 295
-17 miles north of the refuge headquarters
-Limited groceries, gas, restaurant, post office
Oakes, ND
-Population 1,752
-30 miles north of the refuge headquarters
-Lodging, dining, food
service, fuel, camping
