Visit Us
National wildlife refuges offer us all a chance to unplug from the stresses of daily life and reconnect with our natural surroundings. Savannah NWR is open 365 days a year from sunrise to sunset, unless otherwise posted. Due to an on-going habitat restoration project, the Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive and all trails north of SC 170 are closed. The project is on-schedule to be completed in late 2022/early 2023, and we plan to re-open the wildlife drive in spring of 2023. The Savannah NWR Visitor Center is currently closed due to staffing shortages
Please do not use ride services such as Uber and Lyft to visit the refuge as most sites require driving to and from, and cellular service is not always available.
Activities
There are wildlife-dependent recreational activities offered year-round at Savannah National Wildlife Refuge including hiking, bicycling, wildlife viewing, photography, fishing and hunting.
Related Documents
Other Facilities in the Complex
Savannah NWR is one of seven refuges administered by the Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex which is headquartered at the Savannah NWR Visitor Center located in Hardeeville, South Carolina.
Rules and Policies
There are many fun and interesting things to do and see during your visit to Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, but it is our job to ensure the habitat that our wildlife calls "home" is protected. Below are some important regulations that help keep both visitors and wildlife safe.
- The refuge is open during daylight hours only; overnight use and/or camping (including campfires) are not permitted.
- Some areas may be closed seasonally to protect wildlife from human disturbance. Such areas are posted "Area Beyond This Sign Closed."
- Feeding, capturing, or harassing wildlife is strictly prohibited unless authorized by permit.
- Launching, landing, or disturbing of wildlife by aircraft (drones) on the refuge is prohibited.
- Dogs, cats, and other pets are not permitted on the refuge unless confined inside a vehicle.
- Picking or cutting vegetation is prohibited.
- All of the refuge's archaeological and natural resources are protected. Artifact hunting/collecting is not allowed.
- Automobiles must remain on the wildlife drive. Hikers and bicyclers are encouraged to stay on marked trails.
- The refuge, unless otherwise posted, is open to hiking, biking, wildlife observation, interpretation, environmental education, and photography. It is also open, in certain areas and times of the year, to hunting and fishing; review refuge hunting and fishing regulations for details.