The Savannah River is the lifeblood of the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge which provides rich habitats that support a diverse array of migratory and resident wildlife. Visitors are welcome on the 4.5 mile Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive and all refuge trails daily, from sunrise to sunset. The Visitor Center is open Monday thru Friday from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM (closed all Federal holidays). We do not charge an entrance fee.
Person standing in tall grass with rifle hunting for duck
Hunting Information
Savannah NWR offers hunting opportunities for deer, feral hog, turkey, waterfowl, and more!

Visit Us

Visitors canoing in one of the refuge's freshwater impoundments.
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National wildlife refuges offer us all a chance to unplug from the stresses of daily life and reconnect with our natural surroundings. There are wildlife-dependent recreational activities offered year-round at Savannah National Wildlife Refuge including hiking, bicycling, wildlife viewing, photography, fishing and hunting.  

The Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive and all refuge trails are open daily from sunrise to sunset, unless otherwise posted. The Visitor Center is open Monday - Friday from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, excluding all federal holidays.

Dogs and other pets are not allowed on refuge trails, leashed or not.*
They may ride in your vehicle with you around the wildlife drive. In addition to protecting birds and other native wildlife from disturbance, the "no dogs" policy is also in place to protect your pup. The refuge is full of hidden dangers big (American alligators) and small (LOTS of ticks!). 

*Dogs may be walked ON LEASH ONLY at Solomon Tract and in the areas of the refuge north of I-95 accessible from Purrysburg Road.

Location and Contact Information

      Please Don't Use Rideshare Services to Visit the Refuge

      The Savannah NWR Visitor Center is a 3-mile drive on two highways from the Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive.  If you get dropped off at the Visitor Center, you will have no transportation to get you to the wildlife drive which is our main wildlife viewing area. Cell service is terrible in this area as well so it may be impossible for you to contact the service to get a ride back. 

      About Us

      Bald cypress in bottomland hardwood forest at Savannah NWR
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      Savannah National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1927 as a sanctuary for migratory birds, most notably wintering waterfowl. The refuge lies in both Georgia and South Carolina, divided by the Savannah River, and encompasses over 30,000 acres of vital wildlife habitat, including tidal freswater marsh and bottomland hardwood forest.  

      What We Do

      Ducks landing in an impoundment at Savannah NWR.
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      Wildlife conservation is at the heart of the National Wildlife Refuge System. It drives everything on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands and waters managed within the Refuge System, from the purposes for which a national wildlife refuge national wildlife refuge
      A national wildlife refuge is typically a contiguous area of land and water managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service  for the conservation and, where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.

      Learn more about national wildlife refuge       is established to the recreational activities offered to the resource management tools used. Using conservation best practices, the Refuge System manages Service lands and waters to help ensure the survival of native wildlife species.  

      Our Species

      Purple gallinule with chick at Savannah NWR
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      Purple gallinule with chick at Savannah NWR

      The Savannah National Wildlife Refuge is an important link in the chain of wildlife refuges along the Atlantic Flyway, attracting thousands of migratory birds annually. The refuge also provides nesting habitat for wood ducks, purple gallinules, bald eagles, anhingas, and swallow-tailed kites, among others. A number of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and countless plant species can also be found.