Savannah National Wildlife Refuge

Visit untamed beauty on a former rice plantation.

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge alligator
American Alligator image by Becky Mathews.

The Savannah National Wildlife Refuge offers a variety of opportunities to explore and enjoy the great outdoors from sunrise to sunset every day. You can observe and photograph wildlife, fish, or during the season, hunt white-tailed deer.

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge egret.
Egret image by Joe DeLorme.

Make the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center your first stop when visiting the refuge. Located on Hwy 17 between Hardeeville and Savannah, it is open Monday – Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., but closed Sundays and all federal holidays.

Established in 1927, the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge protects old rice fields & numerous species of wildlife including ducks, birds, deer, & alligators. The 4-mile driving tour is free and open sunrise to sunset.

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge former rice field
Former rice fields are preserved at the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge.

The Visitor Center provides visitors a more enhanced refuge experience. Friendly and knowledgeable staff and volunteers are always on-hand at the front desk to help get you where you need to go, as well as answer any questions you may have.

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge rice trunk
Rice trunks are still in use.

While there be sure to watch the 10-minute video about the refuge, its history, and current management practices. The center also includes interactive exhibits to further your understanding of the refuge’s vast wildlife and habitat resources.

Outside you’ll find the Beech Hill Trail, which leads visitors along a short, paved interpretive pathway that borders the edge of a cypress swamp. There’s also a pollinator garden filled with plants that are beneficial to butterflies, bees, dragonflies and more. It’s most active from late spring through fall.

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge egret
Egret photo by Vlad Hrybok.

A bird sanctuary contains a small arrangement of birdbaths, misters, and feeders that attract a variety of birds throughout the year; especially during the spring and fall when many birds are migrating through the refuge.

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge rice field
Photo by April Zarzycki.

The Visitor Center has clean, spacious restrooms and ample parking for vehicles, including buses and RVs. Be sure to use the facilities here, because the refuge is a short drive away, and has no restroom facilities.

After a trip to the Visitor Center turn left on Hwy 17, then left again onto SC 170 to head to the refuge for a driving, hiking or cycling tour.

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge wood stork
Wood Stork image by Julie Strickland.

Wildlife viewing is excellent for photography, especially during fall, winter, and spring, along the 4-mile Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive and adjacent hiking/bicycling trails.

The American alligator is king here, with upwards of 25 individuals having been reported seen during one visit. Many species of wading and marsh birds can also be spotted here throughout the year.

The trails adjacent to the Kingfisher Pond Recreation Area are great for watching woodland songbirds such as prothonotary warblers and American redstarts during spring and fall migrations. Summertime brings in purple gallinules in the managed impoundments and swallow-tailed kites soaring in the sky; both species nest on the Refuge.

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge blue heron
Blue Heron image by Pamela Clisbee.

The Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive affords photographers of all skill levels excellent opportunities to photograph wildlife, especially American alligators and a variety of different wading birds. Visitors may also utilize the photo blind located along the Cistern Trail.

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge drive
The drive into Savannah NWR.

The Savannah National Wildlife Refuge is a part of the Savannah Coastal Refuges GeoTrail! There is a special geocache for each refuge in our complex to help you learn more about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Wildlife Refuge System, and the Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex!

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge blue heron
Blue Heron photo by Eduardo Burgos.

For more information on other attractions in the area visit the South Carolina Lowcountry Tourism Website.

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge trail map
Savannah National Wildlife Refuge trail map. Note: this map also shows the location of the Visitor Center.
Carmen Pinckney

See what our visitors love about the
SOUTH CAROLINA LOWCOUNTRY

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The Lowcountry & Resort Islands Region of South Carolina includes the four, southern-most counties in the state, Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton, and Colleton, which are bordered on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and on the west by the Savannah River and the state of Georgia.

simplysoutherncottage keeps us in awe with each her projects. This bed swing refresh is one of our favorites!
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📸: simplysoutherncottage⠀
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Headed down the road....Edisto Island.  #edisto #sclowcountry #trees #endofday  #beauty #islandsofsc
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The shore gently recedes beneath the stunning Pawleys Island Pier. The unique island town, located about 25 miles south of Myrtle Beach and 70 miles north of Charleston, exudes laid-back, beachy vibes. Locals have definitely adopted an island state of mind and encourage visitors to as well. When you go, make sure to relax on the beach, explore the famous sand dunes, or fish in one of the many adjacent creeks.⏰ Best time of the day to visit: We guarantee that you’re going to want to spend a whole day here. We recommend getting to the beach at around 10am.🗓️ Best time of the year: Pawleys Island has the best weather during the spring and early summer months.🏖️ Things to do while there: Pawleys Island Nature Park, Pawleys Island Chapel, Hopsewee Plantation.🐠 Things to visit in the area: Brookgreen Gardens (brookgreen_gardens), take a walking ghost tour, Myrtle Beach (mymyrtlebeach), Harborwalk Marina, South Carolina Maritime Museum (southcarolinamaritimemuseum).🏨 Where to stay: The Oceanfront Litchfield Inn (oceanfrontlitchfieldinn), Litchfield Beach and Golf Resort (litchfieldbeachandgolf), Sea View Inn (seaviewinn), 620 Prince (620prince).Photo by qcphotographer
Come explore the Beaufort Arsenal, an iconic landmark that has stood the test of time since the 1700s. Located in the heart of downtown Beaufort, South Carolina, this historic site is a testament to the city's rich cultural heritage and architectural legacy. It is a must-visit destination for history buffs, architecture enthusiasts, and anyone who wants to experience the charm and character of this southern city.#thatsmylowcountry #naturallyamazing #sclowcountry #beaufortarsenal #beaufortsc #discoversc #sctourism
“Cypress Sentinel”
24”x30” oil on canvas#art #kunst #oilpainting #allaprima #crane #cypress #sesquicentennialstatepark #southcarolina #sclowcountry #charlestonartist #charlestonartistcollective #grandbohemiangallery #americanimpressionism #southernartist #wildlifepainting
Beacon of hope
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At the beach…lock.latch#lockandlatch #lockandlatchinstalls #windowinstallation #doorinstallation #customhome #newbuild #southcarolina #sclowcountry #architecture #craftmanshipdetail
Discover at your own leisure at the coastaldiscoverymuseum 🌳  From century-old buildings with storied pasts, to wooden boardwalks that stretch into the Jarvis Creek salt marsh, there's always something to explore!
Built in 1790, The Cuthbert House is a historic mansion turned Bed and Breakfast with stunning water views  in Beaufort, SC
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Come on in. The pool water - and the comfy beds upstairs - are juuuuuust right. 😉​​​​​​​​​
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I ♥️ this picture, and every time I come across it, I get in my feelings. This is a very young me standing barefoot in front of my Papa Franklin’s store (JH Rivers & Sons) on Main Street in Hampton, SC, sucking my thumb, no less. There has been a lot of talk about little ole Hampton recently and in the past few weeks especially. A little community most people had never heard of much less stepped foot in. Well, my roots run deep in Hampton County, going back generations and at the very least more than 130 years! And let me tell you this, just like my mama, my kids, etc. I can say whatever I want about this place, but if you’re not from here, you should probably keep your mouth shut. I’m getting really tired of people who probably couldn’t even point to Hampton on a map talking trash about it and putting our people down. Most of the people in Hampton are some of the most down to earth, genuine, good hearted people you’ll ever meet…black, white, rich, poor…doesn’t matter. Not to mention, being in the heart of the SC lowcountry, it is a beautiful place, too…God’s Country! My heart is filled with pride when I hear someone from Hampton speaking. I would recognize that accent and vernacular anywhere! A lot of these folks are pretty funny too! Additionally, family runs deep here. It seems that some people don’t understand folks standing by their family for better or worse. It doesn’t necessarily mean you always agree with or support what a loved one has done, but you stand in support of the rest of your family as well as those loved ones who have passed on. Also, you shouldn’t demonize an entire family based on the sins of one. Maybe  instead of passing judgement, you should pray for the family…most of us will never know what they are going through. In any event, I am proud of my Hampton County roots and the mostly good people who make up this community.♥️🍉
#hamptoncounty #hamptoncountyproud #sclowcountry #godscountry #familyovereverything #whhsreddevils
Beautiful historic resting place for those before us....these birds have found a piece of heaven to call their own!
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Life’s a party, always be ready to host 🍾.
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Beautiful night on the sunset river cruise with coastalexpeditions_beaufort#southcarolinaliving #southcarolina #southcarolinaphotographer #southcarolinalowcountry #sclowcountry #exploresouthcarolina #visitsouthcarolina #sunsets_captures #summernights #sunsetphotography #summervibes #southcarolinaphotography #beaufortsc #beaufort
“July”, 10x15,  oil on linen.  hortonhayesfineart hortonhayesfineartstudio markkelvinhortonstudio #sky #skydrama #skypainters #marsh #marshpainting #southcarolina #sclowcountry #charlestonsc #charlestonartists #landscapepaintingnow #landscapeartist #waterways #contemporarypainting #sunsets #sunsetpaintings #studiopainting
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The South Carolina Lowcountry Guidebook is filled with many things to see and do in the beautiful Lowcountry of South Carolina. Please fill out the information and we will send you a FREE GUIDE BOOK.

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