10 Renowned Wildlife Refuges with Nearby Bird Camping

National parks and forests may steal the spotlight, but it’s often national wildlife refuges—managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service—that provide some of the best birdwatching opportunities in the country. 

Home to both common and endangered species, wildlife bird sanctuaries and refuges offer diverse natural habitats and minimal human disturbance—the ideal birding conditions for those camping near these protected areas. 

In partnership with the National Audubon Society, you can now view Important Bird Areas (IBA) on Hipcamp with a new map layer that makes it easy to discover campsites and bird refuges near you. You can also use the Wildlife Refuge map layer to find on-site camping or nearby private glamping yurts and RV sites that are as diverse as the wild birds you’ll spot along the nature trails. 

Let’s dive into some epic places for nearby bird camping:

Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Montana 

Set in the Centennial Valley in southwestern Montana, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge spans wetlands, grasslands, mountains, and forests, providing a home to a variety of bird species. Two on-site campgrounds offer primitive tent camping on a first-come, first-served basis. 

When to visit: Look for baby birds in late spring, notably the trumpeter swan cygnets that hatch in June. They migrate out of the refuge in late fall. 

Species to spot: 

• Sandhill crane
• Peregrine falcon
• American avocet
• Short-eared owl
• Red-tailed hawk

Nearby camping for easy access:

• Starlight Retreat Yellowstone (20 miles from the east entrance)
• Yellowstone Wander Camp (23 miles from the east entrance)
• Angell Creek Campground (30 miles from the east entrance)

Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, Maine

Set on the southern coast of Maine, Rachel Carlson National Wildlife Refuge is excellent for spotting seabirds and shorebirds along its salt marshes and estuaries. While there’s no on-site camping, it’s a great spot for a day trip where campers can attend educational programs about wildlife rehabilitation efforts.

When to visit: Waterfowl arrive in winter and early spring. However, spring and summer mark the peak of shorebird migrations. 

Species to spot: 

• Snowy egret
• Piping plover
• Glossy ibis
• Semipalmated sandpiper
• Short-billed dowitcher

Nearby camping for easy access:

• Private Cozy Camper Near Beaches (6 miles from the main Port Road entrance)
• Dancing Lawn (8 miles from the main Port Road entrance)
• Bravenit Camp (12 miles from the main Port Road entrance)

J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Florida

Home to Florida’s mangrove forests and submerged seagrass beds, J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge is a top birding location with over 245 species. Start at the free education center before heading out to more than 2,000 miles of hiking trails and boardwalks. Then, stay at Hipcamps around Cape Coral and Fort Myers, as this refuge doesn’t offer on-site camping.

When to visit: To see shorebirds and waterfowl migrate here, plan a stay from October to March. The refuge is open year-round, but hurricane season—from June to November—may result in occasional closures.

Species to spot: 

• Brown pelican
• Red-bellied woodpecker
• Roseate spoonbill
• Anhinga
• Osprey

Nearby camping for easy access:

• Coastal RV Getaway-Beach Nearby! (13 miles from the main Wildlife Drive entrance)
• Hub on A and Dub (15 miles from the main Wildlife Drive entrance)
• Pine Island Paradise! (38 miles from the main Wildlife Drive entrance)

Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, Texas

A protected habitat for some 400 avian species and diverse native plants, the Santa Ana Refuge spans over 2,000 acres of subtropical forests and wetlands on the southern tip of Texas. Even though there’s no on-site camping at this refuge, there are private campgrounds in the nearby Lower Rio Grande Valley that offer easy access to this prime birdwatching location.

When to visit: Hundreds of thousands of raptors pass through the refuge on their annual spring and fall migrations. Check for local flooding alerts before visiting. 

Species to spot: 

• Green jay
• Northern harrier
• Hook-billed kite
• Plain chachalaca
• Buff-bellied hummingbird

Nearby camping for easy access:

• Further We Go (48 miles from the main Green Jay Road entrance)
• Goats Gone Wild! (56 miles from the main Green Jay Road entrance)
• Mis Raices – MY FAMILY ROOTS (59 miles from the main Green Jay Road entrance)

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, North Carolina

Take a trip to North Carolina’s Outer Banks to see Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. Campers often witness vast flocks of ducks, swans, and geese cascading above ocean beaches on day trips to the refuge from private campgrounds nearby.

When to visit: Migratory waterfowl and shorebirds are major highlights—they pass through from March to May and again from September to November. 

Species to spot: 

• Bald eagle
• Tundra swan
• Least tern
• Northern goshawk
• Wood duck

Nearby camping for easy access:

• Hip Kite Camp! Hatteras Island, NC (11 miles from the main Highway 12 entrance)
• Beechland Campground (20 miles from the main Highway 12 entrance)
• Captain’s Corner (47 miles from the main Highway 12 entrance)

Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, California

Don Edwards San Francisco Bay NWR was founded in 1974 and is the first national wildlife refuge in the United States. This IBA serves as a crucial stopover for migratory birds along the Pacific Flyway. It’s also the home of native birds like the California clapper rail. Plus, campers can stay just miles away at private campgrounds in the Bay Area.

When to visit: While birding at Don Edwards is excellent year-round, millions of migratory birds pass through the refuge every spring and fall.

Species to spot: 

• American white pelican
• Chestnut-backed chickadee
• Yellow warbler
• Turkey vulture
• Hooded oriole 

Nearby camping for easy access:

• Bella Foret (beautiful forest) (15 miles from the Ravenswood entrance)
• Lobitos Creek (17 miles from the Bair Island entrance)
• The Ranch at Cross Road (27 miles from the main Fremont entrance)

Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma

At over 100 years old, Oklahoma’s Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is another one of the oldest managed wildlife areas in the U.S. The on-site Doris Campground offers both walk-in tent sites and electric RV sites with shared flush toilets and showers. 

When to visit: Note that sensitive habitats may close during breeding or nesting seasons—check in on the refuge’s website. Campers visiting in fall and winter will want to keep an eye out for eagles.

Species to spot: 

• Golden eagle
• Cooper’s hawk
• Grasshopper sparrow
• Great blue heron
• Canada goose

Nearby camping for easy access:

• Hippie Hill (9 miles from the main visitor center entrance)
• Paradise Valley Outlanders Plot (12 miles from the main visitor center entrance)
• Bexar Cave RV Park (26 miles from the main visitor center entrance)

Merced National Wildlife Refuge, California

The Merced National Wildlife Refuge in central California hosts up to 60,000 geese each year on their annual migration. Campers can stay nearby in Merced at private campsites with ample space for tents, RVs, and big rigs.

When to visit: Waterfowl end their fall migration here, arriving in late October and November to stay for winter. 

Species to spot: 

• Snow goose
• Lesser sandhill crane
• Ross’s goose
• Great horned owl
• Cattle egret 

Nearby camping for easy access:

• Vanessa W.’s Land (21 miles from the main entrance)
• Rachel O’s Land (33 miles from the main entrance)
• Cole Ranch (43 miles from the main entrance)

Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge, South Carolina

All areas of the Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge in South Carolina are open to exploration on foot. Plan a day trip to explore the refuge and keep your binoculars handy as you pass through wetlands, upland pine forests, and open grasslands with views of over 200 migratory and native bird species. Then, set up camp for the night just a few miles away at private campgrounds with RVs for rent.

When to visit: Red-cockaded woodpeckers are especially visible in April and May, coinciding with visits from nested woodducks and Canadian geese. 

Species to spot: 

• Brown-headed nuthatch
• Prothonotary warbler
• Red-cockaded woodpecker
• Common loon
• Black vulture

Nearby camping for easy access:

• Dennis & Melissa’s Hidden Creek (6 miles from the main entrance)
• Dr. Easterlin’s lake front camper (10 miles from the main entrance)
• Wolff Woods (12 miles from the main entrance)

Horicon National Wildlife Refuge, Wisconsin

Wisconsin’s Horicon National Wildlife Refuge is a Wetland of International Importance, set along the Mississippi Flyway for migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, and songbirds. Campers can attend public and private educational programs before setting up nearby at private campsites near Green Lake and Cedarburg. 

When to visit: The fall migration from September to November delivers huge numbers of mallards, ducks, sandhill cranes, and Canadian geese.

Species to spot: 

• Horned lark
• Red-winged blackbirds
• Blue jay
• White-faced ibis
• Whooping crane

Nearby camping for easy access:

• Hattie Sherwood Campground (29 miles from the main Highway 49 entrance)
• EAA Availability (31 miles from the main Highway 49 entrance)
• Purplehaze Acres (36 miles from the main Highway 49 entrance)

Leave it better: Wildlife refuge camping

America’s national wildlife refuges specifically set out to protect and conserve vital lands for wild plants and animals. As you set out on your birdwatching and camping adventures from Hipcamp collections near IBAs, follow the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace and strive to #LeaveItBetter.