Delaware has no commercial drive-thru safari or animal parks. The best way to see wildlife from your car in the state is a 12-mile Wildlife Drive through a national wildlife refuge on Delaware Bay, which is one of the top birding spots on the East Coast.
- Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge (Smyrna)
BOMBAY HOOK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Type: Self-guided 12-mile Wildlife Drive through a national wildlife refuge, with stops for walking trails and observation towers
Location: 2591 Whitehall Neck Road, Smyrna, DE 19977 (on Delaware Bay, about 10 miles north of Dover)
Phone: (302) 653-9345
Website: fws.gov – Bombay Hook NWR · Visit Info · Trail & Auto Tour Map · Bird Checklist · Rules & Policies
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Size: 16,251 acres along 8 miles of Delaware Bay. About four-fifths of it is tidal salt marsh, one of the largest remaining stretches in the mid-Atlantic.
Drive: 12 miles past freshwater pools, salt marsh, woodlands, and fields. You can drive, bike, or walk it.
Animals:
- Huge flocks of migrating waterfowl, including tens of thousands of snow geese in fall and winter.
- Also shorebirds, wading birds, bald eagles, raptors, white-tailed deer, red foxes, and turtles.
Admission: An entrance pass is required for the Wildlife Drive and trails. Call for the current daily vehicle fee. America the Beautiful passes are accepted.
Hours:
- Wildlife Drive & trails: Daily, from a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset
- Visitor Center: Mon–Sat 8 AM – 4 PM, and most Sundays 9 AM – 4 PM depending on volunteers. Closed federal holidays.
⚠️ Upcoming Hunt Closures:
- The refuge headquarters and Wildlife Drive will be closed October 10, November 14, and December 17 for hunting.
- Dutch Neck Rd and the Allee House area are closed Sept 1 – Feb 1.
Best Time:
- Fall and winter for the snow geese and other waterfowl.
- May for the shorebird migration.
- Early morning and evening for the most activity.
Walking Trails & Towers (along the drive):
- Raymond Tower Trail: 0.25 mi, with a 30-ft observation tower
- Boardwalk Trail over the salt marsh: 0.25 mi
- Parsons Point Trail: 1 mi
- Bear Swamp Trail: 0.25 mi, with a 30-ft tower and floating platform. The trail is accessible, but the tower and platform are not.
- Shearness Tower Trail: 0.25 mi, with a 30-ft tower
- Forest Discovery Tree Trail: 2.7 mi
Rules:
- Don’t disturb, flush, or lure wildlife. Bird calls and electronic devices aren’t allowed.
- No drones.
- Check for road closures during bad weather and hunting season.
Tips:
- Bring binoculars.
- In summer, bring insect repellent and wear long sleeves and long pants because biting flies and mosquitoes can be intense.
Other: The visitor center has exhibits, an auditorium with nature films, and the Friends Nature gift shop. There are also ranger-led and educational programs.
Explore Drive-Thru Wildlife Parks in Neighboring States:
Maryland · Pennsylvania · New Jersey