New York has two self-drive safari parks in upstate’s Southern Tier and Central NY. Both close for the season in October. For a free option, a refuge wildlife drive in the Finger Lakes is at its best during fall waterfowl migration.
- The Preserve Safari at Animal Adventure (Harpursville): closes October 18
- The Wild Drive Thru (Chittenango)
- Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (Seneca Falls)
THE PRESERVE SAFARI AT ANIMAL ADVENTURE
Type: Self-drive safari park and sister site to the Animal Adventure Park walk-thru zoo, which is across the road
Location: 42 Pease Rd, Harpursville, NY 13787 (off I-88, about 25 minutes northeast of Binghamton). The walk-thru zoo is at 85 Martin Hill Rd.
Website: theanimaladventurepreserve.com · Hours, Rates & Protocols · Animal Adventure Park Info
Social Media: Facebook
Size: 100+ acres, divided into themed paddocks: Aussie-Eurasia, The Americas, Africa, and Giants of Africa
Animals: Hundreds of animals of 30 species, including giraffes, rhinos (Tank the rhino is a star), bison, and elk. The roads wind through grassland, scrub, and deep forest.
Admission (ages 3+):
- Safari only: $16.99 per guest
- Same-day combo discount: Visit the walk-thru zoo first, then get Preserve Safari admission for just $8.98 per guest with the coupon from the zoo’s admissions desk.
- Animal Adventure Park walk-thru zoo: Ages 12+ $21.99, Ages 3–11 $19.03, Seniors (65+) $20
- Under 3: Free
- Dual-park annual membership: $150
- Animal feed is sold separately.
Hours:
- Daily 10 AM – 5 PM, last car entry 3 PM
- ⚠️ The final day of the 2026 season is October 18. In past years the park has occasionally added bonus weekends in late October if the weather holds.
- The indoor zoo experience (reservations required) reopens in November 2026, Thursday – Sunday 10 AM – 4 PM.
Tip: Do the walk-thru zoo in the morning, then the safari, to get the discounted rate. Remember the 3 PM safari cutoff.
THE WILD DRIVE THRU
Type: Self-drive safari paired with The Wild Animal Park walk-through zoo
Location: Just north of the Village of Chittenango, NY (off NY-5, about 20 minutes east of Syracuse)
Phone: (315) 510-3347
Website: thewildpark.com · Drive-Thru
Social Media: Check the website for current links.
Size: 40+ acres of pastures
Animals: A wide range of domestic and exotic animals from around the world, roaming free in multiple pastures
Admission:
- Drive-thru in your own vehicle: $12.99 per person over 2
- Ages 2 & under: Free
- Same-day combo (zoo + drive-thru): Adults $29.99, Children $27.99
- Drive-Thru Season Pass: $59.99
- Combo Season Pass: $89.99
- All prices are plus tax.
- THE BEAST: A guided safari vehicle tour is available as an alternative to driving yourself. Call for pricing.
Season: April through October. Call for fall hours and the final day of the season.
Rules:
- No outside animals, including service animals, in the drive-thru, because of the free-roaming wildlife and close contact.
MONTEZUMA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Type: USFWS national wildlife refuge with a free self-guided Wildlife Drive
Location: 3395 US Route 20 East, Seneca Falls, NY 13148 (north end of Cayuga Lake, off NY Thruway Exit 41)
Phone: (315) 568-5987
Website: fws.gov/refuge/montezuma · Friends of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex
Social Media: Facebook
Size: The refuge covers about 10,000 acres of wetlands. The Wildlife Drive is a 3.5-mile, one-way gravel loop around Main Pool.
Animals: Bald eagles, great blue herons, egrets, sandhill cranes, and huge fall flocks of snow geese, Canada geese, and ducks. Also white-tailed deer, muskrats, and river otters.
Admission: FREE
Hours:
- Wildlife Drive: Sunrise to sunset. It usually runs April through early December, depending on weather.
- Visitor Center hours vary by season. Call ahead.
Tips:
- Late October through November is peak waterfowl migration, with tens of thousands of geese.
- Stay in your car on the drive, which works as a wildlife blind.
- Bring binoculars and pair the visit with Finger Lakes wineries.
Explore Drive-Thru Wildlife Parks in Neighboring States:
Vermont · Massachusetts · Connecticut · New Jersey · Pennsylvania