Coastal North Carolina National Wildlife Refuges Gateway Visitor Center - Manteo, North Carolina

Coastal North Carolina National Wildlife Refuges Gateway Visitor Center

The Coastal North Carolina National Wildlife Refuges Gateway Visitor Center is a must-visit destination for nature enthusiasts and tourists alike. Located at 100 Conservation Way, Manteo, NC 27954, this exceptional visitor center offers a wealth of information and resources about the region's diverse wildlife and habitats.

Specializing in: Visitor center, Nature preserve, Tourist attraction

The visitor center is situated in a prime location, providing easy access to several national wildlife refuges in the area. With its wheelchair accessible entrance and parking lot, the center is designed to accommodate all visitors, ensuring an enjoyable experience for everyone.

Key features and services:

• Onsite services: The center provides informative exhibits, interactive displays, and knowledgeable staff to help visitors better understand and appreciate the region's natural beauty.
• Wheelchair accessible: The center takes into account the needs of all visitors by offering a wheelchair accessible entrance and parking lot, making it easy for everyone to explore and learn.
• Good for kids: With its engaging exhibits and educational programs, the visitor center is an excellent destination for families with children, fostering a love for nature and conservation from a young age.

Additional points of interest:

In addition to the visitor center, the surrounding area offers numerous opportunities for outdoor recreation and wildlife viewing, including hiking trails, birdwatching, and paddling opportunities.

Reviews and ratings:

The Coastal North Carolina National Wildlife Refuges Gateway Visitor Center has garnered impressive feedback from visitors. With 304 reviews on Google My Business, the center boasts an impressive average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars. Visitors consistently praise the center's informative exhibits, friendly staff, and the overall experience it provides.

To learn more about the Coastal North Carolina National Wildlife Refuges Gateway Visitor Center or plan your visit, please visit their website at fws.gov or call them at 2524731131.

👍 Reviews of Coastal North Carolina National Wildlife Refuges Gateway Visitor Center

A D.

5/5

So neat!!! So much to see inside! Awesome trails outside. Plenty of parking. Dogs permitted outside on leashes. Really nice bathrooms inside. Educational dioramas, cool air plane paired with video tours that feel like your flying, old "cabin" theater showing the history of Buffalo City, bigger theater with various longer movies if you have an afternoon to spare, wonderful gift shop where ALL proceeds support the refuge. Take the time to speak to the volunteers they will share cool stories, local lore, favorite locations, make suggestions of must see things in the area and wild life sweet spots.

David L.

5/5

• We visited on a Thursday afternoon in late December 2023 (after Christmas).
• There was a large parking lot with a ton of spots. There was one group there when we arrived who were just leaving and we didn’t encounter another group until we were leaving about a hour later.
• They do have the Blue Goose Stamps here specifically for Pea Island NWR and Alligator River NWR. The store here had merch from several of the local NWR, similar to those over at Pea Island.
• This is a must stop location for sure. It’s right across the street from the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site but had so many fewer people.
• The store had a ton of merch in it similar to Pea Island NWR.
• The exhibits in here are the BEST of any National Wildlife Refuge we’ve been too. It’s up there with Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery in KY and Waccamaw NWR in SC. The kids spent a good 20 mins doing ALL of the aerial tours in the “plane simulator”. We also watch over 30 mins of the videos in their 4-D theater. Beware once you selected one video you must watch through the entire thing before selecting the next one. I would strong suggest doing them in order from top to bottom. It was just amazing. So many interactive and hands on exhibits. See pictures in my review.
• We were short on time and we unable to do the hiking trails outside the visitor center but we would certainly visit again to do those.

Meg M.

5/5

Going into this area, we were expecting some hiking trails but ended up staying in the car for a long and leisurely drive which is great on a hot day. We stopped at the visitor center for information and a map, and were on our way! On the drive, we saw three bears, a beautiful crane, and lots of flowering lilly pads. I'd love to go back and look for red wolves and river otters and alligators! I was also surprised by the visitor center. It's very well kept, with plenty of educational exhibits and information.

Forrest C.

5/5

Fun for the kids. Good exhibits for toddler - 12 yrs old. Staff was friendly. Small exhibit area but free! Took the little ones around the short trails.

David

5/5

It's a small visitor station that gives a small but informative display of animals in the wildlife preserve and ways conservation is being conducted

June K.

5/5

What a hidden gem! This a great resource for learning about all the wildlife in the area. A favorite part is the airplane you can "pilot" and watch aerial movies while you are "flying"! Very helpful staff and there is even an outdoor trail for hiking!

Ashley R.

4/5

The staff we're very knowledgeable about the area and animals we might come across. We live states away so the staff pointed us in the right direction. The land is huge and so much to explore that you can't do it all in one day. A lot of dirt/rocky roads and turtles. I just wish we saw the bears. We did see a deer, turkey and snake.

Heather M.

5/5

This visitor center is lovely and has creative exhibits. The information presented is both broadly generalized and specific to local areas. The gift shop is a delightful experience and has something to tempt everyone. I find this a lovely way to spend an hour or two.