Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Reviews

Beautiful! I need a cheat sheet to identify the wildlife I’m seeing. White bird, black bird with long legs, duck with brown and white patches... not very scientific!

Spent most of the day here today.
Visited the Ranger Station first and picked up some good info and a very helpful Ranger gave us some good advice and routes to follow.
Saw a couple of alligators,tortoises(or were they turtles?),plenty of birds and more Manatees than we could count.
A tip, we found most Manatees at Blair’s Cove boat launch area.
So many we lost count. We got down on the dock and were right above them. A couple of people gently ruffled the water and some Manatees came over to investigate. The people were then able to gently stroke them and they seemed to like it(the Manatees that is).
Also drove Bio Lab Road and saw more than on the Black Point Drive although I would recommend you do that as well.
Take plenty of water/drinks. We only took one small bottle each and were there for longer than anticipated so could have done with some more.
I highly recommend.

Great place to photograph many different birds and alligators, especially along black point wildlife drive.

$10 for a car to drive around gravel roads to view gators, birds and wildlife. Didn't see any gators, saw a few birds that we see normally in Florida, grey herons, etc. We did go to the Manatee area and saw about 20 manatees, some were in a little inlet sleeping and the others were splashing around. Quite amazing! As for the BioLab, drove down the road, never found it. We did go to the Boat Ramp and saw some very interesting crabs. I've attached the pictures. Not worth the time or money in my opinion.

I would have liked to have seen the Roseate Spoonbills, they fly by our condo and are a beautiful pink bird. We did not get to see any!

The Black Point Wildlife Drive in the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge provided a great opportunity to see great views of many of Florida's bird species. We visited on a Monday and there was not a lot of traffic on the road so we were able to take our time and make several stops along the way. The $10 admission is very reasonable. You had better bring the correct amount as it is on the honour system and no change is available. We saw many birds species including wood stork, giant egret, anhinga, spoonbills and others. We also spotted a number of alligators both swimming and on the banks sunning. Unfortunately the only mammal we saw was a flat armadillo on the road as we were leaving the refuge. The brochure at the entrance was very informative and the fact that you can drop them off to be used again on your way out is very commendable. I would recommend this drive to anyone interested in nature activities.

Last time we were here there was hardly any water around the various lagoon areas, this time most of the areas were filled with water creating beautiful blue waters but unfortunately still lacking in the birds I had hoped to see. No large flocks of birds arrived or were already there while we were driving through. We did see a couple of alligators though.

Still a beautiful drive regardless of the lack of birds - oh and of course on our way out a fairly large flock of white birds were coming in for a landing !!

Great experience! We took the $10 Blackpoint wildlife drive (could do in about 45 minutes, we took longer, driving slowly and stopping to watch wildlife - both roads referenced in this review are gravel with a speed limit of 10 MPH) went in the visitor's center, and went to the Manatee Observation Deck. We saw lots of birds and several gators on the drive even though it was a bit rainy. The visitor's center had great displays (plenty of buttons to push for our little one!) and a friendly staff. At the manatee observation deck we had been warned the water may be a little too cool to see any manatees, but there were two just hanging out in the little inlet, and we had a surprise visit from a dolphin who surface repeatedly on the way through. We took another suggested road (Bio Lab) on our way out. It did go by the shoreline a little, but we didn't see nearly as much wildlife, and it took longer than anticipated so I wouldn't recommend it for families with younger kiddos or who anyone just ready to head out.

Beautiful trails and beaches, lots of water birds and ducks. We spent several hours just watching nature. A peaceful place, and the visitor's center is really helpful.

As a photographer, I've been coming to Merritt Island NWR for years. You never know what you'll encounter but I must say that the last few years the bird count has been down. Ten years ago you would tire from all the targets that availaded themselves around the area. Not so much the last few years. Still, I visit a couple times a year, as I say, you never know.

I absolutely love the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The Black Point Wildlife Drive gives visitors the opportunity to drive a long a 7 mile strip of land where you are bound to get up close and personal with some of our FL natives. Please note that this drive is one way in and out, it will take about an hour to drive, if you have little ones don't worry, halfway through the drive there are restrooms and a picnic area that the kids can get out and run around. Don't forget to stop at The Visitor Center where kids can also see Hands-On displays and pick up a map. Don't forget to pack sunscreen and bug spray no matter what time of the year it is as mosquitoes are very prevalent in the wetlands. Also know that you should pack a lunch because this located in the middle of nowhere and there are no restaurants or stores near it.

Hot day in Florida so being able to drive through the wetlands slowly was just great. Despite heat there was a lot of bird activity and we were also delighted to spot two alligators. Allow plenty of time to just sit and watch and bring good binoculars.
Visitor centre has small exhibition and was useful for ”orientation” (and loos). Staff were friendly, knowledgeable and helpful.
Most enjoyable visit and a real contrast to the Space Centre next door!

Visitor Center attractive and informative. Helpful staff. Bring your NPS lifetime pass to avoid $10/car fee for driving loops. Black Point Drive had many birds and young alligators. Don't use google maps GPS to find. Give wrong location.
One very rude visitor yelled at me because I had blocked his passing (One lane crushed rock loop Black Point Drive) If you don't have time or inclination to stop and view wildlife please don't visit. There are spots to pull over and let others pass.

Beautiful nature and you can see a lot of animals if you are a bit lucky on alligators.
Also nice for hiking and walking.

Cool place to visit... Great scenery and fresh air. Fun place to take family and out of town friends

Go there every October. This was the worst year ever. A lot of the water gone so the birds left also.. Saw about 20 birds, 3 gators, and 1 dead snake. Would like to know what happened. They moved the pay stand outside to the gate, you do not drive by it. No one was paying so I gave it an extra star..10/30/2018..

We had an amazing visit and wish we scheduled more time to spend here. First we stopped at the visitor centre to learn more about the refuge and get our park pass. The Blackpoint Wildlife Drive is an great 7 mile self-drive tour where you can see alligators, tons of different birds, and wild boars. Be sure to make a stop at the Manatee Observation Deck, where we saw four manatees and a dolphin. What a great way to top off our day.

We live close by and are constantly amazed at how beautiful this area is. Kayaking, fishing, birdwatching, surfing and sunbathing. It's got is all and never feels busy.

We missed the drive a few times so watch for the signs but it was worth it. Once you get onto the drive there is a $10 fee per car. Its a one way road and you may not be able to get around cars if they stop in the middle of the road. We saw otters, birds, a wild cat of some kind. Fires went through parts of it but still very interesting.

We went to pick up senior pass to the national parks at the Refuge. No rain for weeks so everything was pretty dried up. Not a lot of activity but once the summer rains start that will change things, I hope. Lots of trails, driving and hiking.

Went to the Visitor Center first for information. Outside back door is walkway and saw an Osprey at its nest. Then took a 7 mile drive on the Black Point Wildlife Drive. We were there in summer and a lot of the birds had migrated away. But still saw many birds. Also, there is Manatee viewing area about 10 miles North on Hwy 1 just passed drawbridge.

While you are visiting Kennedy Space Center and museums,you will want to save some leisure time to visit some of old Florida! Take your camera or phone, and you are sure to get some great photos! Maybe, even some real surprises! Enjoy the wild lands!

Gorgeous island, really beautiful. Forget the busy manatee viewing point and head for Bairs Cove Boat Ramp instead. There were maybe 30 manatees including babies playing in the water there - we’d previously paddled with them in kayaks (see my review of A Day Away Kayak Tours) so knew where to return to. We did the Black Point Wildlife Drive trail too - slightly uneventful after the manatees but did see the biggest gator of our hols there.

We really enjoyed our day exploring Merrit Island. Be sure to go the visitor centre first to get the latest news and sightings and to see the red throated hummingbirds that visit the feeders there.

The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is actually a collection of several points of interest. There is a visitor center with helpful staff to answer questions, an interesting display of local wildlife, and serves as the hub for a very nice, shaded 'boardwalk' walking path. I work a short distance from here, and it is a great place to unwind and just appreciate natural beauty. The lake/water at the visitor center has an abundance of wildlife, and yes, you might see an alligator.

There are several drives within the site also, some smoother than others. Time of day will determine what wildlife you are likely to see, but recently I've seen great blue herons, egrets, and a pileated woodpecker. Not long ago I saw a rosette spoonbill in flight over the waterway. Generally I'd recommend an early or late in the day visit- critters don't seem to appreciate the Florida heat any more than humans do.

At present, the bridge at Haulover canal is closed for repairs, and the manatee viewing area has to be reached from the North side- that means approaching from Oak Hill and not Titusville at this time. Luckily, I already knew that the Manatees were in residence at the boat launching area that is accessible from the Titusville approach (from my amazing morning spent kayaking with A-Day-Away Kayak tours where we had to approach the canal and launching site from the North access to the Refuge at Oak Hill), I made the trek back up US1 and down to Titusville then over to get to the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. I was rewarded with a few hours of watching literally dozens of manatees hanging out in the cove and out of the river current. They are a protected species, so don't touch or interact with them, but the gentle giants seem to be as curious about their observers as we are of them! Truly a wonderful surprise- so many manatees in one location!

We took the bus tour for a slight fee and seen all types of wildlife. Lots of different birds, gators and oh the manatees!! The manatees were the highlight of my trip to Florida. Don't know why I think they are so AWESOME, but there were lots of them. Our bus driver was very knowledgeable and friendly.

We had a fantastic day here. Lots of manatees and roseate spoonbills made it a day to remember along with countless ospreys.

For our first visit to Merritt Island NWR we took a guided nature bus tour. Reservations are required (we got the last slots for our 9 a.m. Saturday tour calling on a Thursday morning). The $5/person tour lasts 2.5-3 hrs and was guided by a retired park ranger, who did a very nice job explaining the flora and fauna at MINWR. Binoculars (low power 1.5x) were available for loan.

We saw gators, numerous shore birds, bald eagles, osprey, armadillo, and manatee. The guide stopped (briefly) at a couple of places to allow people to stretch their legs and take pictures. This was the highlight of our guest's week-long vacation in the Daytona Beach area. The only things I would change would be (1) a microphone for the guide and (2) more extended stops for those of us on the wrong side of the bus.

I believe that the roads we took are open to passenger vehicles, although some of them were in a gated part of the park (that probably require an entry fee). We plan on returning and doing a self-driving tour at a later time. The weather at this time of year was perfect. Recommend you bring a hat and light jacket (just in case) and wear sunscreen.

(Don't be turned off by the "bus" - it is a smaller shuttle-type bus, not a Greyhound.)

Made the mistake of going to the visitor center! We are 2 seniors and veterans that took our small (very quiet) adventure bikes to enjoy the area. We were really looking forward to the day. However, we were given a stare of disapproval before we even entered the building and upon going in figured out why. The 3 ladies behind the counter completlely disagreed with any motorcycle riding in the area, even though it was obvious they knew nothing of motorcycles or how quiet they can be. The oldest of the ladies, a senior herself, flat out told us that "we will scare her birds and that we should go get our wives and come back in a car". Popped our bubble to say the least. Completely caught us off guard and unexpected. Not a good experience and a perfect way to ruin the day. We got a map and left feeling bewildered that a perfect day was ruined after being treated like we were the hells angels. Myself, I was a wildlife rehabber and spent months in the gulf rescuing birds and turtles, tube feeding, washing, healing and releasing back after during the Gulf of Mexico oil crisis. Finally, we felt like we had the plague as we walked up to the ladies upon their look of disapproval. Unfortunate for sure. I find it funny with the sonic boom of the rockets and hunting allowed there that we are the problem in thier minds...

This is a great informational tour if you want to know more about and see birds in the wild in Florida. You will also see alligators and manatees on your tour and find out other interesting facts. It is only in the morning and you need to make reservations as the number of those touring is limited. The tour is two hours plus. We didn't see any wild pigs but they are also roaming around the refuge. They also offer an informational talk on alligators that is very interesting. There is a quarter of a mile hike you can take on a boardwalk. This is worth the visit.

Very cool place, lots of interesting scenery and wildlife. Volunteers were great, in spite of the government shutdown, which sent most all normal employees home.

We had this on our list to visit because there was a wildlife drive. We barely started the drive and we started seeing a lot of birds. Osprey, little blue herons, painted buntings, great egret, tri-color egret, glossy ibis, reddish egret, northern shovelers, wood stork...just to name a few! It was a very windy day, but the birds were everywhere. We had stopped at the Nature Center first for a walk around the boardwalk. We didn't see too much, but it was really cold and windy. The man working there was a great help showing us where we could go and giving us a map. The gift shop was small, but nice. We did not look for manatees, because he said it was too cold for them. You have a much better chance of seeing them in the summer or spring. Lovely place to spend 3-4 hours!

Went there for the specific intent to view manatee. Was here in December 2018 and they had some of their coldest weather on record. No manatee.

We stopped in the visitors center and were guided by some very nice desk persons. The Center was beautiful and done very nice.

We had a few hours to kill before we had to pick up our visitors. For all the years I have in Florida I have never visited this refuge. It really is a great place to see an extensive array of Florida wildlife. It's best to visit the Visitors Center first and pick up a map as there is some driving to do to see the land. The visitors center is very informative with examples of the flora and fauna of the area. There are staff on hand to answer your questions and orient you to the refuge. Be sure to pick up a map. We did the Black Point Wildlife Drive which is great because there are speed restrictions so you have a chance to see the animals and birds. There are pull offs to take pictures. If you want to see manatees go to the Bairs Cove Boat ramp. There is a small lagoon there and the manatees love to congregate there.

we came here sunday morning around 10am, visitor center is closed. we drive to black point wildlife drive, put 10$ in envelope in the entrance. it's very cloudy & windy in the beginning. we saw some birds only, no other animals. later the sky opens up, the view is beautiful, still, birds only. toward end of the drive, we spot a small gator in the water. Later we drive to manatee observation deck, lot of manatee!!! but water is muddy. we went to bairs cove too, less manatee, but we spot a dolphin! On the way out a turtle crossing the road :-) View is great, but I saw lot more gators & birds in "shark valley - everglades" in February some years ago.

If you like seeing nature, you'll love this place. There's a welcome center that has a boardwalk. The place is so immense, you could spend a few days there.

This is a great place to visit. The wild life is the best. From Bald eagles to turtles walking across the road. Bring a camera. Also great place to go to beach. With ample parking and nice restrooms. A must see if in the area.

Incredible nature preserve and wildlife viewing. Take the 2 hour guided bus tour as it's well worth the $5 per person cost, then explore on your own. Best viewing of the local creatures is early morning and late afternoon.

This is a great, unusual wildlife refuge to visit. The Black Point Wildlife Drive is probably the best place to go, as the park is best viewed from a car. You can take part of the Cruickshank Trail to the observation tower, where you can eat lunch while viewing the park.
The Visitor Information Center and boardwalk are also good to visit. At least when we visited, the boardwalk was pretty mosquito-free.
I've never hiked the Scrub Ridge Trail, but it's probably more mosquito-free than the Hammock Trails, the shortest of which is closed as of June 2017.
Be careful about summer because of the mosquitoes, along with the Kennedy Parkway closure (which runs through October), but I would recommend the wildlife refuge if you visit on a mosquito-free and storm-free day.
When there are mosquitoes and stormy weather, visit for 2-3 hours, but on clear weather you can spend more of the day at the park.

We thoroughly enjoyed our meandering drive through the refuge on a sunny afternoon in late December. It's thrilling to see alligators "in the wild," peacefully sunny themselves at water's edge. We saw so many that we lost count! We also observed two armadillos and countless birds including beautiful pink spoonbills.

Be sure you check out Biolab Road. We saw dolphins, tons of birds, turtles, and 2 huge gators! Be sure you pull over to the side to let others pass. Watch out for jerks going the wrong way, too.

We found the refuge by accident, looking for somewhere to watch a launch that didn’t happen. As soon as we drove into the park we were taken with its beauty, and how close the water was to the road, an unusual feeling. We went to the Visitor’s Centre, a beautifully designed building with access to boardwalks over the water. Our welcome from the volunteers was so friendly and helpful, it was a joy talking to them. Even the shop had interesting items for sale, nothing tacky. The park itself was a haven, quiet and peaceful, yet full of interest. We sadly didn’t see any manatees, but we did see a tortoise, vultures, and eagle and jays. I would love to come back and spend more time exploring, and it is a wonderful counterpart to the Kennedy Centre, as far apart as attractions can get, yet both with enormous appeal.

When we travel to Florida, this is a must visit. The center has excellent staff presentations, a wonderful gift shop, boardwalk, and then bot the driving loops which are full of wildlife.

First of all, let me say that we recently took the tram tour at Shark Valley, Everglades. And the Black Point Drive at Merritt Island was even more spectacular!
Definitely stop at the visitor center for guidance and directions and don't miss the boardwalk... Start right outside the visitor center at the feeder for your first discoveries. And the nature shop has some pretty cool tshirts.
We drove the Black Point Drive...length limit is 29'. It's a bit narrow for passing in some places, but no one was in a hurry.
The wildlife was abundant. So many birds... Herons (great blue, little blue, tri color, green).... Egrets (great & snowy)... Ibis (white & glossy)... Roseate spoonbills... Osprey... Blue winged teal... Northern shovelers... Coots... American avocet... Swallowtail kites.... And others that we couldn't identify... And many that we simply didn't see on our way through.
Take your time, don't be in a hurry. Allow at least half a day. We would like to have had time for the BioLab drive and to get to the beach, but just couldn't make that work.

I visited Merritt Island after getting glimpses of wildlife being driven around the Kennedy Space Centre. We travelled to Merritt and went to the visitor centre first, sighting turtles basking in the sun and various birds including vultures. The 'drive' was excellent and we saw numerous wild fowl and waders, the highlight being the Roseata Spoonbill. A further highlight was viewing a pair of Manatee at the Manatee viewing point. I would highly recommend a visit here as well as the Lake Apopka Trail.

My expectations were well and truely exceeded with what we were able to see when we visited this wildlife conservation park. We made our first stop at the visitors centre and they were very friendly and helpful and provided local information and maps. We then did the 7 mile drive around the shoreline of the refuge at a cost of $10 (per car). We saw a massive number of birds and some were very close. We also saw several alligators and wild boars. It is a easy drive and is one way. There is room to stop as frequently as you wish to with room for other cars to easily pass by. It truely is a beautiful and very serene place to visit and should not be missed.

I wanted to see manattee while in Florida with my pre-teen daughters. I found this place online and they have a manattee viewing platform that you can find directions to online.

January is off-season so I wasn't sure if we would see any. We immediately spotted a tail in the water! The kids were excited but the water was too dirty to really see the animal. I walked over to a lagoon area and within 10 minutes there were 8 in the area. What a treat and the lagoon is shallow enough to see them fairly clearly.

On the drive we also saw a bald eagle next to the road!

I am sure you can see a host of other wildlife (we aren't into birds) but without knowing where or when, I didn't want to get off the main roads. The visitor center was closed (check online for their weird operating schedule) so I couldn't ask anyone where to see other wildlife.

Before taking the drive, go to the visitor center first. They are a wealth of information. Bill Armbruster is the best. he gave us a lot of useful information and steered us in the direction to view wildlife at additional refuges. Very nice gift shop. We will be back.

Depends on the season, of course, late April / early May is tops!
The volunteers are helpful and friendly so a visit the information centre is a good idea. The Black Point Drive is good (commented on separately) and the manatee observation deck is worth going out to. There were 6 manatees playing in the water.

It is a very large area and good for all people that like nature. Never seen so many ospreys in one area. Some areas are being cleaned, but many are open.

This was great place to sneak off to from Orlando. Nice walking trails and had a good visit with a couple park rangers.
Nice bathrooms at the center and a nice little gift shop.
Perfect half day adventure.

pick up a brochure as you enter and it will let you know what to look for at each of the stops...one way road so you can stop where ever you wish for as long as you wish

We visited both the Canaveral National Seashore and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge on a recent afternoon. The refuge is outstanding, with endless opportunities for wildlife viewing, particularly along the Black Point Wildlife Drive.

Just went for a short visit and walked one of the trails. Information building is closed due to covid. Can't wait to go back with my husband and explore much more. It really is beautiful and serene.

Most beautiful and uncrowded beach we have ever been on. Water was too cold and the current too strong for anything other than running in and out, but that's all we wanted! Pristine and almost deserted sand, gorgeous dunes, birding and views. I would definitely go back. And your $15 pays for parking and supports the protection of Florida's incredibly diverse nature.

Diverse birds waded and fed in close proximity to one another, the horseshoe drive was at your own pace with plenty of time and space for photos. A treasure we would not have known about were it not for the disaster inflicted upon dear Ding Darling.

Biked the Gator Trail and Black Point Scenic Drive. A wonderful 3 hour ride from the parking area on the east side of the causeway. Gator Trail was gravelly, Sandy and Rocky so you need mtn bike or wider/knobby tires for your hybrid or gravel bike to enjoy the trail. Lots of waterfowl especially in the canals. Black Point Drive is smoother and with cars you have to be careful but it is a great ride to see more bird varieties and look carefully along the water edge in the last mile for gators sunning themselves. Be careful riding on the paved roads (no bike lane just the 1 foot shoulder) since traffic (cars and trucks) drive fast and try to squeeze by with oncoming traffic.

The visitor center has some amazing displays and offers great interpretive exhibits. There is a nice gift shop with a variety of items including books. There are several options for short hikes and drives to observe wildlife and the local plants. We wish we had more time to spend there!

We have been in the refuge a couple of times and have enjoyed the birds, blooms, and other wildlife, but have never had the opportunity to visit the Visitor Information Center. If you're able to stop here; do it! Not very big center, but the information we gleaned was more than helpful. The map given to us was helpful too. Short boardwalk next to the center is an easy walk and enjoyable.

Some great trails to walk and lots of wildlife. Be sure to start at the visitor center to pick up a map first.

This is a location revealing the natural Florida without all the hustle and bustle of people. Natural beauty surrounds the visitor. An excellent drive for birders is Blackpoint Wildlife Drive. The sand road is well maintained but is often closed due to weather conditions. There are many other places on the island for birding. The Visitor Center is staffed with personnel who can answer inquiries about the area. A small store is included containing souvenirs, literature, and equipment. We were unable to tour the area in one day. Plan at least three days for a better exploration. There is a manatee viewing area that we were unable to visit due to the time factor. Senior citizens and handicapped individuals will find plenty to investigate. Young children can be introduced to a coastal environment.

This place was great, glad we decided to do this. Lots of wildlife to see. We where able to get out and take some great pictures.

This is a bit out of your way but a nice break from the typical Fla tourism stuff. Beautiful refuge that is loaded with birds you may not see most anywhere else. Also gives you a glance of what coastal Florida used to look like before everyone started moving in. Be sure to take the wildlife drive. Typically not crowded. Want some peace and quiet? Shouldn’t be a problem here.

This is my second review of Merritt Island. On our first visit we did the loop road and enjoyed bird watching. This time we went at night to see the bioluminescence in the water with A Day Away Kayak Tours. During the hottest months of the year, microorganisms in the water glow in the dark when the water is disturbed. If your in the area overnight make time for this, it was an amazing nature experience! Already looking forward to our next visit to Merritt Island, maybe we'll check out the beach.

The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is a really special place. If you aren't from Florida and don't know what to look for, it can be a little easy to miss things though so stop at the visitor center to get oriented. You can see alligators (big ones!), manatees, roseate spoonbills, and all sorts of other birds. It's really a lively spot to see birds - especially if you go in the winter. If you aren't from Florida, I would suggest wearing long pants and sleeves and bug spray with DEET. People from Florida don't react to no-seeum bites like folks from out of town. You can really get eaten up quickly and without knowing it, so take that precaution. I wouldn't let that stop you from going, however. It really is an opportunity to see animals and plants that are found only in Florida and are really exotic if you aren't a local. Great fun!

Visitor center is well done. Staff is friendly and has a lot of answers to questions. Great opportunities to drive around, see birds, gators and Florida habitats. The roads that are closed or posted closed are off limits. All the rest are free to drive on. There we a lot of different waterfowl and shore birds. The hikes were very interesting but a little buggy. Mosquitos. I had on shorts and short sleeves. That wasn’t cutting it. Long pants, long sleeve shirt and bug spray were required. I had that stuff but didn’t want to dig it out and put it on in sunny warm weather. The beaches at Playalinda are outstanding. Very secluded and a little steep. Water gets deep fast. That makes surf fishing great! Nice place. Check it out.

Somewhat limited in scope and size, but worth a visit. It was too cold for the manatees. Friendly and helpful staff. Do in conjunction with Black Point Wildlife Drive.

We took the 7 mile drive and had a pleasant drive. But due to the lack of rain, some areas were all dried up and very few birds to see on our visit. Next time we will not visit during a drought. With our senior park pass our visit was free. We also went during the government shutdown so not every area was open.

We only got out of our car once during the drive. Some areas did not have much to see. So someone in a wheelchair would be fine not getting out of the vehicle and just enjoying the drive.

Very peaceful drive with lots of nature everywhere. Birds, alligators, and true Florida nature everywhere.

WARNING: Address can be tricky to find. Had to go to Facebook to find the exact address. Maps app was incorrect.

My 3 teenagers and I really loved this place. A great break from the beaches and shops. The trail that goes out the back door of the visitors center was very pretty. We took Black Point Wildlife Drive and enjoyed readingout of the brochure at each stop. We got out of the car a few times for a short walk.

Always something to see. You ride through and stop for sightings. It is quiet, peaceful and beautiful. Florida has amazing birds.

Well-marked roads that take you through miles of natural Florida beauty. Interesting landscape and lots of birds. Stop by the Visitor's Center first and get a map with suggestions from staff. There's a manatee viewing area during some of the year, but the scenery throughout the refuge is amazing.

This is a wild place...well, except for all of the cars and people. But you feel like you are in a place that not long ago was filled with wildlife: birds, gators, and snakes. I went in midday and I think if you went in the early morning you would see a lot more wildlife (and less people!) Bring a lunch and water as there is not much out here and you'll want to spend the day here wandering around as you drive from one lookout point to another. We hiked about a mile out into one area to a lookout place. It was fun and uneventful.

Black Point Wildlife Drive was a great way to see part of the refuge. Some visitors would be bored stiff, but those of us who appreciate different habitats and take the time to get out of the car, listen, and take a short walk will be rewarded.

Simple and basic is all there is to be had. Vast area to bird or expect to see much. But, no frill areas were much appreciated.

This is a wonderful place to take a scenic drive through a natural piece of Florida. You will almost always see birds and alligators, and occasionally a wild hog.

Bring binoculars, a camera, and a birding book, if you have one.

Dusk is a great time to go, especially in the Summer.

This is a very laid-back driving trail. Be prepared to roll down your windows and drive slow. There is a spot about halfway though the trail where you can park and walk to a observation tower.

We went in May, which is near the end of the main birding season. There were still lots of birds to see. The water levels were extremely low in some areas due to the drought. The visitor center staff and volunteers were very helpful when asked questions. Black Point Wildlife Drive was open, but had been closed recently due to wildfires in the area. Call ahead or check their website for road closures. The Haulover Canal Bridge on State Road 3 is closed for repairs. Some other roads and trails are clsed due to hurrican damage. A drive out to Bairs Cove Boat Ramp at Haulover Canal was a great place to view manatees up close and personal. The Wildlife Refuge is run by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the beaches, Apollo and Playalinda are run as part of Canaveral National Seashore, the National Park Service. Many people don't realize there is a difference. Very good experience and would love to come back in the heat of birding season (winter).

Driving north of Orlando to St Augustine - we purposefully drove US Rte 1 - drove into the National Wildlife Refuge - and were delighted to see the Manatee Viewing sign! We even saw dolphins! As members of the Columbus,Ohio zoo - we have seen manatee - but it is AWESOME to see them in their natural habitat.
And all because we decided to get off the "beaten path" - ie, I-95.

I have visited MINWR 3 times since March, 2018. Each time I see something different and more spectacular than the last.

Start your visit at the Visitior's Center. Pay the entrance fee and talk to the park rangers - they will tell you where the best wildlife action is located at that time of year. Get a park map - it will help.

Take a short walk on the trail behind the Visitors Center - look closely, there's a lot to see here.

Depending on the weather, decide what you want to do. If it's brutally hot, walk the shaded hammock trails right up the road from the visitor's center, or if it's cooler, pick one of the more exposed trails.

The Black Point Wildlife Drive is incredible, but getting out of the car and walking parts of the trail yield so many other things to see aside from just alligators. There are hundreds of species of flowering plants that are simply spectacular to see when they are in bloom, turtles, snakes, birds, and other critters.

Biolab Road is a similar drive to Black Point. With the benefit of being close to the water.

Go visit the manatee observation platform, and then drive to the nearlby boat ramp to see them up close and watch them play together. Look, don't touch.

Important safety tip: BRING BUG SPRAY and apply it before you head into the trails. The mosquitoes here are brutal. in some parts of the park, the mosquitoes are like alligators with wings and they attack by the squadron.

Bring plenty of water. There are very few places to stop with fresh running water. Shade is also at a premium, so sunscreen and a good sun hat are a must.

After 3 trips here, I still have days and days worth of more places to see, but my next trip will be in the fall when the temps are a bit cooler. If you only drive thru the park, you will miss the best parts of the park. Get out of the car and walk!!!

Thoroughly enjoyed our ride thru here watching the wildlife. I did not see a guide but we didn't stop at the gate. You do need a pass but there is a fee station on the way in.

Wonderful Refuge. 7mile wildlife drive with flocks of birds...huge numbers and varieties. Well maintained. Nice little hike by the Visitors Center.

Best birding area we have visited. We took a sidetrip down a waterfowl hunters road and saw hundreds of birds and a few alligators. Also took the 7 mile drive and saw several wading birds. We were there in the middle of the day. I imagine it's better yet in early morning or evening. If you like birding, check it out!

I have been here, and also to its Black Point Wildlife drive-- which is a must see as well. I often like to get there before the heat of the day...sometimes you can get to see more wildlife..

I was born,raised in Florida & recently went there on vacation. While we were there, we took a ride out towards the wildlife refuge to get to Playalinda Beach & where it used to be free now they want $10.00 just to get in there. What ever happened to letting people access what God created? It really makes me upset that everyone is just out to make money. I dont agree with people making money from a free beach. We were Highly dissatisfied with this place. We will not return nor recommend this place to anyone.😡😠

What a GREAT use of the land surrounding the Cape Canaveral launch complex. We did a Get Up and Go kayak tour here (see separate review) in the Haulover Canal where we saw incredible amounts of wildlife including dolphins, a pair of bald eagles, & one giant alligator. On a separate visit to the area, I spent a lot of time at the visitor center. While the visitor center building only has a small space of exhibits, they were all nicely done & very informative. The staff was incredibly helpful & provided maps of the area & suggestions on what not to miss. I wandered the boardwalk behind the building & spent a great deal of time just watching all the different birds. It's hard to review this place, because it is so large. There are so many different places to explore, & each place is worth a review of its own. But if you're limited in time, I suggest you explore in & around the visitor center.

Returning from the Gulf Coast I had plans to visit the Canaveral National Seashore; however, the December-January government shutdown forced a change in my plans as the road there was entirely barricaded. Plan B was to visit only the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge which was open because it operated in partnership with the State of Florida and volunteers. It worked out well because I easily turned it into an all-day visit.

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge had three main areas. The first was the Visitor Center. The second was the Boardwalk and picnic area out behind the visitor center. The third was the Black Point Wildlife Drive, a 7-mile, one-way road.

My visit began at the visitor center. The $10.00 daily fee per vehicle for entry into Black Point Wildlife Drive and the boat ramps was waived during the shutdown. The visitor center had good exhibits, a bookstore, and restrooms. One interesting exhibit was about the different environs of the refuge. Another showed the various flyways. The whole east coast of Florida was of course o the Atlantic Flyway. One board said that Merritt Island was the winter home of thousands of shorebirds, waterfowl, songbirds, and raptors.

Next, I took the Boardwalk trek. At the outset, there was a small garden. It was the Pollinator Habitat. Nearby was an overlook on the Indian River Lagoon. It was a scenic spot to pause for a moment.

Then, the Boardwalk went into a forested area for a walk on a loop trail about 1/4-mile long. This trail has a pretty even surface, so it’s fully accessible to people in wheelchairs. The boardwalk winds its way through lots of trees, palmetto, and saw palmetto plants with giant leather ferns here and there. This was as close as the United States comes to a tropical rainforest.

About 40% of the way through the trail, there was another overlook deck onto the river. There were several places with benches to sit and enjoy the peace and quiet of the habitat.

Near the end close to the Pollinator Habitat were some small white flowers called Spanish Needles which I’d never seen before.

Overall, it was a pleasant nature walk away from roads, cars, telephone poles, etc. It was a good place to relax and enjoy the outdoors.

At the time of my visit, in mid-January, there were no insects; however, I had applied repellent anyway, just in case.

Next, I had my lunch of leftovers from Dixie Crossroads Seafood Restaurant in the little picnic area with some Japanese visitors who had gone through most of the Boardwalk with me.

Then, I visited the bookstore that had everything from refrigerator magnets and hat tacs to patches, baseball caps, a wide variety of T-shirts, and books for all ages. I found prices to be reasonable. I got a beige baseball cap embroidered with some birds in the refuge and the refuge name for $14.99, a Merritt Island NWR refrigerator magnet with about 10 shorebirds on it for $5.99, and a large oval refuge patch for $5.00. I liked the patch because it had an eagle flying in the foreground and a rocket being launched in the background, depicting how the refuge and the adjacent NASA Kennedy Space Center.

From there, I drove to the Black Point Wildlife Drive. Following the pamphlet, I made the 12 stops along the 7-mile drive.

At the first few stops, I saw over a hundred egrets, several great blue heron, and a number of ducks. There were a lot of serious amateur and professional photographers with their long-barreled fixed focal length telephoto lenses, photographing birds 25 to 50 feet away. Most egrets seemed unfazed by the presence of humans.

The terrain and habitats were mostly lagoons, salt water marshes, freshwater impoundments, hardwood hammocks, and pine flatwoods.

In the second half of the drive, I didn’t see many birds.

Stop 9 was at The Cruickshank Trail & Rest Area. I parked and walked by the observation platform and on part of the trail. I saw two Florida scrub-jays on those trails. Unfortunately, they were backlit, so I didn't get good photos of their colors.

There was a caution in the pamphlet about the possibility of alligators between Stop 10 and Stop 11. Having no desire to meet any, I stayed in my SUV.

Stop 11 had tall pines. It was an eagle habitat. Although I saw an eagle nest, the eagle(s) was/were not home.

Stop 12 was the end. There was an example of prescribed fire used at the refuge to manage habitat and the birds and animals that live and visit there.

The pamphlet was an informative guide to the Black Point Wildlife Drive.

Although I didn’t see the variety of wildlife that I wanted to see, I did enjoy my visit.

Getting as close as 25 to 50 feet from egrets and great blue heron was worth the 7-mile trip on the Black Point Wildlife Drive.

I rate the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at 5.0 and highly recommend a visit.

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We were just out there 2 days ago. Beautiful area. Hubby and our daughter went to this drive through park this past January, and loved it.

We drove through the wildlife drive and didn’t see one alligator, which was a bummer. But we did also go to the manatee viewing dock and that was nice. Saw 3 manatee while there.

It's a nice drive on way to Kennedy Space Center I would say if you go at the right time of day you would enjoy.

Florida in its best. Wild and beautiful. Great place to take the family, picnic, swim. Some hiking areas. Lots of birds. Love it

We came here for our daughters 13th birthday so we could step outside the disney bubble and do something new -find the manatees. We were disappointed when we learned they had moved south to warmer water but stayed for the migratory bird festival. We paid $10 and borrowed binoculars from the desk for free and went to black point drive and saw so many kinds of birds it really was fascinating and the road markers have descriptions in the pamphlet they give you to explain what your seeing.

Nice drive though the everglades of florida. Quiet and peaceful drive. Plenty of places to pull over and walk around. Take your time and watch for allegators and other unique animals. Dont rush through the area. My biggest advice is to bring bug spray. Mosquitoes are very bad.

We took the 7-mile drive and saw gators, birds, manatees. You can get out of the car at one stop and walk to two viewing platforms.

Lots of nature but you need to check out bairs cove and boat landing. The manatee hang out there If the water is right. Sometimes dolphins swim nearby. And its free.

This is a bird-watcher's paradise! There is a loop road (Blackpoint) where you can remain in your car and slowly drive through a part of the refuge. But there is also a spot where manatees hang out (Haulover Canal) and a trail where you may possibly meet a scrub jay!

We traveled there on our last day this past week and it was the highlight of the trip!! We went to the Manatee viewing area and were there for 15 minutes...saw nothing! People came and went but we decided to stay. My 11 year-old started to read the info stations on the pier and it was if they were waiting for us to do that!! We started to see "boils" in the water and for the next 20 minutes, it was a steady stream of Manatee!! After 20 minutes, we decided to drive across the road and we walked the shoreline past all the fishermen, and we were within 10 feet of them!! You could he them come up for air, see their tales and as my son said "count that barnacles"!! It was amazing!! As we started to head back, we caught a glimpse of a dorsal fin and were amazed at a larger dolphin frolicking in the water with a much smaller one, not sure if it was a mother and calf but they were there for 30 minutes!! Again...amazing!!! Last portion of the tour we went through Black Point Drive. We saw lots, and lots, AND lots of water fowl but didn't come across any crocs until the final 500 feet or so. It was a cool day so we may have just had a bad day to view crocs! The three we saw were basking in the sun and were about 7-8 feet in length!! Thanks to the personnel and the Visitors Centre for the information info!! We plan to make this a destination every time we are in FLA!!!!

The eagle that landed on the moon is not the one that nests in safety within sight of active launch pads. On our bus tour we found out all about the conservation efforts at the KSC that includes a lot more than eagles.

We stayed in Titusville last winter. We were able to visit the wildlife refuge many times. You never know what you will see. There are places you can pull over and just sit by the water. It is very peaceful watching the birds. We also visited the manatees.

BlackPoint Drive is one of our most favorite places to go. Be sure to visit the welcome center, too!

Take it slowly and pull off if you need more time...wildlife abounds in this sanctuary near the coast of Florida. Take binoculars and/or a good camera and bug spray! We made the loop trip twice and got to see even more treasures the second time through.

Met some one in Daytona and they highly reccomended the Merrit NWR and I am so happy that I listened to and took their advice. On the way to the visitor center I saw eagles and osprey along with 9 or 10 other species of birds. At the center the staff was helpful and friendly and offered several valuable tips. Took off and explored a couple of walking trails that had good signage and enjoyable. One could come here often and continue to learn. A wonderful stop and well worth the price of admission. A family excursion would be great and certainly flying solo I had fun. Will be back.

We took a day, left the Kissimmee area and headed for Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. We are glad we did. The first stop was the visitor center where we encountered Mr Bob. He was delightful and was very knowledgeable about the area. We spent the entire day exploring most of the sights and sounds around Merritt Island. Highlights were the boardwalk behind the visitor center(several butterflies were spotted), the 7 mile wildlife drive(encountered many different types of birds, a small snake and changes in area), manatee oberservation deck(saw many manatee, a dolphin, a fish spinning out of the water and a large pontoon boat which made the draw bridge open), we drove to the canal. We had spotty showers throughout the day so we were in the car most of the day. Overall it was a welcome change of pace from fast paced and over crowded Orlando.

This is a 1 story building on the south side of the road near the south end entrance of the Canaveral national seashore. It is definitely a great place to stop. It has a running movie that explains about the seashore and the wildlife contained there. The rangers were especially helpful for explaining the options to the park. There is a $10 fee to drive specific parts of the park but, I think, it is well worth it for the pleasant drive and wildlife you will see. Behind the building is a walkway around one side of the lake and through the forest/wetlands. It also has a giftshop, restrooms and some interactive displays to explain parts of the park. I recommend this as a first stop for the park.

I have enjoyed the MINWR for over 40 years. I have guided tours of small groups during the winter months when migrating birds are at their peak. My sons have all enjoyed this refuge, especially my youngest since he was two years old looking for fiddler crabs. People from all over the world come here to observe and photograph the wildlife. There are not enough superlatives to describe this National Wildlife Refuge. Everyone can enjoy this site - couples, families with young or teens, or solo individuals. AND, to add to the visit one of Florida's best beaches is right down the road - Playlinda Beach (Canaveral National Seashore). No more than 20 minutes away.

We went expecting to be able to walk on a boardwalk. Unfortunately, there is only a few feet available at this time due to construction. We were only able to see a turtle. We went on the drive instead, since we couldn’t walk. I’m sure the summer heat effected what wildlife we saw. We saw a few birds and one alligator. Maybe I’ll return in the winter and give it another try.

Great place to visit even in the rain. We walked the boardwalk trail behind the welcome center (wear bug spray)! It was nice. We also drive the Black Point wildlife drive which was really cool. We saw gators, lots of cool birds, turtles and voles. We also checked out the manatees at the viewing platform. Such a great place for the day.

What a beautiful way to spend an afternoon. It is amazing how many creatures, plants and trees you will see while driving through here. I recommend you make the drive it is worth it.

Spent a few hours at the beach and then drove the roads looking for wildlife and got pics of big gators and several gopher tortoises. Facilities are basic and make sure you bring your own chairs and umbrellas as there were no rentals. Cost us $20 to get in but the staff member who sold us the ticket said we could get a season ticket for $40 and that the $20 from our initial purchase would be applied to our season pass if we came back within 7 days and we will definitely be doing this as there are many walking trails that I want to explore.

This 7-mile drive in a wildlife refuge offers spectacular views of native water birds! You are encouraged to stay in your car while you bird-watch, so you don't even have to brave the weather. You'll want to come prepared with binoculars and a guidebook (or several) so that you can identify the species that you see. On our drive yesterday we identified 26 bird species, including ducks, wading birds, and raptors. We only saw one alligator, but I'm pretty sure that in the summer, there would be more.

Having just finished driving the Black Point Trail and saw alligators we were hopeful that there would be manatees at the Haulover Canal sadly no, maybe the next time.

Good to see most of the vegetation getting back to it's previous state but there are still remnants here and there with the signs of the fire.

We heard this was a good place to bring our 4 yrs old grandson (and totally agree). He had a great time at the visitors station, the staff was nice and very helpful. We took the walk and saw lizards, bird, butterfly and snakes. We spend $10.00 to go on the 7 mile road, we saw some birds, but think there was a lack of wildlife due to the fires.
The best part was stopping to see the manetee, it was a awesome viewing area. We saw a croc on the way out of park on the side of the road.

We were visiting FL to see the SpaceX launch and decided to make a stop here. The attendants and the ranger at the station were awesome and our son was able to earn another NP Junior ranger patch. We even saw an armadillo while on the elevated walkway!

Make sure to stop by the visitor center and pay your ten dollars...The park rangers will map out the best options for the amount of time you have. Our time was short so we opted for:

Black Point Wildlife Drive --We were thrilled to see our first alligator crossing the road about 300 yards into BPWD, drive SLOW and get out often... we spotted wild flowers, gators, water snakes, turtles and dozens of species of birds along the way.

Manatee Observation Platform- Your so close!--Please look-don't touch or feed- nearly two dozen Manatee's could be seen swimming and resting at the waters edge.

This place is great! There is so much to expolre... Manatee observation deck, black point drive, and many hidden treasures to find. The only real drawback are the mosquitoes.

Due to the hot weather prior and during our visit many of the normally full areas were very low and cracked due to the lack of rain. We therefore were very disappointed - hopefully next visit will be more colourful with much more birdlife.

We spent some time here. Started at the Visitor Centre (and saw an alligator) along with birds and plants. We then went further afield and saw Manatees, a wild dolphin, snakes and lots of birds and plants. A must for any nature lover.

We saw so much wildlife there on Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Center. Our bus driver pointed out so many creatures. NICE!

Second time here. Especially love the drive. Well worth the 10.00 donation. Bring binoculars and stop frequently. Enjoyed the roseate spoonbills. Saw a bald eagle. And much more. Enjoyed the visitor center too. Many more birds there. Also worth driving up to manatee viewing area near canal bridge. Saw three as soon as we arrived.

When we visited the Refuge (May), the visitor center was closed; and being mid-week, there were no volunteers on site.
The visitor center did have a comfortable boardwalk to traverse; with informative plaques and interesting views along the way.
We also drove along the Black Point Wildlife Drive; which offers an engaging way to immerse oneself in the area's natural environment.
All and all; a great option to enjoy a look at the non-commercial side of Florida.

We had a great time.
We information center was extremely helpful. We enjoyed our drive and enjoyed seeing gators, recommend to being binoculars

This a a expansive wildlife viewing park. Kids may become bored because it truly goes on for miles and miles, however serious wildlife enthusiasts will love it. We were just passing through, and in an an our or two of casual viewing, we got close encounters with all of the following:
Alligators
Pelicans
All kinds of waterfowl
Armadillos
Flamingos

Things to note:
-It's free!
-On Sunday, the park is open but the visitor center is closed. You will need a map, so have one on-line, or get one from another visitor center before you come.
-For manatee viewing, the water temp needs to be at least 70 degrees. We visited in January. The water was cold, so there were no manatees at the manatee viewing area.

Take the 7 mile tour!!!! Wow the views were awesome. January must be quite the bird month. Took us quite awhile to drive this as we had to stop and look at everything.

My 3rd visit to Merritt Island NWR didn't disappoint. The headquarters staff were, as usual, extremely helpful.

Saw thousand of birds, (identified some 30 separate species), 2 alligators, 2 manatees, 3 bald eagles.

Highly recommend the Black Point 7 mile Wildlife Drive. And remember to ask the HQ staff for a bird list before you set off. It will help you in your identifications.

This is a nice escape from the city life. Takes you back to a quieter time. Beware heat and mosquitos in the summer months. Otherwise a real nice place to visit.

January trip to go birding. Always something new to see. Went on auto tour today. Numerous wading birds, ducks an shorebirds. Alligators everywhere for those reptile lovers. Was neat to see the small baby gators. Always something new to see.

Love this place. Land and water everywhere there is wildlife. Best place to see a rocket launch also. Great fishing too.

This mostly natural Florida scrub and swamp. Winter is the best time because a lot of birds come south

We took hikes, saw gators, spiders, flamingos, manatees! Great spot for the family. Would come back but pack a lunch. Not much around.

Did an evening drive on the Black Point Wildlife Drive and also an hour in morning at the west gator creek and had a superb birding experience. Worth the visit. You can actually spend whole day at this place! Got to make some amazing images of Turkey Vultures, Red-winged Blackbirds, Dunlins, Least Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs, White Ibis and Common Yellowthroats.

The Wildlife Refuge was amazing. I have walking issues so couldn't avail myself of the numerous walking trails. So we drove to the manatee outlook and saw 5 or 6 and then did one of the driving trails (there is a fee for the driving trails--$10). It was fun and we saw LOTS of crocodiles and birds. Our favourites were the white pelicans. There is a visitor center that is worth seeing and the staff is very helpful. You could spend one hour or 10 hours in this refuge depending on your stamina.

Beautiful place but due to over growth the mosquitos have claimed that territory! I went with my mother, daughter (11) and son (8mo). As soon as we hit the over growth areas i was constantly smacking them off myself and my son. I eventually had no choice but to get out of there for his safety.
It was very unfortunate that i had to cut it short. The mosquitos bypassed the bug spray i hosed my children in, they didnt even care.
Over all beautiful place, a lot to experience. All free too. But double up on bug spray and make sure if you have little ones they are protected!
Lots of nature!

This was a highlight of our Florida vacation. We drove through the Blackpoint Wildlife Refuge and saw 4 alligators! We were thrilled! We also saw countless birds and amazing scenery. For $10 this is a must do! We will come back and hope to see even more gators!

Visit the visitor centre first and get advice and directions. Then take your car for $10 and drive round the wildlife reserve. If you go slow and look for the many gators and birds this will take a few hours. Worth it!

We visited here expecting to see manatees. All the reviews virtually assure you they’re lining the banks day and night. Well, not for us and we stopped twice, at different times. Apparently 11:00 am is no good because the sun in too high and it’s hot. Our dusk visit was fogged in so I guess that’s no good either. I’m not discouraging anyone, really... it’s a nice spot. I just hope you have better luck than we did!

Roseate spoonbills, all types of water birds, crab, alligators and wild boar all seen on this trip. I’ve also seen river otter but not this last time. Love this area! Great for hiking, families and picnics.

This is a huge area with many trails and roads to take. The last hurricane did damage to some roads and I feel they have a limited budget to make repairs. Black Point wildlife trail is popular route, but it is one way, single lane and 7miles long. It can be frustrating when you get behind pokers and it is difficult to get around them. You can also get to the Canaveral National seashore through it. Good manatee viewing at the Haulover Bridge Marina (Not by the bridge)

Really enjoyed my visit. Stopped by the nicely done visitor center where people are there to answer any questions you may have. There are a couple of boardwalk trails right by the center that are easy to walk. I then went and took the 7 mile scenic trail. This was great so lots and lots of waterfowl and a few gators too. Take your time and pull over and walk around. Plenty of places on the drive to do that. I would recommend doing this in the A.M before it gets really hot out.

I have been here several times for other experiences - bio-luminescent kayaking, the wildlife drive, swimming at Playalinda Beach, but finally made it over to take some of the trails and find a scrub jay! We took the Scrub Ridge Trail and saw Roseate Spoonbills, egrets, herons and.......scrub jays! Most definitely an experience for me! The trail itself is very easy and about 1 mile in length, so it takes 20-30 min. to walk, if you don't stop and gawk at the birds like we did! It can be a very wet trail if it rains so be aware. There is also a nice short, easy trail & boardwalk at the visitor center where it is always good to stop for information and potties! Saw catbirds and warblers on that lovely trail, and there is also a butterfly garden! Driving around the refuge we also saw a bald eagle and peregrine falcon which we hadn't seen in this area before, but know they are there. The Oak Hammock Trail was closed, so we took the left side longer Palm Hammock Trail and really enjoyed it. It was a 2 mile trail, but again, pretty easy walking. Just watch for occasional root patches! We walked through an oak hammock, palm hammock and even a swamp maple hammock. Crossed a concrete tie railroad track and several stream/swamps! It also had some boardwalk sections, but would imagine during rainy season, the trail would be watery in places. Can't imagine a better way to spend a mild winter day in Central Florida!

I did not see too many birds on Merritt Island. But I did see a few in the st. Johns River area, including ibises and snowy egrets and alligators. There were some birders by the Boating area across from St John's National Wildlife Refuge, which is closed to the public.

Loved the wonderful opportunity to see what Florida looked like before human encroachment and structual enchroachment. Enjoyed seeing the assorted fauna and flora as well as soaking in the amazing serenity of the place. Several trails to drive and several to walk. A nice visitor center with friendly volunteers. Kudos to the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge for making all this possible! If you go, please make a donation at the visitor's center. We also visited the Canaveral National Seashore which we accessed through a gate within the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. For a $10 pass (available at the visitor's center or at the Park Ranger gate) we were treated to the longest expanse of undeveloped beaches along the East coast of Florida. A truly amazing sight!

We only had a couple of hours but wished we had more time. Great place for seeing all types of animals. Definitely stop at the visitor center if it’s your first visit. Definitely drive on the bio lab road we saw multiple large gators. Manatee viewing area is worth stopping as well as black point wildlife drive. Amazing to see the animals in their habitats.

I always visit a couple times a year. My last three visits, we found it to be slow. By that I mean, not a lot of activity. Today was different as I found much more activity. Goes to show that you never know what you’ll find.
If you photograph, today was worth the trip.

If you love nature, it’s a must visit. We saw three alligators within the first few minutes. Great access and opportunity to see what Florida has to offer.

We thought it was beautiful. Lots of parking and restrooms. Not busy. Mile 13 nude sunbathing allowed. But that is way at end.

Love this self guided trip through the refuge. Last year we were lucky enough to see a lot of roseated spoon bills, and this year the alligators were sunning themselves on a relatively cool day. One never knows what you’ll see but it’s always very interesting.

No need to go to the Bahamas. Just come here! It's just you and the sea. Dont forget sunscreen or rent an umbrella.

Such a beautiful piece of protected land where you are guaranteed to see all sorts of amazing wildlife! Florida is the raw! Saw tons of gators (big and small) just hanging out near the roads, along with so many bald eagles who call this place home with their many nests. We also saw a stunning stork take off right in front of us and while I didn't see them, you can tell all the areas where the wild boar are as they dig up the dirt .

Overall had a good time but you have to drive to the different sites. The place to see manatees is not clearly marked but we did find it.

There is a good visitor center where you can watch a film about the refuge, use the restrooms and get a map. The Black Point Wildlife Drive travels through salt and freshwater marshes and is located on SR 406. Since the refuge is located on the Atlantic Flyway, a major bird migration corridor, you can see many types of birds. I saw two manatees at the Manatee Observation Deck,located off SR 3 at Hanover Canal.I didn't see any wild hogs, but was told by another visitor that he saw one and I was told at the visitor center that wild hogs frequent the refuge.The Refuge is adjacent to the Kennedy Space Center.

We saw many varieties of birds and even alligators. The drive was very enjoyable, although would love to bike this route the next time we go. Definitely need binoculars to really see the birds and be able to identify them. I zoomed in with my camera and got some amazing shots from White Egrets to Tri- Colored Herons. We also enjoyed a 5 mile loop walk where we saw a Bald Eagle. This is a bird lovers paradise! My family and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit and we will be back.

This huge island features a ton of wildlife and a nature center with maps. The park is very spread out, but there are small signs periodically directing patrons to their intended area. I suggest stopping at the visitor center first to see the big map and making a plan or else you risk driving for awhile looking for a sign. Great experience and a wonderful place to hike!

You can see so much here. Pigs walking on the beaches, gators, armadillos, & birds everywhere. Be sure to go to the Haul Over Bridge to see the Manatees.

I this preserve is huge! Take your time and watch closely for wildlife. We saw so many birds and even an eagle.

This is a wildlife refuge that you drive through. It is gravel all the way through, and the speed limit is very slow, which is fine, because you don’t want to go fast! We are local and we visit throughout the year, and the best times to visit are in the winter when the birds are the most plentiful. Here, you will see many different kinds of birds, plants, and even alligators. We love going on a relaxing and peaceful drive through this wildlife refuge. It is definitely worth the time to take while you are on your way to the beach nearby! ...don’t forget your camera and binoculars!!

For a few dollars entrance fee you will have a very memorable time here. It is difficult to comprehend how such a vast and beautiful area is almost adjacent to Cape Canaveral,but remains so wild and unspoilt.

During my visit I saw several Manatees,Dolphins, Alligators,Snakes,Vultures,Eagles and lots of waterbirds, at very close quarters.

This is a neat place that has land that completely surrounds NASA. The visitor center is north of NASA. A nice little museum inside the visitor center and a short boardwalk trail. They will help you with maps and suggestions for both good walking, bird viewing, and driving trails. We did not see any manatees, but they do live in some of the waters. We did see eagles, osprey, and lots of migratory birds!

Pros: We got to see tons of shorebirds, wildflowers, fish, crabs, dragonflies, and even wild boar and alligators. The views were lovely of the marshes and the trails were enjoyable if underdeveloped.

Cons: Roads around refuge are one-way and unpaved with large potholes - take them slowly. The visitor center is not open on Sunday (and thus the restrooms as well). One of the trailheads has an outhouse you can use. The map of the refuge was a little confusing.

Tips: Go early in the morning or late in the evening for the best chances of seeing the shorebirds and fish. Bring your binoculars and your camera. If you do the trails wear good shoes.

My sweet 3 year old grandchild came for a brief visit. Since it wasn't a beach day, we headed to the wildlife refuge. There were only a few other visitors on that day, and we were overwhelmed at all we saw!!! Sooo many alligators, snakes, birds of so many varieties, but then the sight of a huge flock of bright pink snub nose flamingoes took our breath away...loved every minute of this driving tour...

This is a fantastic way to spend an afternoon viewing nature as it should be. Beautiful birds, plants, and wildlife. So many areas to walk around and see. Very nice way to walk along beach areas and just enjoy the clean air. The welcome center is starting to show an apparent lack of funding as both restrooms were down and the plumbing was abysmal. But we went to see nature, not facilities. The workers are very knowledgeable and friendly. Took our great grand daughter with us this trip and she was fascinated with everything.

This was a wonderful experience. We stopped at the visitor center and received information about the wildlife drive. It was fun and full of birds of many different species. We also went to the Manatee lookout. We saw two of them! On our way out we saw a baby alligator next to the road as well as a turtle.

Nice area to walk thru at main building. Drive thru road to view wildlife. Not much to see other than a lot of birds and a few young alligators

This is a great spot; prepare to bike it or take a long walk; there are different vantage points and a lot of cool areas...Because it was windy and cold we didn't see as much as we would have liked but liked the area all the same.

We drove through the wildlife preserve and enjoyed it. you can easily see all sorts of birds, an occasional snake and alligators sunning in ditches along the road. Traffic was light and we did stop a few times although that is not encouraged

We loved this park! Really recommend the Visitors Centre, we spoke to possibly the worlds nicest man at the desk. He was super helpful and told us of the nearby driving trails, and pointed us towards the Manatee Observation Deck. So glad we went - we saw a family of four manatees, even in May!

We also loved the driving trails. Please note there is a $10 charge CASH ONLY but worth every single penny

NB: I’m not sure he will see this, but if you’re the lovely gentleman on the desk who had just returned from a trip in the UK in April, you absolutely made our day with your positive attitude & passion for the area!

There are several spots to enjoy throughout the refuge. Follow the signs and maps. Lots of manatees at the Bairds Cove boat ramp. Indian River views from the kayak launch on the north side of Haulover Canal. Beautiful views from the Biolab and Beacon 42 boat ramps. Be cautious though, this is a wildlife refuge and we've seen gators, bobcats and even a Florida Panther in the area. Dawn and dusk during warmer weather bring 'no-seeums' so be prepared with clothing or bug spray.

This is a great drive if you're a nature lover. It's a beautiful drive with many animals and birds. We saw a ton of alligators, birds, and even an armadillo. It was only $10 to drive both paths. There are several opportunities to get out and walk. Very beautiful!!

Been here 3 times now, there’s fishing and boating ramps. Check out the manatee viewing area near the draw bridge. If your gonna fish grab a self issued permit at any of the info boards.

This is a very beautiful and well-perserved area.
An enjoyable relaxing experience and so much to see from aligators to giant eagles and their nests.
The area is so alive, it's amazing.

Planned a trip here, not knowing what to expect. Really wanted to see manatees. Started at the visitor center, decided to walk all the trails, saw all types of birds, raccoons, snakes, and flora. They have a black point drive 6 miles, cost 10.00, but if you have natl park pass it's free. Saw lots of waterfowl, alligators. Next went to haulover canal, saw 15-20 manatees right along the shore, also dolphins. Well worth the visit. Took a full day, with a picnic break for lunch. Came back the second day and went to Canaveral seashore and playlinda beach, a definite to do. We were blown away with all we saw and did in 2 days. Well worth the time to visit

The Refuge is free with donation opportunity. They provide walking maps and information desk for specific questions. There are very nice boardwalk and trails around the refuge visitor center. We followed direction for a short drive to haul-over canal and we’re delighted to watch a dozen Manatees swim and play from the observation area. It was a priceless experience at no cost! So fortunate to have found the staff at the refuge.

We had a fantastic time at the Refuge. We saw manatees, alligators, roseate spoonbills, a raccoon mum with her baby and a bald eagle. The landscape is beautiful too.

Make sure you stop at the Information Center- they have maps, drinks, bug spray (recommended!) and they can tell you about all the most recent animal sightings. Bear in mind that in November, the weather is changeable, and you might need a rain jacket apart from the sunscreen.

Stop at the new looking visitor center, open till 4pm, to get overview of all activities, good intro video, and gift store for all ages. Visitor center had good exhibits for kids. The refuge roads are open until sunset. We walked the boardwalk outside the visitor center, drove to the manatee viewing area, and had the highlight of the trip with the black point drive, worth the 10 dollar price for wildlife viewing. Saw muitple birds and alligators The refuge roads also provide access to the south side of the Cape Canaveral National Seashore

On week days this is a wonderful place. Lots of waves and shelling also you can find solitude. Amazing views. Remember approaches 13 and 12 are for the free spirited, I would not take children there.

The government shutdown meant that the visitor center was closed but luckily they left the roads open and the birds aren’t federal employees! We went early on a foggy day which were not the best viewing conditions but still saw and photographed many birds. Saw a reddish egret for the first time ever!

Give yourself lots of time to drive Black Point Drive. Be patient and enjoy nature. Be kind to fellow nature lovers and don’t rush them. There are plenty of opportunities to pass slowly and courteously. If someone is stopped, there’s most likely something interesting to see. Stop and see it too! You’ll meet lots of knowledgeable people willing to share that knowledge and help you understand what you are looking at.

Drive the loop a couple times, different times of day. You’ll see different birds and critters each time. Take water and snacks with you along with your binoculars and cameras.

We like the trails at this wildlife refuge. The staff is also nice. They offer seasonal tours. I like the flashlight tours. The gift shop has good finds.

Lots of birds and even an eagle can grace the area along with alligators. It's a nice leisurely place to visit with options to even see manatees and an occasional dolphin. Well worth the visit.

I did the 7 mile loop around through the Refuge and saw many waterfowl and gators. It was great getting out to see the natural beauty of Florida.

Awesome place miles of trails and wildlife drove down to the river to watch the manatees great place to take the entire family

Visiting Merritt Island NWR is a great way to spend a day! We found ourselves on the Florida coast on a day that wasn't the best beach day--so rather than return to our base in Orlando, we decided to take a short ride up to Merritt Island. First stop: Haulover Canal, which has a manatee overlook area. The water was a bit on the chilly side--they do not tend to appear unless the water is over 70 degrees; however, we lucked out and saw one come up to the overlook area for a few minutes. Next, we headed back to the Black Point Wildlife Trail--a 7-mile one-way loop where we saw all kinds of birds! Ibis, spoonbills, ducks, heron; other kinds we've never seen before. And then there were the gators. Large ones, small ones, swimming, lounging--we saw over a dozen of them along the trail; all a safe distance away but close enough to observe them. There were several spots with walking trails, but the Wildlife Service brochure said not to walk around the area so we took a pass. Also an observation tower you can go up. It took us about 45 minutes to go through the entire trail, and we spend a total of about two hours in the refuge. It was a terrific way to spend a cloudy, slightly cool afternoon in Florida.

There are several dirt road trails that you can drive on. They snake through the back country where you can see all kinds of wild birds and animals and of course reptiles.

We really enjoyed stopping here on our way back to Sanford from the Port terminal. The setting was serene and so beautiful. We saw lots of birds and I was adamant that I would see a manatee...And I did! If we hadn't been hungry for lunch we would have stuck around to watch more come through the manatee observation point. All you have to do is stop there and hang out for a few minutes at the look out spot. We were told that they had been seen so I guess sometimes they are not there, but we saw 2 in 5 minutes. It was the perfect decompression after being on a busy cruise ship.

For a November Day there were reptiles as well as birds to be seen. Nice selection of large birds - herons, egrets and ibis. Gators (up to 10 ft) and several small lizards on rocks and boardwalks. Warm with some wind but a great a place to visit.

Beautiful nature on this small island off Titusville, Fl. I will definitely go back when I'm in the area .

Delighted to spend an hour on a beautiful day driving through this small part of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Saw many birds, even in the middle of the day, including roseate spoonbills, herons, ducks, shorebirds, gulls and terns. Saw alligators and a very big feral hog. We didn't walk any of the trails as we didn't have time, but would definitely do that in the future.

Best thing was the luck of seeing an alligator sunning on the floating deck in the lagoon. Other than that....just a walk thru a native Fla. swamp.

We were looking for something outdoorsy to do since we were a little fried from the beach.
Stopped at the visitor center and ‘Mr. Friendly’ (not) didn’t go out of his personality to help us in any way to know and understand what to do.
We went to the Manatee viewing area and there were a TON of Manatees! Just hanging around being cute.
We then decided to do the Oak Hammock Trail (3/4 mile easy). There are 2 trails there (the other is 2 miles). We started the Oak Hammock and got eaten up by mosquitoes, so we turned around and left...next time we’ll have bug spray with us.

Great nature walk. Alligators, birds otters,and did I say alligators. Love to wal,k these trails, Hate that on this trip because of the Government being shut down the visitor center and the bio lab road were closed.

One-way, slow and relaxing drive to see a wide variety of birds and some animals. Plenty of places to stop for viewing and photographs.

We visited the clothing optional portion of the speech. While there were a lot of sun worshipers, the long and ample stretch of beach provided individuals and families wit a good degree of privacy.

Went here with my brother (who has been here many times) and my adult son who was a nubie like me. Beautiful area, chock full of bird life. Loved the trails but you can see an amazing amount if wildlife from the car including gators and wild hogs. Unfortunately many of the roads were closed and the park rangers had no idea when they would be open....they recommended we call fish and game. Not very helpful. Overall a great place, must go.

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is a great place for nature lovers. We visited the park in August. We started at the Visitor's Center on Rt. 402 near Titusville. The gentleman at the Info Desk was very knowledgeable about the park and its wildlife. He gave us a park map and outlined the best route to see the park and its inhabitants. First we took the 7-mile Black Point Wildlife Drive, where we saw numerous birds in their natural habitat. There is a $10 fee per car for this drive. We have a National Parks pass, so there was no charge. Next we stopped at Haulover Canal. This is a drawbridge on the Intracoastal Waterway. The Observation Deck gave us a grand up-close view of at least 10-12 manatees frolicking with each other in the water! We watched then playing for at least 20 minutes. A great place to view this endangered species.
Then we drove down BioLab Rd. that runs along the edge of Mosquito Lagoon. The road is a dirt road with views of birds and the Lagoon. It ends on Rt. 402 and leads to Playalinda Beach, where we saw numerous turtle nests marked with yellow poles. There are areas where you can park and walk along the beach. We could see the Kennedy Space Center and the rocket towers across the bay. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is a nice peaceful way to spend the day!

It was billed as a great place to see birds and animals, but the animals were non existent. It was very secluded. A place to get away for a while.

We like to take our family when they are visiting here as they get to see nature at it's best! Gators, manatees, turtles, and lots of birds. The visitor center is worth the trip to see and is very informative. We packed our picnic lunch.

Was first time here and it was worth the visit. Love getting out into nature and this place doesnt disappoint.

Here for birding, but not many birds present. Water levels are terribly low. But, the park was nice and very large. Several different locations and habitats. The 7 mile drive was the best. Plus lots of beach access and each had facilities. A definite must for birders visiting the area.

A wonderful, accessible option for bird watching. It has a great driving loop with pull off areas that you can sit to watch birds. I think this is a great option for anyone who is not able to physically walk to still enjoy the outdoors.

Spent the afternoon driving around here with my husband. Packed some lunches, got out and walked some of the trails and visited the nearby beach. What a great way to get out of the house and take in some nature.

There’s really is separate sections. Beach access is $15. The drive is $10. The drive is a must do. Forgot my good camera so only had my phone so many birds. A few gators and even a bobcat that I could t catch with camera. Spend time hiking only if it’s a cool day. There is a five mile hike near the end of the drive. Full sun so save it for winter. Other hikes are much shorter distance so anytime of year.

I should preface this by saying, we love nature drives, even if it is something that we have seen before. This short nature drive did not disappoint. Beautiful setting, lots of birds and gators and a gator walking across the road in front of us was kind of fun. We were able to use our NP pass to get in, which was a double bonus!

Great place to spend a few hours...very good chance you will see some good size gators sunning themselves...pay attention when walking around especially near the waters edge. Quite a few birds..nice visitor center.

Nice visitor center, informative displays. We saw many manatees in the park and drove many of the roads to see the park.

Fantastic nature reserve. One-way driving road thru it with several short hikes available. Wonderful bird watching.

We walked both sides of Boardwalk at Visitors Center, just beautiful.

We drove one of the trails, and saw so many beautiful Birds with brilliant colors. So many Ducks with gorgeous colors, and lots of Gators, just laying there, catching some rays. We saw some baby gators and some Momma gators. She had to be 10-foot long. Just beautiful.

We saw some swimming in water and watched as one crawled out onto the bank. It just kept crawling and crawling, it was huge. Then it just played there watching the ducks and other birds close by.

We go about twice a month for a ride.. We see gators, and birds of all sorts, drive the back trails. We even take the dog along..

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is an amazing area just outside of Titusville, Florida. There are great hiking trails as well as the Black Point Wildlife Drive which is easy for everyone. The park also has plenty of wildlife including birds, alligators, raccoons, and wild boars. This is a great place to enjoy nature.

Such a great place to visit. Lots of wildlife to see at your own pace. If you have a few hours you gotta check this out. You can see everything from Manatee, turtles, gators, and ton's of birds.

Wow this place really exceeded our expectations! We were lucky and somehow ended up there on a fee free day but we will pay to return again when and if we visit Florida again. What an amazing day. We saw so many birds, armadillos, and alligators.. we did the bird drive road black wood I think it was called then bio lab drive and we quickly went to playlinda beach, we also did the board walk the visitor centre and saw an indigo bunting, amazing. What a great way to spend the day. Also we were not overly prepared for this trip and we were able to buy water at the visitor centre for only $1 a bottle, we appreciated that they weren’t like a lot of places who charge crazy prices for such items as there is nothing close by for drinks or food so pack stuff cause you will want to spend all day.

We went with our kids on a hot August day... and loved it.

The boys explored the visitor's center where we were helped by two very nice people. We got our day pass there ($10) and drove to the entrance of the Black Point Wildlife Drive, a 7 mile, one-way drive that has beautiful views and offers many opportunities to enjoy the wildlife. There are several stops along the way, where you can get out of the car and explore your surroundings. We took our time along the drive and saw over 20 bird species (not bad for a trip in August, with 2 excited kids). But we saw more than birds: Turtles, alligators, butterflies and dragonflies were everywhere!

We would love to go back when it's cooler there to be able to explore more!

You should start at the visitor center. We saw a snake slither across the road on the way in. After getting some much needed info from the gentleman at the desk we took the short trail around the center. We saw a gator in one of the small ponds. We did do a couple of the driving tours located in other parts of the park. Lots of birds and other wildlife. The highlight of the day was at the manatee viewing area. Had to be 6-8 manatees and we were there for just half hour. Great place to visit.

We came to late to do the tour, but enjoyed the Center, walking around the area and learning quite a few interesting facts about the area. Wished we had been earlier to enjoy the Manatee area.

Start off at the Visitor Center and speak to one of the Rangers. This is where we met the most charismatic rangers who helped us identify the perfect route to take throughout the reserve.
After leaving the visitor's center, we traveled along the 7-mile scenic drive along the reserve. We saw alligators swimming along the road, plenty of birds, and many gorgeous flora.
After that, we headed to the manatee cove and saw plenty of them. This was the highlight of the trip as they flock to this area! Many were surfacing and making snorting sounds. A true sight to see!
We would've loved to spend more time as there's some gorgeous beaches there (and even a nude one)!
We'll definitely be back!

As the title says .... great natural area. The loop drive is wonderful. Lots of birds, alligators. Good walking hiking areas are available

Quiet, not crowded. Unspoiled. So very glad this land was preserved, not developed. Went in early June so not a lot of animal activity but thoroughly enjoyed no crowds. Saw gators, wild feral hog, turtles and manatees and dolphins….if you love nature, you will appreciate this place. Plan to go again over winter months to see more activity.

I AM so grateful for this little peice of Florida Heaven. This is a great place to go and get back to nature.....get your head out of the clouds and back to Mother Earth! Wildlife is beautiful and abundant!

This is one of the most beautiful parks we have ever visited. Never in our lives have we seen so many birds. It is located at NASA so not only so much wildlife but to see the space center is a bonus. I highly suggest to stop by here if you are in central Florida. Make sure you have a very nice camera.

This is a large natural area located north of the space center near Titusville. One of my favorite things to do was go to the manatee viewing deck at the Haulover canal. Just randomly stopped by and there were five manatees floating around. Another favorite area is the wildlife viewing loop (note there is a fee to use this) where there are multiple viewing platforms and boardwalks. There are several hiking trails although it can be demanding to walk in the heat and humidity. Large flocks of birds; I am not a bird watcher but I imagine this would be a great place for it. The refuge is large and just driving through it is a scenic experience.

My my wife and I were able to visit the refuge in April. It offers miles of roads to drive as part of its wildlife auto tour. Merritt Island NWR is located on the eastern shore of Florida, the headquarters is located near the City of Titusville. This NWR was established in 1963 to primarily provide habitat for migratory birds. The day we visited was windy and rainy, so we stopped first at the Visitor Center to pick up some souvenirs, see the exhibits and talk with the volunteer staff first hand. We thoroughly enjoyed the auto tour and walking on the beach as we got to see several kinds of birds and small animals. This refuge offers fishing, wildlife viewing, bird watching, hiking, great photographic opportunities and hunting. Come and bring your family (especially children), binoculars, camera, and see what this wonderful area of Florida has to offer. This is a very peaceful and tranquil place to visit. You can walk for hours along the beach, enjoying the birds circle over head and the mullet jumping hoping to avoid the predators below. Watch where you step as alligators are everywhere.

I enjoy photographing birds. On our last trip here we made three passes through the Black Point Wildlife drive on saw some different wildlife on each pass. Got some excellent photos of many birds including bald eagles, Wilson’s Snipe, Hooded Merganser, belted kingfisher, egrets, herons, ibis, spoonbills, etc. Also saw many gators and feral pigs (not necessarily good). Didn’t go to the Manatee viewing area as it was too cold this trip but in past trips in March, we saw Manatees on each visit. One of the best drives to see wildlife from the car.

Lots of different kinds of birds, waterfowl, alligators along the drive. Take your time and bring binoculars, pack a lunch and sit awhile.

Been enjoying this for 13 years, opening hours vary! BUt can enjoy birds and gators , decent small museum, and tiny shop.

We made a spontaneous trip to the National Wildlife Refuge and made it just in time for sunset. Wish we had time to see the rest of it, however the parts we were able to walk to were very peaceful and beautiful. Great for the family.

We enjoy visiting the Wildlife Refuge as much as possible. There's always something to see and the beauty of nature is humbling. Nice Trails so that you can drive and plenty of room to get by cars who stopped to take a closer look. A bargain.

Love this trail so much wildlife! Hundreds f different kinds of birds Gators galore it's a scenic drive for sure never know what you might see from a duck to a wild boar ! Have a camera loads of picture opportunities

Worth the time to visit. For a small donation you get to drive through the Kennedy space center nature preserve. Herons, alligators, turtles and manatees

Very relaxing with plenty of wildlife and dunes and interesting plantlife. We saw alligators ,egriets, and even a wild pig! My wife and I were visiting relatives in Titusville and they took us here and we ended up driving, parking and wlking for about 3 hours! Plenty of WILD life. Alligators were lying out in sun. A bird watcher's delight! I don't much about them but the relatives did. We parking and had a little picnic and the inlet we were at had fiddler crabs, turtles and other small animals about! We were driving around when a wild pig ran across the road. I do think you need a park pass ! Close to the Cape! At 1 spot they had a landing with a stand by the water and we saw manatees and dolphins. A woman in a kayak got to close and a Manatee bumped her up into the air. Very relaxing! Goto Dixie Cross Roads or Dogs R Us for supper after..

The visitor center is closed most of the roads and trails are accessible. We saw an alligator, turtle, frogs, water snake, crabs, a raccoon and limitless shore birds. The roseate spoonbill and osprey were highlights. Definitely worth the drive and time.

The beach was terrific! They are greatly under used except for launch days. No one wants to pay the pass fee, so this.place stays nicely unbusy!!

Came in January and we enjoyed it. The scenic drive was nice. If you are a bird watcher, then this is for you. We didn't see a lot of other animals but it was still a pleasurable visit. There are a lot of trails and stops to take in the different environments. Would recommend.

Stop at the visitor center first and get a map of the refuge and a guide to the Seven Mile Drive. There is a short walk behind the center which is nice. There are bathrooms and picnic tables as well.

We went down the Black Point drive and it was beautiful! Very quiet and peaceful. You felt as if you were on vacation far from everything else. I saw ducks and lots of birds. Some fish were swimming. Great spot for photos.

This is a great place to go early in the morning or late in the afternoon. That's when most of the animals are out. I've seen alligators, hogs, turtles, a bear and some bald eagles. Plus numerous other birds. The land is also diverse. This also takes you out to Playalinda Beach which takes you by a launch pad. Plan to spend at least 3 hours.

It's been said before, birds and reptiles are seen all over. Colorful birds and very large reptiles. Spoonbills, herons, egrets, snakes and gators. A variety of waterfowl are seen on almost every water site. Take binoculars and drive the loop. Stop and park at a few spots. It is better than any zoo. Just pay attention when you walk as to alligators. We saw an 8 ft gator. (see pics) so watch your children closely.

Road the motorcycle and walked the Sam's house paths at Pine Island. Beautiful homes in the area off the normal tourist area

Make sure you leave plenty of time for this attraction, The wildlife and birds are in abundance. The visitor center has a nice walk and there are many beautiful plants and birds in the area. We drove to the beach as well and the views were wonderful despite it being a cold day.

We went into the reserve in the early morning and later in the afternoon after the first day of being there mid day, reminded us, birds don't fly around much mid day.
It was mating season and we saw the heron dance, the egrets do their socializing. We saw amazing sunsets and the spoonbills. We saw this and we saw that and we saw dry, drought covered land that made the place seem a little other worldly.
People who had been there before said the animals were sparse but for us, it was fine. We got the photos we came for: herons, ibis, egrets, vultures, pelicans, plovers, sunsets, sunrises over the ocean. It worked well for us.

The unfortunate part was: due to lack of funding, there are few park rangers so local crab fishers came in and put up nets in the rivers. Herons and other birds could get caught in them.

We toured in our car and found it just fine .

If you have even a passing interest in birds, go to Merritt Island and drive the 7-mile Black Point WiIdlife Drive. Merritt is a resting stop for migrating birds so the diversity of birds seen is amazing. Even though I don't know that much, I could identify osprey, eagles, Roseate Spoonbills, many types of herons and egrets, Moorehen ducks, etc. etc. etc. The drive is one way and people drive very slowly to enjoy viewing the birds, but you can pass slower cars if you want. There are pull-offs along the way where you can park and get out of the car and walk to viewing platforms. We took our time and enjoyed the experience. Highly recommend it!

The day we went the visitors' center was closed, but I'm sure that is worth seeing also.

Great photo opportunities for wading birds & waterfowl from your car on Blackpoint Wildlife Drive. It would probably be great for waterfowl in winter. The Hammock Trails are undoubtedly good for passerines, esp. during migration.

What a fantastic day! Very relaxing drives or hikes if you like. We spent an hour watching the manatees (16) before heading to the various trails. Wonderful day trip.

Our Favorite Sunday afternoon or morning outing is a trip to the Merritt Island wildlife refuge it is so beautiful and so serene we love Blackpoint drive the number of birds his incredible definitely a wonderful spot to visit it back to nature experience love it

This was a very beautiful area to visit if you love nature! We did the Black Point Drive and the Manatee Observation Deck at Haulover Canal. Wonderful experience. Allow plenty of time. It took about 2-3 hours. Stop by the visitors center for more information, or you may be like us, driving aimlessly. I recommend bringing Off! bug spray to the manatee deck. We were bitten by some type of bug! We didn't stay long due to the bugs!

I have been multiple times for the drive and to see manatees. Once we saw no obvious wildlife. We aren't expert bird watchers or anything. Another time we saw tones of gators, birds and manatees. And then once it was a little wildlife. It all depends on weather, time of year etc.

It seems that TripAdvisor splits this and the Black Point drive (see later). So for this entry, I will include the two trails (Palm hammock and Scrub Ridge) and the marina (because the manatee viewing site is inaccessible from the south due to a closed bridge).

The marina had about 10 manatees hanging out, even allowing you to pet them if you waved your hand or feet in the water for awhile. Nice to see the gentle giants. Just south of there is what I believe was called the Scrub Ridge trail. It was a hot, shadeless, and virtually birdless walk, but then again we were there in mid-afternoon. We were hoping to see the elusive Scrub Jay, which another pair of visitors had seen a bit before, but we never did. Then it was on to Palm Hammock (Oak Hammock was closed) which is so different--like being in a jungle.

Also, the visitor center was very nice (even with a power outage) and the staff was friendly. Took a short boardwalk stroll there to see a gator and a ton of brown and green anoles.

All in all, this is a fine area and is probably even better if you can get there at the crack of dawn.

A really relaxing day away from the hustle and bustle of the theme parks. The 7 miles drive was great to see plenty of birds and alligators and the manatee observation area is a must. Overwhelming to see the manatees in a natural environment. The staff at the visitors centre were very helpful and knowledgeable. Definitely worth a visit

This was the second time we visited this place. We enjoyed observing the manatees and finished the day by witnessing the most spectacular sunset ever! That was truly phenomenal to see the beautiful colours while being surrounded by the wildlife and hearing sounds of the nature. If you stay until the sunset take repellent because it's humid and there are mosquitoes. Our 7 year old loved the place!

We never get tired of watching the surf and the birds looking for food in the surf. It was nearly deserted when we got there.

I started my day at 7am and watched the sunrise from Blackpoint Drive. I was the only person around for a good amount of time. I started birdwatching on the seven mile loop and stayed for three hours. The drive is clean, easy to navigate, has numerous pull off spots and an abundance of wildlife. I spotted 11 new bird species for this year. I left Blackpoint and drove to the Nature Center to buy a Federal Park pass. They only take cash and check so I waited to buy at the ranger station. The volunteer was extremely helpful. I wanted to buy many books in the gift shop. The restroom was clean. I started birding their trail but noticed the time and left for beach birding. Bought my pass at the station with a credit card and spent an hour on the beach. It wasn't crowded, mostly fisherman and a few families. Entrance 13 is where the nude bathers hang out...ha ha. I skipped BioLab road this time and headed to Hammock Park trail. There were tons of passerines in the parking lot area. The trails are beautiful in this park. Well maintained and shaded, which was a nice break. Overall I had a fabulous day visiting the Refuge and will be back, a lot!

this was our 3rd visit over the years and still love this place, So large and sprawling. Snakes, spiders, Birds,loads of mammals,Manatees,Dolphins.lots and lots of Gators You can see pretty much most animals here. Stop by the visitor centre they are so informative, the lady we spoke to spent about 30 mins explaining all the best places on the day to go. Separate trails, a fantastic beach area.

We had a couple days after a cruise in the Cape Canaveral area and rented a car and drove through the various trails and saw all kinds of birds and lots of manatees playing!

The pass can be bought at the visitors center for $10 per car. This was one of our favorite days just watching the wildlife. Just awesome!

We saw alligators the next day in the same area too (on our space center tour).

There are two trails you can take, both are not too long of a hike maybe a mile +/-. Lots of trees, little critter wondering through the foliage, butterflies and birds of all sorts. The trails are very peaceful just watch out for roots growing through the path. I definitely suggest wearing tennis shoes or boots. Bring water, bug spray, and sunblock. There is no cost to park or wander the Florida wilderness. Great for everybody that’s into exploring, hiking, or just a casual stroll.

After leaving the Manatee Observation Dock, we stumbled across the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. What an amazing experience. We enjoyed being close to nature from the comfort of our vehicle, and also having the experience to venture on foot to see various birds, plants, alligators and others. According to details, the refuge is 140,000 acres. There is a minimal $10.00 fee, in which you will see the envelopes and rear view mirror "hangar" at the front of the refuge. Very happy to have had the experience, and looking forward to returning again.

The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge's Black Point Wildlife Drive is worth the trip during any season. I've visited in February, March and August, and have seen everything from swallows to panthers, rainbows and John Deere tractors. In February we saw a host of different varieties of water fowl, including several types of herons. This place is a national treasure and a delight. We were able to drive slowly and stop along the way whenever we wanted and listen to the sound of the wind and bird calls. Peaceful and serene!

I grew up near here, but this is an out of the way beach that is hidden from most. People generally go to Cocoa Beach. However, this is an excellent choice to visit and also spend some time exploring the wildlife refuge areas. Be sure to bring bug spray and sunscreen though!

Love this place, especially in January and February birding. Roseate spoonbills often seen. Great beaches in warmer weather. There is no charge for birding and there is a fee to park and access beaches. Worth it.

Great spot to see both resident and migrating birds! Great 12 mile drive through wetlands along Black Point Trail should reveal lots of birds. Bring your camera with a zoom lens and binoculars. Stay in your car and drive slowly. The car acts as a bird blind. Well worth the trip if you like observing wildlife. You can also visit the Cape Canaveral National Seashore on the same day...great oceanfront beach with waves. That could be a beach day all by itself! Stop at the visitor center. It has picnic tables and a short movie.

I came to Titusville to bike, yet ended up spending most of my time exploring this fantastic wildlife refuge, with its many fantastic sights spread over many miles. Its Black Point Wildlife Drive is a must. You won't believe the prolific bird life. Also the Bio Lab trail, and the manatee observation deck. If I return, I'd want to bike Black Point's miles of bird splendor. At the island's southern end is the Kennedy Space Center, also hugely worth visiting.... I've visited Florida for decades, but thanks to Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, this was a favorite trip. Hats off to the US Fish & Wildlife folk for maintaining such a well-cared-for Refuge that birds obviously appreciate too!

We always enjoy touring the Wildlife Refuge to see what birds and other animals we can spot! Last visit we saw Roseate Spoonbills, several types of Herons, ducks, galinoules, coots, egrets, pelicans, and other species too many to mention. Also saw 2 alligators and wild hog. So enjoyable!

Winter is a great time to visit since many migratory birds hang out on the refuge in winter. In two days, I couldn't more than 60 species of birds and also saw armadillo, a bobcat, alligators, an otter, a possum, a nice snake and turtles, Black Point Drive is nice but I also like the walking trails. I saw a bunch of endangered Florida Scrub Jays on the Scrub Ridge Trail. I had never seen them before so was very excited. Also saw Towhee and a Sora rail which I don't see often. Bring your binoculars and camera, you'll see lots of great things and enjoy the natural Florida. Manatees won';t be there when it is really cold like it has been the past couple weeks but there are other areas not too far away where you can find them (they like springs in winter)

Nice beaches. Great for bird watchers. Can get close to launch pad 39A at Cape Canaveral. Stop at Visitors Center to get a good overview of the refuge.

So fun to see the birds enjoying themselves in the water habitat. I spent a couple hours on the drives and even saw a wildcat.

I guess you need to be in the right frame mind to visit this place. The "no-see-ums" and mosquitoes will eat you up. Especially if it's not windy. It's hot, sticky and generally uncomfortable. It wasn't for me.

We were very impressed with the whole visit. Sad that the woman who helped her chidren over the fence to get closer to the manatees cannot read the "DO NOT CROSS THE FENCE" sign. But the whole Refuge is a beautiful and tranquil drive. Well worth it!

Loved the Black Point driving tour. Saw very few other people, but lots of birds and an alligator. Nearby we saw a bald eagle in it's nest and a couple of manatee at Bair's cove

We happened to be in Florida during a time many birds were migrating through. The landscape was beautiful, quiet, and full of wildlife. We saw alligators and multiple birds. Over 2 days, we probably spent about 4 hours driving around and exploring. If you’re looking for excitement and thrills, this may not be the space for you. But if you love nature and exploring, I can’t recommend this spot enough. The world is so beautiful.

The refuge and national seashore both have incredible beauty and wildlife with something for everyone. Been there several times and still haven't done everything. Different and enjoyable each and every time.Our list of must do on each visit:
- Refuge Visitors Center - 1st stop for maps & information. Staff is friendly and knowledgable. A small center packed with interesting exhibits & giftshop BUT walk the nature trail just to the right of the center - one of the best!
- Playalinda Beach - plenty of wildlife and wildflowers, great natural beach, numerous small parking lots for beach access, few people around you on the beach, great views of active NASA Pads 39 A&B
- Black Point Wildlife Drive - plenty of wildlife including gators, spoonbills, etc. Allow about an hour for the drive. Not crowded.

At Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, we saw several manatees right below the surface at the Manatee Observation Platform with one splashing its tail. We discovered that when you see circles or bubbles on the surface of the water, look closely because a manatee is there. Apparently mating season is in May, so you can regularly see them that month. However, you may well see them any time of the year except for December to early February per Visitor Center staff. They do have a nice small visitor center there. We noted they also had nice trails but was only able to enjoy part of the boardwalk trail due to thunderstorms. We did spot a young alligator in the middle of the road on the wildlife drive. This refuge is also near the Kennedy Space Center. We will definitely return to this refuge when we return to Florida.

My wife and I accompanied her brother and wife as we visited this refuge in late March. The birding here is fabulous and we got 50 different kinds of bird sightings, just on the first day. Of course, my brother-in-law is a world-class bird spotter, so we probably were able to identify many, many more birds than my wife or I might have been able to do by ourselves. We also spotted plenty of gators along the way and even saw some manatees at the nearby boat haul-in. This is a wonderful preserve and it was nice to use our senior pass once again. Rangers here were very friendly and helpful.

If you like nature and history.....this is a wonderful retreat for a day! It is so nice in the midst of all the Disney attractions and other theme parks in the area to know there is such a place that preserves and protest nature and to be able to see nature, birds and other wildlife in there natural habitats !

This was a great way to see the birds up close. There are several animals like wild pigs that are sometimes seen but we didn’t see any. There is a one way drive on an I paved road running through the preserve. Take your time and watch closely and you see the birds. We saw blue herons, bald eagles, anhinga, egrets, ibis, ospreys. Bring your camera.

This refuge is great for the whole family. The wildlife drive is accessible and it was easy to see thousands of birds from the car, but you can also get out on trails if you want to walk. We did the long 5 mile trail and enjoyed it, although we recommend the morning for that one as it is all in full sun. Visitor center is a great place to begin, staff were knowledgeable about what birds and wildlife were being seen and where, and were very helpful. A great experience.

This national wildlife refuge is a look into the past if you are interested in seeing what coastal Florida looked like before Florida was populated. There are plenty of pull-offs for observation, and the parking areas for walks over to the beach on the ocean are numerous, all with restrooms. Everything is nicely integrated into the natural landscape. For the adventurous, there are additional dirt roads through the lowland swamps to explore. We saw numerous species of sea birds, alligators, and thankfully no snakes.

Expected excellent but a cold front came in and our viewing experience was less than stellar but still very good. We saw various migratory bird species. Best thing to do is the Black Point Wildlife drive, aprox. 7 miles in your car along a narrow road with wetlands on either side. The visitor center is worth a look with very knowledgeable guides with great maps. We also went to the Manatee observation platform a few miles away across a canal where they could be easily spotted along with a number of pelicans.

Took the 7 mile Black Point Road after touring the wildlife center. Several interesting displays on hand and plenty of informative information on the center. Nice boardwalk around the Info Center itself. Were able to spot several bird types and alligators on road tour. Weather was enjoyable and the price is right.

At first they were under construction, but we took a brief walk to the bridge, we were lucky enough to see several manatees, where the employee ended up saying that they really like to stay there, our first and unforgettable encounter with them was there. We simply love it!

We drove to the Visitor Centre and picked up a map and some guidance from there first. The gentleman behind the desk was super friendly and really helpful.
He drew the two Route available on the map and also highlighted the Manatee Watching Area

We made our way around at our own pace starting at about 10 in the morning.
Some folk seemed in a bigger rush but each to their own. Whilst we saw a couple of alligators the photos weren’t great as they poked just their eyes out of the water but we did manage to photograph a few types of wildlife and absolutely loved the manatees.

I imagine if you came earlier in the day you might see more wildlife. Tickets can be bought on line and you then display them in your window. I’m sure you called ahead the day before you could get directions of where to start if you wanted to get here earlier than they open the visitor centre.

We did a couple of the short trail walks but there is a 5 mile walk if you are more adventurous and can cope with the humidity.

We enjoyed a simple wedding there. Warm, sunny, and fulfilled our dreams. The five of us had the whole beach for our event. Even got our shoes wet in the surf!

Saw eight or more manatees but only one alligator. Key is to go to the designated manatee viewing area located on one of the canals.

This is a wonderful starting point for an understanding of not only this national wildlife refuge but where the other ones are and what a refuge is all about. It is a beautiful Visitor's Center with wonderfully helpful and friendly staff. This is located right off the south side of the Max Brewer Memorial highway and has good signage. This is a 1 story building on the south side of the road near the south-end entrance of the Canaveral national seashore. It is definitely a great place to stop. It has a running movie that explains the seashore and the wildlife contained there. There is a small paved parking lot with an overflow gravel parking lot right next to it. The rangers were especially helpful in explaining the options to the park. There is a fee to drive specific parts of the park but, I think, it is well worth it for the pleasant drive and wildlife you will see. Behind the building is a walkway around one side of the lake and through the forest/wetlands. It also has a gift shop, restrooms, and some interactive displays to explain parts of the park. During this most recent visit, the gift shop and part of the walkway around the lake were closed. Even with these restrictions, I highly recommend this as a first stop for the park.

This was a great stop. Loving the outdoors it was great to see so much preserved land. We drove the Black Point Wildlife drive and saw many different birds

This huge preserve offers both driving and walking opportunities to see many birds, animals, reptiles in their natural habitat. Breathtaking vistas, opportunity to learn more about the environment in which these creatures live. Not to be missed for old and young family members.

The Black Rock Point Drive at Merritt Island NWR never fails to amaze us. In late January of 2019, it was packed with Roseate Spoonbills (80+), White Pelicans, ducks, and egrets of every kind! It's a. birdwatcher's paradise. The photographers were having a field time with all the great photo opportunities. Plenty of room for our smallish motorhome to maneuver, and vehicles could still pass on the one-way loop drive. Highly recommend this stop for all natue lovers, as we never pass up this area when traveling to Florida in the winter months,

Starting off in the Visitor center is a must, you can pick up a pass for the reserve and get tons of information geared to what you want to see. Another thing not to pas up at the visitor center they sell little animal figurines, my Wife bought a little turtle figurine that she is going to put on her terrarium, the cost of the figurine was half of what we saw in Cocoa Beach.

We did the Black Point drive and it was great tons of birds and we saw 5 alligators, it was a really fun day.

Our family has wintered in Cocoa Beach for the last 10 years and we always visit the refuge at least once each year. It's one of our favorite places in Florida. You're pretty much guaranteed to see alligators and some incredible birds as well as other surprises. Occasionally, you'll see wild boars and while we've never actually seen a panther here, this year we saw fresh panther tracks on one of the trails. Just really great scenery and wildlife here.

This is a really good place to come and enjoy nature and to fish as well.
We like to bring the kayaks and put in it the haul over canal boat ramp.
We paddle the mosquito lagoon and canals in the area.
You will see lots of birds and occasionally manatees.
There is a manatee viewing area with a parking lot where you can watch.

I went there with my family. Even though I live close by. I had never been there before. And I will totally go again. All the bird and flowers were beautiful.

For me Meritt Island NWR includes many choices to see wildlife. You can hike, drive, or ride bikes, your choice. A day here includes for me and my family the following: Black Point Drive, Bio Lab Road, Scrub Jay trail, Playalinda Beach, Haul Over Canal, and the Visitor Center. Remembering this is a wild life refuge, the animals and birds do as they like. But in one day you should be able to see, Alligators, Pigs, every kind of Heron you can think of, snipes, clappers, Spoonbills, Shore birds, Pelicans (brown and white), Manatee, harbour porpoise's, stilts, limpkins,scrub jays, ducks, etc. Pack a lunch and enjoy it at Playalinda beach (Eddy creek pullout), there are picnic tables under a pavillion on top of the dune looking down onto the beach. You may find Manatee at the new dock at the Eddy creek, and HaulOver Canal. Fishing is available at Haulover Canal and many people are doing it. It amazes me every time we visit seeing how the birds feed and eat at different locations. Bathrooms are available on the BlackPoint drive, Visitor Center, Playalinda beach and Haul Over canal. There is NO FOOD available anyplace. Bring your food and water and enjoy the day.

TIP: If you have never been here before you should go straight to the Visitor Center for a map and tips on how to get where you want to go. Bring a roll of toilet paper because PortaPotties sometimes don't have any. I don't recommend this for children under 5 years old. Most things are open at sunrise, Visitor center 9-4 pm.

Enjoy yourself.

Spent a day on Merritt Island, very quiet, lots of wild areas with gravel roads here and there and some boat launch areas. Did a kayak tour so didn't have time to drive and see all of the island and disappointed that the Manatee viewing area was closed. Would like to go back again and spend more time exploring though.............saw a wild boar crossing the road, armadillo, manatee, and some birds.

If you are interested in seeing lots of different species of birds, then definitely make the trip here. If you want to see ANY OTHER wildlife, don't bother. I did not see a single mammal or reptile.

This was one of the reasons I came to this part of Florida - worth every mile I drove. The visitors center is 20 miles off US 1 so be sure to have a full tank of gas. The staff was very helpful and it is a beautiful facility - felt like I was back in the Everglades. Would highly recommend the Black Point drive - lots to see including birds, ducks and basking alligators.

We are so fortunate to live here in Merritt Island. It's so nice to get away from the crowds and see all the beauty of unspoiled Florida.

First time to visit here An abundance of wildlife and definitely worth a few hours to see the different species

Great birding drive. Very little traffic on the trail. The entrance fee is $10.00 which is probably why. Last year, it was only $5.00. There are plenty of birds. There were a lot of herons including the rare sighting of green ones. Spotted eagles, a wide variety of ducks and ibises. Great to dust off that camera and take photos. Could not go on the Bio drive due to the rocket launch. I would recommend not going there during a launch. However, the Bio parking lot has a platform in the water and the launch pad can be clearly seen. Only a few people there.

I tried to did discourage some European visitors from touching the most docile creatures I have ever encountered without success. But just to be that close to the 1000 pound 10 feet long was a thrill. Please go see them but do not feed or touch them.

This is a wonderful opportunity to see water birds, aligators, plants, etc.

I would definitely recommend:
- the Visitor Center
- the board walk trail at the visitor center (the children can do a wildlife bingo game)
- Black Point Drive (on some days you can do this as part of the guided bus tour that is offered a couple days a week)

Best to do early in the day, when the wildlife is most active, the temperature iss not too high yet and the chance of rain is lower.

My husband and I were fortunate enough to visit the Refuge when they had a 9am shuttle tour (which they offer every Tuesday). For a fee of $5/each, a Fish & Wildlife employee drives the small shuttle (only about 8 other people were with us) throughout different places and points out various wildlife while presenting interesting facts about that wildlife and the Refuge. The tour started out at Black Point Wildlife Drive. There were some special sightings - such as the mama bobcat and her kitten - as well as tons of birds, including roseate spoonbills, herons, egrets, white ibis, blue winged teals, many ducks, bald eagles, ospreys, and red shouldered hawks, to name a few. We also saw crocodiles and turtles. Next, he drove us to see the manatees at Haulover Canal. There were a couple of baby manatees, as well as lots of brown pelicans. As a special treat, since everyone on the tour agreed to extend the tour time (we went a total of 3.5 hours!), he drove us to Canaveral National Seashore, including Playalinda Beach (no charge for us to get in). We got to see a scrub-jay, armadillo, and a ton of shore birds. The tour made everything so easy - no worry about trying to drive and look at wildlife or figuring out which direction to turn. Although even without a tour, this is a beautiful place to explore. We brought our own food for a picnic and enjoyed using the tables for lunch that were right beside the visitor center. I highly recommend a visit to the Refuge!!

This is a fantatic place to see wildlife (birds, armadillos, rabbits, gators, manatees and more) in their natural habitat. Our experience is that we go here often, but the last time, we went to the VIsitor Center to inquire about turtle-watching tours. The woman at the information desk was curt and unfriendly, noting the MICA(I thougth she was saying NICA and has to ask her to repeat it a couple of times which annoyed her) hosted the trips and we should ask the person in the gift shop who knew more. Iasked her what MICA stood for, and guess what? She had no idea. I figured it out and told her. This place was NOT busy at this time, only 2 other people inside the gift shop. The person we were supposed to ask was busy with things on shelves and couldn't even be bothered to stop what she was doing to talk to us. Perhaps they are volunteers who supposedly WANT to be there? If so, some training in personal communication is needed. Worse would be that they are employed and our tax dollars pay them! Very pathetic. And, not the first time we encountered unfriendly people at the Visitor Center. Seems to be the rule rather than the exception.

Called in via a visit to Titusville to watch a 6pm launch from Cape Kennedy to kill an hour or two.
No cafe but lovely little shop and staff so friendly and knowledgable.
History of wildlife, manatees, 'gators Bobcats and rare birds only seen on the island.
Then a walk around the site - we saw lizards, beautiful blue dragonflies, turtles and joy of joys a Red Eagle fishing on the lake !
Flora and fauna plentiful - very like a national trust/rspb site.
On recommendation from staff on site we drove 10 minutes to Bear Cove - 50+ Manatees in breeding season !
All in the wild - some swimming on their backs - generally having fun !
Cut short by lightning - highly recommend both for a visit

Very few birds to see or photograph at least on the two occasions I have visited Feb 2019 and April 2016. Spent two days travelling the two main wildlife drives and probably saw less than 60 birds in totally and most of them were Egrets. A few Roseate Spoonbills and one raft of Shoveller Ducks. A number of Ospreys overhead but that was about it. Did see a Male and Female Painted Bunting at the visitor complex on and near an extremely badly sited feeder, 3 ft from and walkway fence right next to the visitor centre and right under some trees in the shade.

One of the best birding National Wildlife Refuges. There are two wildlife drives, each about seven miles, with stunning views along the way. There is a $10 fee, or National Park pass, which is little to pay in an era when movies are $12.
Stop for info at the visitor center so you can be directed to the areas that match your interest.

Did not see anything , I dont think is a good idea to come during a hot day very dissapointed maybe is best in winter months

Wonderful wildlife refuge--but remember, the volunteers outnumber the paid staff almost 10 to 1--so be polite to the volunteers who are helping you. They don't make the rules.

Black Point Wildlife Drive is fabulous, birds, gators, snakes, and even the occasional bobcat. Cost: $10 per car (unless you have a national park pass).