Explore the National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center

About

For the US Fish and Wildlife Service, along with refuge and wildlife supporters throughout the Outer Banks and eastern North Carolina, the Visitor Center had been a long-time dream. Today, it serves as a gateway to eleven national wildlife refuges and one national fish hatchery, encouraging guests to discover each one.

Interactive exhibits, audio-visual programs, and a virtual airplane ride let visitors take an imagined field trip through every refuge, inspiring future visits to these special places. Learn how the Outer Banks will change as the sea level rises. Step inside the old Dare Forest Supply Store to experience a short multi-sensory film about life in Buffalo City during its era as a busy logging and moonshining town. The theater also presents 2 other films focused on nature and the surrounding area.

The main lobby invites visitors to search for 37 critters concealed in the pocosin diorama, look inside a red wolf den, and pose for a photo as a genuine wild lands firefighter. Behind the center, a short interpreted nature trail winds through the woods.

The facility is LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certified and energy-efficient. Its sustainable features include solar panels, low-volume toilets, and a highly energy-efficient heating and cooling system.

Hours of Operation: Monday-Saturday 9 am-4 pm and Sunday Noon-4 pm.

National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center is free and open to the public seven days a week, year-round.

Location and Contact

National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center
100 Conservation Way Manteo, NC 27954
252-473-1131

Visitor Reviews

Based on 3 reviews, visitors describe the center as a worthwhile stop for exploring the North Carolina National Wildlife Refuges, with interactive exhibits that appeal to families, informative displays, pamphlets, maps, and helpful volunteers. The reviews also mention the Coastal North Carolina National Wildlife Refuges Gateway Visitor Center and its notably lengthy name. Reviewers include James M. (08/24/2026), MeeMaw V. (05/15/2025), and Denny K. (12/16/2013).