United States
Florida (FL)
Southwest Gulf Coast
Sanibel Island
Things to Do in Sanibel Island
J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge
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J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge

See all things to do
See all things to do
J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge
4.5
6,296 reviews
#5 of 38 things to do in Sanibel Island
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About
Established in 1945, this wildlife refuge occupies one-third of Sanibel Island and is a prime spot for bird watching. Fees are required for Wildlife Drive, which is open everyday but is closed on Fridays, gate times vary. The best way to plan your visit is to stop in the informative FREE visitor center first which is open daily 9am-4pm. Then begin your adventure with many activities including the wildlife drive, tram tour, kayaking, fishing opportunities, picnic benches, and even a free scavenger hunt style game and wildlife spotting app (Discover Ding) if you prefer a self-guided tour.
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More than 3 hours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
6,296 reviews
Excellent
4,194
Very good
1,421
Average
509
Poor
125
Terrible
47
FreeLogic
Ontario37 contributions
Hidden gem for nature lovers
Apr 2023 • Couples
Gem of a place for nature lovers. Despite the devastating hurricane Ian. We started at the visitors center. Volunteers here can answer all your questions. The store is well equipped with books and souvenirs. Their washrooms are squeaky clean and, surprisingly, contain informative murals about local flora and fauna.

4 mile drive thru the refuge allows to see mangrove ecosystem from up close. 1.5 hours will get you covered . $10 admission is well worth the price.
Written April 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Betsy L
4 contributions
Fun couple hours for kids and adults alike
Nov 2020
We went to Ding Darling and saw a black racer snake within 10 minutes, boy was that a hoot for our 8yr and 6 yr boys! We walked the boardwalk, free for the first portion than $1/person, and enjoyed seeing many birds, and hoping for an alligator sighting, though we didn't see one. We then got in the car and drove the 4mi loop which had a handful of spots to pull of and enjoy the preserve. I would suggest doing the 4 mile loops by bike if you are able and bringing along binoculars- there is a lot to view. Also, don't miss the last pull off towards the end that has a very low hanging tree/vine covered boardwalk detailing the life and times of the Calusa Indeginuous People. Overall, very much worth the trip. The visitor center which we heard was a real gem was closed bc of COVID, but the hike/drive was an enjoyable activity none the less. Make sure to check the restrooms at the visitor center building, they have intricate murals and educational designs that were a fun treat.
Written November 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Junemd@ilve.com
Boston, MA16 contributions
Excellent Park!
Oct 2020
Really enjoyable Park! This is a walkable, bike rideable & drive thru park. Highly recommend visiting this park. Bring plenty of water & a hat if walking or biking. They have a very cool overlook & I can't wait for the Visitor's Center to open - currently closed due to covid. Even though the visitor's center is closed, I would recommend taking the walk up to their entrance area - really sweet ceiling art display. Kids will especially love it, but we found it pretty creative too. Make sure that you stop at the overlook areas to see plenty of fish jumping & gorgeous birds. Lastly, look for the displays at the raised overlook that will show you some tracking info for the wildlife in the area.

It's $1 pp to walk it & $10 per car to drive-thru. I'm not sure what the cost is for biking it. We walked a few trails & then drove the rest of it because of the heat. The entry clerk deducted our walking fee from the driving fee so that we paid a total of $10 for both the walk & drive. In any case, very well worth it
Written October 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Linda Y
Frisco, TX5,656 contributions
Sanibel Must Do!
Jun 2021
Our family always includes a visit to the refuge whenever we are in Sanibel. It never gets old, because no matter how many times you’ve been here, it’s a given you’ll see something new! And we have Jay Norwood Darling (“Ding”) to thank. His life story interestingly combines cartoons, politics, and conservation. Urged by Darling, President Harry Truman signed an Executive Order creating the Sanibel National Wildlife Refuge in 1945. The Refuge was renamed in 1967 to honor the conservationist that saved the land from development. The refuge consists of mangrove forest, submerged seagrass beds, cordgrass marshes, and West Indian hardwood hammocks. Approximately 2,800 acres of the 6,400-acre refuge are designated by Congress as a Federal Wilderness Area. Famous for spectacular migratory bird populations (especially in the winter months), over 245 species of birds have been spotted here. While the Visitor Center is currently open, the Education Center/Exhibits are still closed due to COVID-19 restrictions (being a national property the refuge follows federal and not state mandates). The staff was quite welcoming however and provided a variety of coloring and activity books for the kids to take. As other reviews have noted, remember to check out America’s best restroom. Our family elected to drive the 4-mile Wildlife Drive ($10 per vehicle), but you can also hike or bike for a nominal fee. Hang on to your receipt because it is good for 3 days! The kids were intent to see manatees, and our persistence paid off on the last day. You have a better chance to see these gentle giants during low tide. The manatees were so close to shore we heard them breathing and saw the barnacles on their back! I was also thrilled to get close views of a variety of birds that included roseate spoonbills, anhinga and snowy egrets. The refuge is a Sanibel must do!
Written June 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christopher E
Colonial Heights, VA21 contributions
Interesting.
Apr 2022 • Family
Pros:
The museum is clean and interesting with activities for young children.
The refuge is large with diverse wildlife

Cons:
It costs $10 to drive through the preserve.
If you go at high tide, you probably won’t see anything
The museum proudly displays a copy of Silent Spring, possibly unaware that it might have killed tens of millions in the developing world of malaria by erroneously leading to the banning of DDT, a ban since repealed.
Written April 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WARREN M
Schwenksville, PA32 contributions
Great if you take the guided tours
Nov 2021 • Friends
This continued to be one of our go to places when we visit Sanibel annually. The concession does an excellent job of providing tours by bus and boat as well as the many rental options.
Our guides on the tours this year are both new but Megan & Savana did a great job and still found things to talk about we have have not heard in the 40 yrs we have been visiting the ‘ding’ darling refuge.( before Even Tarpon Explorers took over the concession).
Be sure to pay the price for the tours you will see and learn so much more that if you just drive thru expecting Disney type animals to pop out every few hundred yards.
The exhibits at the information center have been closed for 19 months , being a federal facility, but hope springs eternal they will reopen soon as it’s so well done it’s a great place to stop in. The gift shop also has well chosen items without the usual plastic Rubbish you often see. They are still open.
A great treasure on Sanibel.
Written November 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James Lee
Richmond Hill, Canada298 contributions
First impressions last
Dec 2019
Strongly recommend first time visitors, especially those who reside outside north America, to have a tour to his wildlife refuge, operated by the .U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Please check their website for hours and rates. Admission rate is different for vehicles ($5), bicycles ($1) and pedestrians ($1). Optional tram ride is available, operated by a private tour operator. The tour guide Wendy on the tram/bus was excellent, she is very professional and entertaining. Remember to tip. Bring your binoculars for watching birds and other kinds of wildlife. Definitely will visit again.
Written May 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
summerbreeze2
69 contributions
A Coastal Gem
Jun 2022 • Friends
Love the Wild Life Refuge. Calm and serene. We planned our visit for early morning and also for sunset. We were rewarded with some beautiful natural beauty, birds and even an alligator. We took time to explore the visitor center and see the exhibits that helped us understand this coastal environment better. We also shopped the Nature Center Store inside the Visitor center where they had many kinds of merchandise based on nature and wildlife and other fun conservation based products. They told us all proceeds help the refuge programs and will help them continue their work and education.
Written June 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Realist
Boston, MA10 contributions
A Green Driveway
Apr 2021 • Family
Meh
This tour was 1/2 hour too long. Sure when it’s hot your thankful for a low energy activity- but not much to see here. Some interesting facts but not enough variance between mangroves to really inspire. The little over a handful of birds that were present I had seen in regular harbor/eatery travels but when spotted on tour (bc otherwise nothing burger) the group got excited like finding water in a desert. I had been on a mangrove kayak tour
and able to point out to guide some findings he neglected to mention. Had driven by several times wanting to stop- but after the reservation - I would not pick this if pressed for time.
Written April 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
upone2000
Grand Rapids, MI72 contributions
Ding drive to see wildlife
May 2021
The price has gone up to $10 per car, but you get to use the receipt for 3 days. Wildlife was sparse the first few times we drove through so we kept coming back to see if more birds could be spotted. We trekked a few trails since the weathers was decent but little to no activity was seen.
Written May 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge (Sanibel Island) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

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