If you're planning a visit to Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
and have questions about the Refuge's services, facilities,
and recreational opportunities, please refer to our list of frequently asked
questions displayed on this page. If your question is not on this list, feel free to contact the
management of Blackwater Refuge at:
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
2145 Key Wallace Drive
Cambridge, Maryland 21613
Telephone: (410)228-2677
(Hearing-impaired visitors may call the Maryland Relay Service
at TDD/(800)735-2258 voice)
How do I get to Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge?
When are the hours of operation?
What are the entrance fees?
Where can I find information on lodging and camping?
What is the weather like at Blackwater Refuge?
What is at the Visitor Center?
What is the Wildlife Drive?
Does Blackwater Refuge have trails?
Are pets allowed at the Refuge?
Where can I find information about wildlife at the Refuge?
Where can I find information about biking at the Refuge?
Where can I find information about hunting, boating, and fishing at the Refuge?
Where can I find information about educational opportunities at the Refuge?
Where can I find information about the fire management program at the Refuge?
Where can I find information about the Friends of Blackwater?
How do I get to Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge?
From Easton, MD heading East (South):
From the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, follow Route 50 East to Easton. From Easton continue south on Route 50 East. Cross over the Senator Frederick C. Malkus, Jr. Bridge (Choptank River Bridge) into the city of Cambridge. Continue on Route 50 (approximately 4 miles) through several traffic lights until you come to a traffic light just past the Dorchester Square Shopping Center (Center includes Wal-mart and Dollar Tree). You will see a brown sign directing you to the Refuge. Turn right at this light onto Route 16 West (Church Creek Road). Follow Route 16 straight through a traffic light at Maple Dam Road (Snow's Turn Exxon is on the corner). You will you pass the South Dorchester High School on your left. At the blinker light, turn left onto Egypt Road just past the school buildings (first road past the traffic light; watch for a speed camera after turning at the light). Follow Egypt road for approximately 7 miles and it will dead end at Key Wallace Drive. You will see a brown Refuge sign directing you to turn left onto Key Wallace Drive to go to the Wildlife Drive, or turn right onto Key Wallace Drive to get to the Refuge Office and to the Visitor Center. After turning right onto Key Wallace Drive, the Refuge Office (headquarters) will be the first building on the left (1/2 mile), and the Visitor Center will be the second building on your left (1 1/4 miles).
From Salisbury, MD heading West:
From Salisbury head west on Route 50. Once you are almost in the town of Cambridge, you will come to a traffic light with a gas station on your left and the entrance to the Hyatt on the right. Before the light there should be a large brown sign on the right directing you to the Refuge. At the light you should see the Dorchester Square Shopping Center with a Wal-mart and Dollar Tree. Turn left onto Route 16 West (Church Creek Road). Follow Route 16 straight through a traffic light at Maple Dam Road (Snow's Turn Exxon is on the corner). You will you pass the South Dorchester High School on your left. At the blinker light, turn left onto Egypt Road just past the school buildings (first road past the traffic light; watch for a speed camera after turning at the light). Follow Egypt road for approximately 7 miles and it will dead end at Key Wallace Drive. You will see a brown Refuge sign directing you to turn left onto Key Wallace Drive to go to the Wildlife Drive, or turn right onto Key Wallace Drive to get to the Refuge Office and to the Visitor Center. After turning right onto Key Wallace Drive, the Refuge Office (headquarters) will be the first building on the left (1/2 mile), and the Visitor Center will be the second building on your left (1 1/4 miles).
For GPS users: The address of the Blackwater NWR Visitor Center is 2145 Key Wallace Drive, Cambridge, Maryland, 21613.
Should you get lost, you can call (410) 228-2677 for the Visitor Center or 410-228-2692 for the Refuge Office.
What are the hours of operation?
The Refuge's outdoor facilities and Wildlife Drive are open from dawn to dusk,
all year. The Visitor Center and gift shop (temporarily relocated to the Environmental Education building) are open 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday
and 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on the weekend (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas).
What are the entrance fees?
Visitors can purchase a daily permit at the Visitor Center for the following amounts:
Private Vehicle - $3
Pedestrian, Bicyclist - $1
Commercial Van or Bus up to 20 passengers - $15
Commercial Van or Bus 21 passengers or more - $25
Annual and lifetime passes are available at the Visitor Center and include either a current
Federal Duck Stamp valid July 1 to June 30 ($15); a Blackwater NWR Pass ($12), valid one year from date of issue;
an Interagency Annual Pass ($80), valid one year from date of issue;
a lifetime Interagency Seniors Pass ($10);
or a lifetime Interagency Access Pass, which is free for the blind and permanently disabled.
Where can I find information on lodging and camping?
Camping is not allowed on Refuge property, but lodging and campgrounds can be found in surrounding towns. For information about camping, see our Camping Fact Sheet (16KB PDF file).
For more information about motels, hotels, and resorts, visit the Tour Dorchester website and
click on Lodging.
When selecting a place to stay, note that Cambridge is the closest major town to the Refuge.
What is the weather like at Blackwater Refuge?
The Eastern Shore of Maryland enjoys four unique seasons. Many visitors come from late October through early
April to avoid the mosquitoes and biting flies that invade the Refuge during the warmer
months. The Eastern Shore has temperatures that range from winter lows in the 20s to summer highs in the 80s; average annual rainfall is 40 inches and average annual snowfall is 10 inches.
For current weather conditions in Cambridge, visit the
Weather Underground website.
What can I see at the Visitor Center?
Please Note: Effective November 20, 2010, the Visitor Center is closed for renovation. Our gift store and information desk have been temporarily relocated to the Environmental Education building at the start of the Wildlife Drive (same hours as Visitor Center). You can learn more about the status of the renovation work on our News page.
The Visitor Center offers wildlife exhibits, an authentic bald eagle's nest, our Osprey Cam and
Eagle Cam TV monitors, and a second-floor "Wild Birds Unlimited Pathways to Nature Observatory"
(accessible via stairs or a wheelchair-friendly elevator). In addition, visitors can pick up brochures and maps, browse The Eagle's Nest Book & Gift Shop (run by the Friends of
Blackwater) or make use of the
restrooms. Visitors can also enjoy our beautiful Butterfly and Beneficial Insect Garden, which is located behind the building. The garden
is a peaceful and restful place to enjoy the beauty of butterflies and the plants
they favor.
What is the Wildlife Drive?
The Wildlife Drive is approximately 4 miles in length (or about a 7-mile loop) and takes visitors in cars, on bicycles, or on foot past
some of the most scenic marshes, forests, and fields at Blackwater. The paved Drive leads by two of
our trails and also offers a good chance
of seeing a bald eagle.
In addition, there is an observation blind
on the Drive that offers photographers and birdwatchers an opportunity to more closely
observe the wildlife. Remember that visitors on the Drive are asked to stay on the roadway.
Also pets are not allowed on trails or out of vehicles on the Wildlife Drive, even if on a leash.
This policy is to protect the endangered ground-feeding Delmarva fox squirrels. Pets can be walked
in the parking lot around the Visitor Center. Visit our Wildlife Drive
page for more information.
Does Blackwater Refuge have trails?
Yes, Blackwater Refuge has four land trails and three paddling trails.
Are pets allowed at the Refuge?
Pets are not allowed on trails or out of vehicles on the Wildlife Drive, even if on a leash. This policy is to protect the endangered ground-feeding Delmarva fox squirrels.
Pets can be walked in the parking lot around the Visitor Center.
Where can I find information about wildlife at the Refuge?
See the Wildlife and Resources sections of this website.
Where can I find information about biking at the Refuge?
Cyclists can choose to complete an approximate 4-mile or 7-mile-loop route along the paved and
level Wildlife Drive.
Blackwater also has a 20-mile and 25-mile route that runs along county roads through the
Refuge's varied habitats. Visit our Cycling page for more information.
Where can I find information about hunting, fishing, and boating at the Refuge?
Visit our Hunting page for more information about our deer hunts. Also visit
our Fishing/Crabbing page for more information about fishing or crabbing at the Refuge.
Note that visitors can fish from kayaks and canoes -- visit our Paddling page
for more information about our water trails.
Where can I find information about educational opportunities at the Refuge?
Visit our Education page for more information about our educational offerings.
Where can I find information about the fire management program at the Refuge?
Visit the Fire Management Program page on the Blackwater USFWS website.
Where can I find information about the Friends of Blackwater?
See the Friends of Blackwater section of this website.
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