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82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US

82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US

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Created by Steve Davria • Updated On: June 1, 2016

from The National Wildlife Federation 100 best birdwatching spots in North America. The 18 Canadian spots are not listed.

Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

1. Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge

7.5
3121 Visitor Center Rd, Decatur, AL
Nature Preserve · 4 tips and reviews
Hammonasset Beach State Park is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

2. Hammonasset Beach State Park

8.9
1288 Boston Post Rd, Madison, CT
State or Provincial Park · 21 tips and reviews
Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

3. Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge

8.7
2501-2599 Refuge Entrance Rd, Smyrna, DE
Nature Preserve · 15 tips and reviews
Everglades National Park is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

4. Everglades National Park

8.4
40001 Main Park Rd, Homestead, FL
National Park · 93 tips and reviews
J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

5. J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge

8.3
1 Wildlife Dr, Sanibel, FL
Nature Preserve · 54 tips and reviews
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

6. Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

Georgia
Other Great Outdoors · 6 tips and reviews
John James Audubon State Park is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

7. John James Audubon State Park

7.8
3100 US Highway 41 N, Henderson, KY
State or Provincial Park · Henderson North End · 10 tips and reviews
Mammoth Cave National Park is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

8. Mammoth Cave National Park

9.0
1 Mammoth Cave Pkwy, Mammoth Cave, KY
National Park · 69 tips and reviews
Acadia National Park is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

9. Acadia National Park

9.4
Mount Desert Island, Bar Harbor, ME
National Park · 97 tips and reviews
Baxter State Park is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

10. Baxter State Park

8.0
64 Balsam Dr, Millinocket, ME
Park · 7 tips and reviews
Assateague Island National Seashore (Maryland) is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

11. Assateague Island National Seashore (Maryland)

8.6
7206 National Seashore Ln (over Verrazano Bridge), Berlin, MD
National Park · 84 tips and reviews
C&O Canal National Historical Park is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

12. C&O Canal National Historical Park

8.3
205 W Potomac St (Williamsport Visitor Center), Williamsport, MD
Hiking Trail · 6 tips and reviews
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

13. Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

8.4
Sunset Drive (Plum Island Turnpike), Newburyport, MA
Nature Preserve · 8 tips and reviews
Mass Audubon Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

14. Mass Audubon Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary

7.9
472 W Mountain Rd, Lenox, MA
Hiking Trail · 4 tips and reviews
Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

15. Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge

7.6
13723 Bluff Lake Rd, Brooksville, MS
Nature Preserve · 7 tips and reviews

16. St. Catherine's Creek National Wildlife Refuge

Pintail Ln. (York Rd.), Sibley, MS
Nature Preserve · 1 tip
Odiorne Point State Park is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

17. Odiorne Point State Park

8.7
570 Ocean Blvd, Rye, NH
State or Provincial Park · 11 tips and reviews
Edwin Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

18. Edwin Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge

8.5
Oceanville, NJ
Nature Preserve · 15 tips and reviews
Central Park is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

19. Central Park

9.7
59th to 110th St (btwn 5th Ave & Central Park W), New York, NY
Park · Central Park · 1837 tips and reviews
Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

20. Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge

7.8
3395 US Route 20, Seneca Falls, NY
Nature Preserve · 10 tips and reviews
Lake Mattamuskeet is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

21. Lake Mattamuskeet

Lake Mattamuskeet, NC, Lake Mattamuskeet, NC
Lake · 3 tips and reviews
Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

22. Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge

8.4
NC 12 South, Rodanthe, NC
Beach · 12 tips and reviews
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

23. Hawk Mountain Sanctuary

9.1
1700 Hawk Mountain Rd (Rt. 895), Kempton, PA
Hiking Trail · 10 tips and reviews
Presque Isle State Park is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

24. Presque Isle State Park

9.3
301 Peninsula Dr, Erie, PA
State or Provincial Park · 47 tips and reviews
Block Island, RI is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

25. Block Island, RI

Block Island, RI
Island · 18 tips and reviews
Huntington Beach State Park is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

26. Huntington Beach State Park

9.2
16148 Ocean Hwy, Murrells Inlet, SC
State or Provincial Park · 26 tips and reviews
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

27. Great Smoky Mountains National Park

9.5
107 Park Headquarters Rd, Gatlinburg, TN
National Park · 118 tips and reviews

28. Big Sandy unit Wildlife Refuge

Springville, TN
Other Great Outdoors · No tips or reviews

29. Ten Acres Campground

9 Ten Acre Dr (Route 125), Addison, VT
Campground · No tips or reviews
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

30. Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge

8231 Beach Rd, Chincoteague, VA
Other Great Outdoors · 2 tips and reviews
Great Falls Park is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

31. Great Falls Park

9.4
9200 Old Dominion Dr (at Georgetown Pike), McLean, VA
Park · 144 tips and reviews
Cranesville Swamp Preserve is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

32. Cranesville Swamp Preserve

Cranesville Rd (at Muddy Creek Rd), Oakland, MD
Other Great Outdoors · 3 tips and reviews
Felsenthal NWR Visitor's Center is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

33. Felsenthal NWR Visitor's Center

Arkansas
Tourist Information and Service · No tips or reviews
Lake Chicot State Park is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

34. Lake Chicot State Park

2542 Highway 257, Lake Village, AR
Campground · 3 tips and reviews

35. Horseshoe Lake

Olive Branch, IL
Lake · No tips or reviews
Illinois Beach State Park is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

36. Illinois Beach State Park

7.6
1 Lakefront Dr, Zion, IL
State or Provincial Park · 17 tips and reviews
Indiana Dunes National Park is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

37. Indiana Dunes National Park

8.8
Rice St (at W US Hwy 12), Porter, IN
National Park · 17 tips and reviews
Jasper Pulaski Fish And Wildlife Area is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

38. Jasper Pulaski Fish And Wildlife Area

5822 Fish and Wildlife Ln, Medaryville, IN
Nature Preserve · 1 tip
Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

39. Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area

204 NE 60 Rd, Kansas
Park · 2 tips and reviews
Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

40. Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge

Neosho Rapids, KS
Nature Preserve · No tips or reviews
Sabine National Wildlife Refuge is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

41. Sabine National Wildlife Refuge

Hackberry, LA
Nature Preserve · No tips or reviews
Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

42. Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge

22996 290th St NE, Minnesota
Other Great Outdoors · No tips or reviews
Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

43. Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory

Glenwood St (Skyline Pkwy), Duluth, MN
Other Great Outdoors · No tips or reviews
Prairie State Park is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

44. Prairie State Park

7.2
128 NW 150th Ln, Mindenmines, MO
Hiking Trail · 2 tips and reviews

45. Hall County Park Crane Viewing Bridge

Nebraska
Scenic Lookout · No tips or reviews
Fort Falls - Fort Niobrara Wildlife Refuge is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

46. Fort Falls - Fort Niobrara Wildlife Refuge

Valentine, NE
Waterfall · No tips or reviews

47. Camp Ross

9645 62nd St NW, Ross, ND
Landmarks and Outdoors · No tips or reviews
Theodore Roosevelt National Park is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

48. Theodore Roosevelt National Park

8.6
315 2nd Ave, Medora, ND
National Park · 19 tips and reviews
Green Lawn Cemetery is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

49. Green Lawn Cemetery

7.2
1000 Greenlawn Ave, Columbus, OH
Cemetery · 7 tips and reviews
Magee Marsh Wildlife Area is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

50. Magee Marsh Wildlife Area

13229 W State Route 2, Oak Harbor, OH
Nature Preserve · 1 tip
Black Mesa State Park & Nature Preserve is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

51. Black Mesa State Park & Nature Preserve

County Road 325, Kenton, OK
State or Provincial Park · 1 tip
Broken Bow is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

52. Broken Bow

Broken Bow, OK
Town · 6 tips and reviews
Badlands National Park is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

53. Badlands National Park

9.2
25216 Ben Reifel Rd (Highway 240), Interior, SD
National Park · 61 tips and reviews

54. Sand Lake

39650 Sand Lake Dr, South Dakota
Lake · No tips or reviews
Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

55. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge

1 Wild Life Circle, Austwell, TX
Nature Preserve · 2 tips and reviews
Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State park is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

56. Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State park

8.4
2800 S Bentsen Palm Dr, Mission, TX
State or Provincial Park · 4 tips and reviews
Horicon National Wildlife Refuge is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

57. Horicon National Wildlife Refuge

7.7
W5559 Wisconsin 49, Horicon, WI
Nature Preserve · 7 tips and reviews
Denali National Park & Preserve is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

58. Denali National Park & Preserve

9.0
Park Rd. (at MP 237.4 Parks Hwy.), Denali Park, AK
National Park · 43 tips and reviews
Echo Canyon Trail is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

59. Echo Canyon Trail

Willcox, AZ
Hiking Trail · 2 tips and reviews
Ramsey Canyon Preserve is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

60. Ramsey Canyon Preserve

27 E Ramsey Canyon Rd, Hereford, AZ
Other Great Outdoors · 1 tip
Point Reyes National Seashore is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

61. Point Reyes National Seashore

9.3
Sir Francis Drake Blvd (at Sir Francis Drake Blvd), Point Reyes Station, CA
National Park · 36 tips and reviews
Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

62. Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge

6.8
Calipatria, CA
Nature Preserve · 2 tips and reviews
Upper Newport Bay - Ecological Reserve is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

63. Upper Newport Bay - Ecological Reserve

8.9
Back Bay Dr, Newport Beach, CA
Scenic Lookout · 2 tips and reviews
Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

64. Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge

6120 State Highway 15 S, Monte Vista, CO
Scenic Lookout · 2 tips and reviews
Rocky Mountain National Park is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

65. Rocky Mountain National Park

9.5
1000 Highway 36 (at Route 34), Estes Park, CO
National Park · 126 tips and reviews
Haleakalā National Park is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

66. Haleakalā National Park

9.1
Haleakala Hwy, Kula, HI
National Park · 93 tips and reviews
Deer Flat National Refuge Visitor Center is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

67. Deer Flat National Refuge Visitor Center

Caldwell, ID
Tourist Information and Service · 1 tip
Snake River is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

68. Snake River

Glenns Ferry, ID 83623, Glenns Ferry, ID
River · 2 tips and reviews

69. Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge

194 Bowdoin Auto Tour Rd, Montana
Lake · No tips or reviews
Glacier National Park is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

70. Glacier National Park

9.3
W Glacier Park, West Glacier, MT
National Park · 31 tips and reviews
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

71. Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

9.6
1000 Scenic Dr (at NV-159), Las Vegas, NV
Nature Preserve · 167 tips and reviews
Ruby Mountains is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

72. Ruby Mountains

Nevada
Hiking Trail · No tips or reviews

73. Bosque del Apache Bird Refuge

Albuquerque, NM
Other Great Outdoors · No tips or reviews
Sauvie Island Wildlife Area is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

74. Sauvie Island Wildlife Area

Portland,OR,97231, Portland, OR
Park · 1 tip
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

75. Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

2155 W Forest St, Brigham City, UT
Nature Preserve · 1 tip
Olympic National Park is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

76. Olympic National Park

9.3
3002 Mount Angeles Rd, Port Angeles, WA
National Park · 19 tips and reviews
Skagit Wildlife Area is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

77. Skagit Wildlife Area

11868-12296 Samish Island Rd, Bow, WA
Nature Preserve · 1 tip

78. Cokeville Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

Cokeville, WY
Nature Preserve · 1 tip
Yellowstone National Park is one of 82 Best Birdwatching Spots in the US.

79. Yellowstone National Park

9.3
Yellowstone National Park, WY
National Park · 79 tips and reviews