Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge is made up of a patchwork of small tracts of land on the barrier islands between Melbourne Beach and Sebastian. Many of these public lands are managed by other government agencies.
Those beaches and preserves that are also a part of Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge are listed below, as are refuge programs and articles about the refuge.
Oceanfront deck at the Barrier Island CenterResources
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Overview
Address: 8385 South US Highway A1A, Melbourne Beach
Land Manager: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Phone: 772-581-5557
Near the center of the refuge, the Barrier Island Center on Melbourne Beach serves as a gateway and introduction to the refuge and its purpose.
It is open from 9 AM to 5 PM from Sunday through Saturday each week. This is the best place to learn about the many pieces of the refuge.
You can find out about sea turtle walks here, and about Archie Carr himself, a noted professor of zoology with a love of herpetology and a concern for conserving Florida’s native species.
He taught at the University of Florida and wrote many books, of which A Naturalist in Florida remains our personal favorite.
Visitor Center Directions
From Melbourne, cross the Intracoastal Waterway on US 192 to Indialantic and follow A1A south, passing through Melbourne Beach and Floridana Beach. The Barrier Island Center sits 4.5 miles south of Maritime Hammock Sanctuary, on the ocean side of A1A.
Explore More
Discover the many different facets of Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge.
Coconut Point Sanctuary Call it the Ocean-to-Lagoon Hike: this 1 mile loop through one of Brevard County's most diverse natural lands connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River Lagoon in Melbourne Beach
Doc Ehrhart Sanctuary Home to a gentle mile loop through coastal habitats on the Barrier Island Trail, Doc Ehrhart Sanctuary is a gateway to Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge.
Sea Turtle Walks in Florida Watching a sea turtle come ashore to lay its eggs is an incredible experience. Here are some of the places where you can join sea turtle walks in Florida.
- Hal Scott Red Trail - November 13, 2026
- Baseline Trails - November 7, 2026
- Hal Scott Yellow Trail - November 3, 2026