As of 2022, there are 588 National Wildlife Refuges in the United States, with the addition of the Green River National Wildlife Refuge. Refuges that have boundaries in multiple states are listed only in the state where the main visitor entrance is located. The newest refuge replaces the Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Pennsylvania. Refuges are listed regardless of whether or not they are open to the public, which many are not.
As of January 2026, the National Wildlife Refuge System consists of 573 national wildlife refuges, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The system has seen several significant additions since 2023, including the establishment of the Paint Rock River National Wildlife Refuge in Tennessee (September 2023), the Everglades to Gulf Conservation Area in Florida (March 2024), and the Southern Maryland Woodlands National Wildlife Refuge (December 2024), the latter being the 573rd unit in the system. Additionally, major land protection expansions were authorized in 2024 for the Muleshoe (TX/NM), Aransas (TX), and Roanoke River (NC) refuges, totaling over one million acres of new conservation potential. In January 2026, the Department of the Interior issued Director's Order 230, initiating a programmatic, comprehensive review of all 573 units to evaluate their alignment with the agency's mission and long-term resource allocation.
The United States is divided into eight regions for administrative purposes: