Hours & Admission
When it's open and what it costs
Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary's trails are open dawn to dusk, Tuesday through Sunday, plus Monday holidays, and the visitor center is open 8:30 am to 4:30 pm on the same days. Admission for nonmembers is $7 for adults, $4 for seniors 65 and older, and $4 for children 2 to 12. Mass Audubon members get in free. The sanctuary is closed on ordinary Mondays.
Hours & Admission at a Glance
Hours
Mass Audubon lists the trails as open dawn to dusk and the visitor center as 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, both Tuesday through Sunday plus Monday holidays. "Dawn to dusk" means the hours follow daylight, so a summer evening gives you much longer than a December afternoon. Plan to be back at your car by dusk.
The visitor center is where you pay, borrow binoculars and check in for canoe rentals, camping and the cabin. If you arrive before it opens, you can walk the trails, but plan your restroom stop for after 8:30.
Admission Prices
- Adults: $7
- Seniors 65 and older: $4
- Children 2 to 12: $4
- Mass Audubon members: free
Mass Audubon's admission rule is that sanctuaries with a nature center charge nonmembers a small fee, while trail-only sanctuaries are free. Ipswich River has a visitor center and nature center, so it charges.
Free and Reduced Admission
Mass Audubon offers free admission statewide to:
- Self-identified Indigenous people in Massachusetts.
- EBT, WIC and ConnectorCare cardholders: up to 4 people with the card (Mass Cultural Council's Card to Culture).
- Wonderfund Access cardholders: up to 6 people.
- Active-duty military: up to 5 people with a valid military ID.
- One-on-one aides and caregivers supporting a person with disabilities.
Libraries in Mass Audubon's Library Partners program lend passes that let up to four people visit any Mass Audubon sanctuary for $2 each; children under 2 are always free. Some sanctuaries also admit neighbors from the surrounding town free, so Topsfield residents should ask at the visitor center.
Is a Membership Worth It?
Members get free admission to every Mass Audubon sanctuary. A Family-level membership also covers a second adult in the household plus children or grandchildren under 21. Membership is required for Perkins Island camping ($120 a night) and the Innermost Cabin ($65 a night), and it lowers the canoe rental from $40 to $30 for two hours. A family that visits a few times a year and paddles once will likely come out ahead; check current membership prices on Mass Audubon's site.
Seasonal Notes
- Canoe and kayak rentals and Perkins Island camping run late May to mid-October (May 23 to October 12 in 2026).
- Big events can limit parking. On October 17, 2026, Mass Audubon limited parking after 2:00 pm to Halloween Hoot & Howl registrants.
- Sensory-friendly hours, 8:00 to 10:00 am on set Saturdays each quarter, offer a quieter visit; see accessibility.
- The Observation Tower is closed until further notice.
Verify Before You Go
Hours and fees change. Mass Audubon's Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary page is the source of record, and the visitor center answers at 978-887-9264.
Hours & Admission FAQ
What are the hours at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary?
Trails are open dawn to dusk and the visitor center 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Tuesday through Sunday, plus Monday holidays.
Is Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary open on Mondays?
Only on Monday holidays. On other Mondays the sanctuary is closed.
How much does it cost to visit Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary?
$7 for adults, $4 for seniors 65+, and $4 for children 2 to 12. Mass Audubon members are free.
Is Ipswich River free for Mass Audubon members?
Yes. Members get free admission to all Mass Audubon sanctuaries. A Family membership also covers a second adult and children or grandchildren under 21.
Are there discounts at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary?
Yes. Mass Audubon admits EBT, WIC and ConnectorCare cardholders, Wonderfund Access cardholders, active-duty military, Indigenous people and caregivers free, and library passes cost $2 a person.