A Fun Cross-Border Day Trip from Elkton, MD
Just 25 minutes east across the state line — peaceful animal encounters in Townsend, DE.
Live Zoo Status
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Living in Elkton or Cecil County, Maryland and looking for a fun, affordable outdoor outing with the kids? 3 Palms Zoo & Education Center is located just 25 minutes east across the Delaware line in Townsend.
Instead of battling traffic or paying high admission fees at mega-attractions, take an easy morning drive to our peaceful rescue farm. Meet rescued farm animals, native owls, playful foxes, and Mr. Smee—Delaware’s only live American alligator!
What to Expect: We are proud to be a rugged, authentic rescue sanctuary. You won't find commercialized, paved walkways here. Instead, you'll experience a true farm environment with free-roaming rescued ducks, dirt paths, and incredible up-close encounters with our gentle rescued llamas, sheep, and goats. Dress for the farm, not the city!
🌟 Summer Pro-Tip: Because we are a true farm sanctuary, we have very limited shade. Plan your visit for early in the morning! You'll beat the intense midday heat, and catch the animals when they are most active.
At just a few dollars per person (infants under 12 months are free), we aren't an exhausting, expensive theme park. Relax for an hour or two without breaking the bank.
Explore 3 Palms Zoo
Want to see who lives at the sanctuary before making the drive?
🦆 Highlights for Cecil County Visitors
- Quick 25-Minute Country Drive: Easy drive across MD-213 and DE-299 right to our farm sanctuary.
- Gentle Animal Encounters: Hand-feed friendly sheep and llamas on natural farm paths.
- Unique Alligator Habitat: An exclusive reptile exhibit you won't find anywhere else on the northern peninsula.
- Unbeatable Value: Low-cost admission makes it an effortless, guilt-free morning trip.
🗺️ Cecil County Morning Adventure Route
- Head east out of Elkton on MD-213 / DE-299 toward Middletown and Townsend.
- Spend a peaceful morning at 3 Palms Zoo meeting the rescues and feeding the farm animals.
- Combine your trip with a stop at nearby Fair Hill Natural Resources Area or lunch in historic Middletown.
Start your morning adventure now.
Put us directly into your GPS below to start navigating.
⚠️ Critical GPS Warning
GPS units fail here constantly. They often tell you to turn onto (or stay on) "Blackbird Forest Rd." This is wrong. You must turn onto Vandyke Greenspring Rd to find our entrance.