The Best Family Pit Stop on Route 1
Dreading the Sunday drive home from the beach? Break up the drive with friendly rescues and Delaware's only alligators.
Live Zoo Status
Connecting to the main gates...
Traveling north from Ocean City, Rehoboth, Lewes, Dewey, or Bethany back toward Philadelphia, New Jersey, or northern Delaware always means one thing: heavy traffic on Route 1 and US‑13. If you are wondering "where can I stop along Route 1 with kids?", pull off in Townsend and visit 3 Palms Zoo!
Located just minutes off the highway, our rescue and education sanctuary is the ideal spot to break up the road trip, stretch your legs on dirt farm paths, and let the kids burn off energy before finishing the drive.
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?
Convenient Route 1 Access
Easy on-and-off access right between Smyrna and Middletown—no confusing backroads.
Stretch & Hand-Feed
Let the kids get out of the car, stretch their legs, and hand-feed our gentle rescued llamas, goats, and sheep.
Delaware's Only Alligators
Meet Mr. Smee and our resident gators, playful foxes, and a variety of rescued birds in a relaxed farm setting.
Stress-Free & Affordable
At just a few dollars per person (infants under 12 months are free) and $1 for animal feed, relax for an hour without breaking the bank.
🎁 Traffic Relief Bonus
Tell the gate staff the secret code ROUTE 1 to receive one free bamboo stem for your family to share with our prairie dogs!
Make the drive home the best part of your weekend.
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.