Come with friends and family for an inspiring and educational experience meeting the rescued animals who call our sanctuary home. We offer tours seven days a week by appointment as well as a variety of other experiences and special events. Sign up for our newsletter or follow us on social media (Instagram/Facebook/TikTok) to stay updated on upcoming events.

Yes, as a small and busy team, we are only able to host visitors who have made reservations in advance. Please see our visit page to see our real-time availability and schedule your visit.

Sorry, we are unable to accommodate walk-ins. All visits to the sanctuary must be accompanied by a staff member to guarantee the safety of our guests and the wellbeing of our animal residents.

Children are encouraged to attend and interact with the animals but are expected to follow the same safety rules as adults. Please be mindful that Charlie’s Acres is a sanctuary for rescued animals, not a petting zoo. Parents are responsible for ensuring that children do not harass or interact unsafely with animals. Children under 14 must be accompanied by a responsible adult and all minors must have a waiver signed by a parent or guardian.

Learn more about the difference between a sanctuary and a petting zoo here.

Please leave your companion animals (dogs, cats, etc.) at home. We do not have a space for them to be left safely during the tour and temperatures heat up tremendously in cars in Sonoma. If you do bring an animal, you may be asked to leave and come back for a tour on another day. If you have a service dog required to assist with a medical condition, please contact us at info@charliesacres.org in advance so we can arrange accommodations.

Tour groups booked through our website are limited to 10 guests. If you have a larger group, please contact us at info@charliesacres.org with your group size and dates of interest. We are happy to explore options for your group while ensuring your visit has adequate staff support.

Yes! See our corporate page for team-building options.

We are located at 3201 Napa Road, Sonoma, CA 95476.
It is safest and easiest to make a right turn onto our property as Napa Road is a busy and fast road. There are two driveways to the property, so if you miss the first one, you can pull into the second one.

When you pull onto the property, follow the signs for visitor parking. Come into our Education Center, the large grey building, where your tour will begin.

We are a working farm sanctuary, so please expect to do some walking, potentially get dirty, and be exposed to the natural weather elements (rain, heat, wind). Also expect to meet some amazing animals — including chickens, cows, pigs, turkeys, ducks, geese, sheep, and goats — and hear their incredible stories. Tours last approximately 90 minutes and involve about 1/2 mile of walking.

Please note that tours of Charlie’s Acres are educational experiences with rescued animals. We have many friendly residents, but others are more shy or defensive; it is always the animals’ choice whether or not to approach and interact with tour guests. Please stay with the group at all times and follow your tour guide’s safety instructions.

If you would like to go into the animal pastures, please wear closed toe shoes. Boots are preferable, especially in the winter months, but any closed toe shoe will do. We have limited shade and coverings, so we highly recommend wearing a hat and other sun protection. Wear weather-appropriate clothing you don’t mind getting a bit dirty. Long pants provide the best protection for visiting with the animals and navigating the grounds.

Please bring a water bottle in the summer months as it gets hot! We have filtered water on site, so you can refill it as needed. Feel free to bring your camera and take pictures. Tag us on Facebook /charliesacresfarmanimalsanctuary and Instagram @charliesacres.

NOTE: Please plan accordingly if you have allergies to hay, alfalfa, or environmental/seasonal triggers.

Out of respect for the animals at the sanctuary, please leave behind any non-vegan food items (dairy, egg and meat products). You are welcome to bring any plant-based food with you and we do have some picnic space available after the tour. Please leave this in your vehicle during the tour.

Please do NOT bring any food or really yummy smelling items on your body or in your purse during the tour as our animal residents love to eat!

Please leave your companion animals (dogs, cats, etc.) at home. We do not have a space for them to be left safely during the tour and temperatures heat up tremendously in cars in Sonoma. If you do bring an animal, you may be asked to leave and come back for a tour on another day.
The only exception will be made for service dogs required to assist with a medical condition. (This does not include emotional support animals) If you have a service dog, please contact us at info@charliesacres.org in advance so we can arrange accommodations.

Charlie’s Acres is a nonprofit farmed animal sanctuary that provides lifelong care for rescued animals. Our 150 residents come from a variety of situations, including neglect, abandonment, abuse, and animal agriculture. Here, they are safe, respected, and free to live out their lives without being expected to provide anything in return.

In addition to providing a forever home, we help visitors connect with farmed animals as individuals by sharing their stories, personalities, and experiences. Through these connections, guests can learn more about the challenges farmed animals face and gain a deeper appreciation for who they are.

Unlike a petting zoo, our priority is the welfare of our animal residents, not profit or entertainment. Our residents always have the choice to interact with visitors or keep their distance, and their physical and emotional wellbeing guides everything we do.

We offer numerous volunteer opportunities at the sanctuary. Volunteers assist with animal care, tours and events, and the garden. Click here to learn more about our volunteer program and submit an application.

Those interested in becoming return visitors or supporting the ongoing care of a specific animal resident can become a monthly sponsor. By sponsoring an animal at Charlie’s Acres, you help us provide them with food, bedding, vet care, enrichment, and so much more. Each sponsorship includes a thank you package, annual updates, complimentary private tours, and other membership perks. Click here to sponsor an animal.

We determine animal intakes on a case by case basis. Please contact us at info@charliesacres.org for assistance and advice on rehoming or rescuing animals.

Your donations go to our life-saving work at Charlie’s Acres. We take care of our rescued animals for the entirety of their lives, ensuring they have proper veterinary care, housing, medicine, and food.

Donations also support Charlie’s Acres’ humane education programs and emergency response to support animals in the local community and inspire compassion for others like them. See our 2025 Impact Report here.

Charlie’s Acres is a 501(c)(3) registered nonprofit, so all donations are tax deductible. Click here to make a donation.