San Carlos Beach — a beach in Escambia County, Florida — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to Gulf Islands National Seashore, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 5.1 km (3.2 mi) SSW of Warrington.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At San Carlos Beach the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 62° (ENE) at the June solstice and 117° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 298° (WNW) in June to 243° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 83° in summer but only 36° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:54 AM | 90° E | 7:01 PM | 271° W | 60° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:49 AM | 62° ENE | 7:55 PM | 298° WNW | 83° | 14h 06m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:38 AM | 89° E | 6:47 PM | 271° W | 60° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 6:43 AM | 117° ESE | 4:54 PM | 243° WSW | 36° | 10h 11m |
Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (90° = east, 270° = west). Computed for 2026; values change by less than a degree from year to year.
Golden hour & blue hour by month
Beaches facing east suit sunrise and west-facing beaches suit sunset; wet sand mirrors the sky color during golden hour.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:21 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:23 AM | 4:36 PM | 5:11 PM | 5:37 PM | 10h 24m |
| February | 6:06 AM | 6:30 AM | 7:03 AM | 5:05 PM | 5:38 PM | 6:03 PM | 11h 08m |
| March | 6:36 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:32 AM | 6:26 PM | 6:58 PM | 7:22 PM | 11h 58m |
| April | 5:58 AM | 6:23 AM | 6:55 AM | 6:45 PM | 7:17 PM | 7:42 PM | 12h 54m |
| May | 5:30 AM | 5:56 AM | 6:30 AM | 7:03 PM | 7:37 PM | 8:03 PM | 13h 41m |
| June | 5:20 AM | 5:48 AM | 6:23 AM | 7:18 PM | 7:53 PM | 8:21 PM | 14h 06m |
| July | 5:31 AM | 5:58 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:19 PM | 7:53 PM | 8:20 PM | 13h 55m |
| August | 5:52 AM | 6:17 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:00 PM | 7:32 PM | 7:58 PM | 13h 15m |
| September | 6:10 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:06 AM | 6:25 PM | 6:56 PM | 7:20 PM | 12h 22m |
| October | 6:28 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:24 AM | 5:47 PM | 6:19 PM | 6:44 PM | 11h 27m |
| November | 5:50 AM | 6:16 AM | 6:50 AM | 4:19 PM | 4:54 PM | 5:19 PM | 10h 38m |
| December | 6:13 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:15 AM | 4:15 PM | 4:51 PM | 5:18 PM | 10h 12m |
Local time (America/Chicago), including daylight saving time. Golden hour runs from about −4° to +6° solar altitude, so the morning golden hour begins during blue hour, before sunrise.
Milky Way & night sky
From San Carlos Beach, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 31° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 5 (suburban sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 1° | — |
| February | 4:09 AM – 5:09 AM | 1.0 | 19° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:17 AM – 5:37 AM | 2.3 | 28° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:20 AM – 4:50 AM | 3.5 | 31° | SE → S |
| May | 11:17 PM – 4:17 AM | 5.0 | 31° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:30 PM – 4:10 AM | 6.7 | 31° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:27 PM – 2:37 AM | 5.2 | 31° | SSE → SW |
| August | 8:58 PM – 12:38 AM | 3.7 | 31° | S → SW |
| September | 8:17 PM – 10:37 PM | 2.3 | 28° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:39 PM – 8:39 PM | 1.0 | 19° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 4° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -18° | — |
Window when the galactic core is at least 10° high during astronomical darkness on the 15th of each month. Pick nights within a few days of the new moon. Plan exact nights with the Milky Way planner.
Estimated sky darkness: 5 Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 19.82 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 39% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (58%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 75 | 77 | 83 | 88 | 96 | 101 | 99 | 100 | 97 | 96 | 86 | 77 |
| Low °F | 22 | 28 | 31 | 41 | 49 | 64 | 67 | 62 | 54 | 40 | 31 | 27 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.8 | 4.9 | 4.4 | 5.0 | 4.1 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 5.7 | 3.9 | 3.5 | 5.3 |
Monthly climatology for the surrounding 1° grid cell from NASA POWER (MERRA-2). Mountain sites can be colder and cloudier than the cell average.
Photography tips for this beach
- Salt spray coats lenses quickly; wipe often and rinse gear afterward.
- Fog and marine layers can make minimalist images; don't give up on grey days.
- Time visits around low tide to reveal tide pools, sea stacks and reflective sand — check the tide widget below.
- Slow shutter speeds (0.5–2 s) turn receding waves into streaks that lead toward the horizon.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
Season: Winter storms bring dramatic surf on Pacific coasts; summer and autumn sunsets are popular on Atlantic and Gulf beaches.
Suggested gear: Tripod, ND filters, Rain cover, Lens cloths. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Permits, drones & access
National Park Service rules. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones: Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Tides
The nearest NOAA tide prediction station is Fort McRee Breakwater, 2.2 km (1.4 mi) away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of San Carlos Beach, closest first.
Lighthouse
Beach
Scenic ViewpointBeachBeachBeachBeach
State ParkScenic ViewpointCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Fort Pickens Group Campground3.4 km (2.1 mi)
- Fort Pickens Campground3.7 km (2.3 mi) · reservable
- Naval Live Oaks Youth Group Camping15.6 km (9.7 mi)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph San Carlos Beach?
What time is golden hour at San Carlos Beach?
Where does the sun rise and set at San Carlos Beach?
Can you see the Milky Way from San Carlos Beach?
Do you need a permit to photograph at San Carlos Beach?
How far is San Carlos Beach from Warrington?
Sources
Location data: USGS GNIS / GeoNames. Sun, moon and Milky Way times are computed by LWPhoto Atlas for 2026. Climate: NASA POWER. Sky darkness is a population-based estimate (Walker's law), not a measurement. See data sources & licenses.