Ponce de Leon Inlet Light — a lighthouse in Volusia County, Florida — is a popular subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 2.0 km (1.2 mi) SSE of Ponce Inlet. It dates from 1835. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Ponce de Leon Inlet Light is a lighthouse and museum located at Ponce de León Inlet in Central Florida. At 175 feet (53 m) in height, it is the tallest lighthouse in the state and one of the tallest in the United States (the Cape Hatteras Light in North Carolina is taller at 207 feet (63 m)). It is located between St. Augustine Light and Cape Canaveral Light. Restored by the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse Preservation Association, the lighthouse became a National Historic Landmark in 1998.From the Wikipedia article “Ponce de Leon Inlet Light”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Ponce de Leon Inlet Light the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 63° (ENE) at the June solstice and 117° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 298° (WNW) in June to 244° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 84° in summer but only 37° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:28 AM | 90° E | 7:36 PM | 271° W | 61° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:26 AM | 63° ENE | 8:26 PM | 298° WNW | 84° | 14h 00m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:13 AM | 89° E | 7:22 PM | 271° W | 61° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:14 AM | 117° ESE | 5:31 PM | 244° WSW | 37° | 10h 17m |
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
Lighthouses work at both ends of the day: blue hour when the beacon is lit, and golden hour when white towers take on warm tones.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:54 AM | 7:19 AM | 7:54 AM | 5:14 PM | 5:48 PM | 6:14 PM | 10h 29m |
| February | 6:39 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:36 AM | 5:41 PM | 6:14 PM | 6:38 PM | 11h 11m |
| March | 7:11 AM | 7:34 AM | 8:06 AM | 7:01 PM | 7:33 PM | 7:56 PM | 11h 58m |
| April | 6:34 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:30 AM | 7:19 PM | 7:50 PM | 8:15 PM | 12h 52m |
| May | 6:07 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:36 PM | 8:09 PM | 8:35 PM | 13h 36m |
| June | 5:58 AM | 6:25 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:50 PM | 8:25 PM | 8:52 PM | 13h 59m |
| July | 6:09 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:51 PM | 8:25 PM | 8:52 PM | 13h 50m |
| August | 6:28 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:26 AM | 7:33 PM | 8:05 PM | 8:30 PM | 13h 12m |
| September | 6:46 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:41 AM | 6:59 PM | 7:30 PM | 7:54 PM | 12h 21m |
| October | 7:02 AM | 7:25 AM | 7:57 AM | 6:23 PM | 6:55 PM | 7:19 PM | 11h 29m |
| November | 6:23 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:22 AM | 4:56 PM | 5:30 PM | 5:55 PM | 10h 42m |
| December | 6:45 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:46 AM | 4:53 PM | 5:29 PM | 5:55 PM | 10h 18m |
Local time (America/New York), 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 Ponce de Leon Inlet Light, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 32° 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 | — | 2° | — |
| February | 4:44 AM – 5:34 AM | 0.8 | 19° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:52 AM – 6:12 AM | 2.3 | 29° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:43 AM – 5:33 AM | 3.8 | 32° | SE → S |
| May | 11:48 PM – 4:58 AM | 5.2 | 32° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:00 PM – 4:50 AM | 6.8 | 32° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:58 PM – 3:18 AM | 5.3 | 32° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:30 PM – 1:20 AM | 3.8 | 32° | S → SW |
| September | 8:50 PM – 11:20 PM | 2.5 | 29° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:14 PM – 9:14 PM | 1.0 | 20° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 5° | — |
| 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 ≈ 19.59 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show May as the clearest month (about 52% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (66%). August 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 | 77 | 76 | 79 | 81 | 83 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 87 | 85 | 81 | 78 |
| Low °F | 42 | 44 | 48 | 55 | 63 | 72 | 77 | 77 | 72 | 58 | 53 | 43 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.9 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 2.6 | 4.2 | 7.8 | 7.3 | 7.7 | 6.9 | 3.6 | 2.5 | 3.1 |
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 lighthouse
- Shoot from the beach or a jetty to place the tower against open sky and sea.
- Stormy weather and crashing surf add drama; keep a safe distance from waves on rocks and piers.
- A telephoto from across a bay compresses the tower against cliffs or the moon.
- Many lighthouses are on private or Coast Guard property — check public access and opening hours.
- Moonrise or the Milky Way over the tower makes a classic night composition; plan with the azimuth tables.
- Shoot RAW to keep the most latitude for high-contrast sunrise and sunset scenes.
Season: Summer brings open towers and tours; autumn and winter offer storms, fewer crowds and lower sun angles.
Suggested gear: Tripod, Telephoto lens, ND filter for smooth water, Rain cover. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Tides
The nearest NOAA tide prediction station is Ponce Inlet, Halifax River, 854 m away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Ponce de Leon Inlet Light, closest first.
Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Canaveral National Seashore Permits19.8 km (12.3 mi) · reservable
- Middle Dredge Campsite26 km (16 mi)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Ponce de Leon Inlet Light?
What time is golden hour at Ponce de Leon Inlet Light?
Where does the sun rise and set at Ponce de Leon Inlet Light?
Can you see the Milky Way from Ponce de Leon Inlet Light?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Ponce de Leon Inlet Light?
How far is Ponce de Leon Inlet Light from Ponce Inlet?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, Wikipedia. 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.