Andrew Johnson National Historic Site is a National Historic Site in Tennessee. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and nearby photo locations.
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Andrew Johnson the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 60° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 77° in summer but only 30° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:42 AM | 8:21 AM | 5:02 PM | 5:40 PM | 244° | 9h 58m |
| February | 7:20 AM | 7:55 AM | 5:37 PM | 6:13 PM | 255° | 10h 53m |
| March | 7:43 AM | 8:17 AM | 7:05 PM | 7:39 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:59 AM | 7:33 AM | 7:31 PM | 8:05 PM | 283° | 13h 06m |
| May | 6:26 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:55 PM | 8:31 PM | 295° | 14h 05m |
| June | 6:15 AM | 6:53 AM | 8:13 PM | 8:51 PM | 300° | 14h 36m |
| July | 6:26 AM | 7:04 AM | 8:12 PM | 8:50 PM | 298° | 14h 23m |
| August | 6:50 AM | 7:26 AM | 7:48 PM | 8:23 PM | 288° | 13h 33m |
| September | 7:15 AM | 7:48 AM | 7:07 PM | 7:40 PM | 274° | 12h 26m |
| October | 7:39 AM | 8:13 AM | 6:22 PM | 6:57 PM | 260° | 11h 18m |
| November | 7:09 AM | 7:46 AM | 4:47 PM | 5:25 PM | 248° | 10h 16m |
| December | 7:36 AM | 8:16 AM | 4:39 PM | 5:19 PM | 242° | 9h 43m |
Computed for the park's reference point (36.1562, -82.8371); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Andrew Johnson, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 25° 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:19 AM – 5:49 AM | 0.5 | 14° |
| March | 4:34 AM – 6:14 AM | 1.7 | 22° |
| April | 2:26 AM – 5:26 AM | 3.0 | 25° |
| May | 12:32 AM – 4:42 AM | 4.2 | 25° |
| June | 10:41 PM – 4:21 AM | 5.7 | 25° |
| July | 10:36 PM – 2:56 AM | 4.3 | 25° |
| August | 9:58 PM – 12:48 AM | 2.8 | 25° |
| September | 9:07 PM – 10:47 PM | 1.7 | 22° |
| October | 8:22 PM – 8:52 PM | 0.5 | 15° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
5 Estimated Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow.
Weather & best time to visit
There are four distinct seasons in East Tennessee, but temperature and weather conditions can vary widely within those seasons. Spring and Fall are generally pleasant with frequent rain showers. Summer and Winter ranges can be extreme. The President's Homestead is not climate controlled and may be closed at times during excessive highs or lows in the summer and winter.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 50% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (70%). 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 (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. 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.
Getting there
GPS The GPS setting for Andrew Johnson NHS may be listed as 121 Monument Ave, which is the park HQ in the National Cemetery. To arrive at the Visitor Center, use 101 North College Street, Greeneville, TN. Plane The closest airport is the Tri-Cities Regional Airport, 43 miles NE of Greeneville. From the airport, take I-81 South to exit 36 and follow the signs to Greeneville. Car From I-81S take exit 36 to Rt. 172 south to Greeneville. From I-81N take exit 23 to Rt. 11E north to Greeneville.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Museum Exhibits
Nearby parks
NC/VA
NC/TN
KY/TN
NC
SC
TN