Arkansas Post National Memorial is a National Memorial in Arkansas. 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 Arkansas Post the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 61° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 299° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 79° in summer but only 33° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:11 AM | 7:48 AM | 4:42 PM | 5:19 PM | 245° | 10h 08m |
| February | 6:51 AM | 7:25 AM | 5:15 PM | 5:50 PM | 255° | 10h 59m |
| March | 7:17 AM | 7:50 AM | 6:40 PM | 7:13 PM | 268° | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:35 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:03 PM | 7:37 PM | 283° | 13h 02m |
| May | 6:05 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:25 PM | 8:00 PM | 294° | 13h 56m |
| June | 5:54 AM | 6:31 AM | 7:42 PM | 8:19 PM | 299° | 14h 24m |
| July | 6:06 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:42 PM | 8:18 PM | 297° | 14h 12m |
| August | 6:28 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:19 PM | 7:54 PM | 288° | 13h 26m |
| September | 6:49 AM | 7:22 AM | 6:41 PM | 7:13 PM | 274° | 12h 24m |
| October | 7:11 AM | 7:45 AM | 5:59 PM | 6:32 PM | 260° | 11h 22m |
| November | 6:39 AM | 7:15 AM | 4:27 PM | 5:03 PM | 248° | 10h 24m |
| December | 7:04 AM | 7:42 AM | 4:20 PM | 4:58 PM | 242° | 9h 54m |
Computed for the park's reference point (34.0039, -91.3084); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Arkansas Post, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 27° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 4:43 AM – 5:23 AM | 0.7 | 16° |
| March | 3:56 AM – 5:46 AM | 1.8 | 24° |
| April | 1:54 AM – 5:04 AM | 3.2 | 27° |
| May | 11:57 PM – 4:17 AM | 4.3 | 27° |
| June | 10:03 PM – 4:03 AM | 6.0 | 27° |
| July | 9:59 PM – 2:39 AM | 4.7 | 27° |
| August | 9:25 PM – 12:35 AM | 3.2 | 27° |
| September | 8:38 PM – 10:38 PM | 2.0 | 24° |
| October | 7:55 PM – 8:35 PM | 0.7 | 16° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
3 Estimated Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead.
Weather & best time to visit
Arkansas shares the same climate classification as the rest of the southeastern United States: humid subtropical. This type of climate features relatively mild winters and hot, steamy summers.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 40% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (62%). 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
Arkansas Post National Memorial is located in southeastern Arkansas. The entrance to the park is on Arkansas Hwy 169, seven miles south of Gillett, via US Hwy 165 (The Great River Road), and about 20 miles northeast of Dumas, via US 165.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Cultural Demonstrations
- Boating
- Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Living History
- Historic Weapons Demonstration
- First Person Interpretation
- Paddling
- Canoeing
- Kayaking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
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AR
LA
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