Camp Nelson National Monument is a National Monument in Kentucky. 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 Camp Nelson the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 76° in summer but only 29° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:53 AM | 8:33 AM | 5:04 PM | 5:43 PM | 244° | 9h 50m |
| February | 7:29 AM | 8:06 AM | 5:41 PM | 6:18 PM | 255° | 10h 49m |
| March | 7:51 AM | 8:25 AM | 7:11 PM | 7:46 PM | 268° | 11h 55m |
| April | 7:04 AM | 7:39 AM | 7:39 PM | 8:14 PM | 283° | 13h 10m |
| May | 6:29 AM | 7:07 AM | 8:04 PM | 8:42 PM | 295° | 14h 12m |
| June | 6:17 AM | 6:56 AM | 8:24 PM | 9:03 PM | 301° | 14h 46m |
| July | 6:29 AM | 7:07 AM | 8:23 PM | 9:01 PM | 298° | 14h 32m |
| August | 6:55 AM | 7:31 AM | 7:57 PM | 8:33 PM | 289° | 13h 38m |
| September | 7:21 AM | 7:56 AM | 7:13 PM | 7:48 PM | 275° | 12h 27m |
| October | 7:47 AM | 8:23 AM | 6:27 PM | 7:02 PM | 260° | 11h 15m |
| November | 7:19 AM | 7:58 AM | 4:50 PM | 5:28 PM | 247° | 10h 09m |
| December | 7:48 AM | 8:29 AM | 4:40 PM | 5:21 PM | 241° | 9h 34m |
Computed for the park's reference point (37.7970, -84.5982); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Camp Nelson, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 23° 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 | 5:36 AM – 5:56 AM | 0.3 | 13° |
| March | 4:43 AM – 6:13 AM | 1.5 | 20° |
| April | 2:47 AM – 5:27 AM | 2.7 | 23° |
| May | 12:46 AM – 4:36 AM | 3.8 | 23° |
| June | 10:57 PM – 4:17 AM | 5.3 | 23° |
| July | 10:51 PM – 2:51 AM | 4.0 | 23° |
| August | 10:10 PM – 12:50 AM | 2.7 | 23° |
| September | 9:17 PM – 10:47 PM | 1.5 | 20° |
| October | 8:29 PM – 8:49 PM | 0.3 | 13° |
| 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
Kentucky has a moderate climate, where summers are humid with highs typically in the upper 80s, and winter highs are in the low 40s. Of course, be aware of the possibility of storms or more extreme temperatures on occasion. The wettest months are March - July when about 4 inches of rain per month are expected, with other months of the year are usually drier.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 48% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (72%). 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
Camp Nelson National Monument is located along US 27 about 20 miles south of Lexington, Kentucky, 6 miles south of Nicholasville on US 27, and 16 miles north of Danville, KY on US 27. The Park entrance is on the original Danville Pike, adjacent to US 27, one mile north of the Camp Nelson National Cemetery.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
Nearby parks
KY
KY
KY/TN
OH
KY
KY/TN