Casa Grande Ruins National Monument is a National Monument in Arizona. 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 Casa Grande Ruins 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 80° in summer but only 34° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:30 AM | 8:06 AM | 5:06 PM | 5:43 PM | 245° | 10h 13m |
| February | 7:11 AM | 7:45 AM | 5:38 PM | 6:12 PM | 256° | 11h 01m |
| March | 6:37 AM | 7:10 AM | 6:02 PM | 6:34 PM | 268° | 11h 57m |
| April | 5:57 AM | 6:30 AM | 6:23 PM | 6:57 PM | 282° | 13h 00m |
| May | 5:28 AM | 6:03 AM | 6:44 PM | 7:19 PM | 294° | 13h 51m |
| June | 5:18 AM | 5:54 AM | 7:01 PM | 7:37 PM | 299° | 14h 19m |
| July | 5:29 AM | 6:05 AM | 7:01 PM | 7:36 PM | 297° | 14h 07m |
| August | 5:50 AM | 6:24 AM | 6:39 PM | 7:13 PM | 287° | 13h 23m |
| September | 6:11 AM | 6:43 AM | 6:01 PM | 6:34 PM | 274° | 12h 23m |
| October | 6:31 AM | 7:04 AM | 5:21 PM | 5:54 PM | 260° | 11h 23m |
| November | 6:58 AM | 7:33 AM | 4:50 PM | 5:26 PM | 248° | 10h 28m |
| December | 7:23 AM | 8:00 AM | 4:44 PM | 5:22 PM | 243° | 9h 59m |
Computed for the park's reference point (32.9970, -111.5325); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Casa Grande Ruins, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 28° 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 | 4:55 AM – 5:45 AM | 0.8 | 17° |
| March | 3:07 AM – 5:07 AM | 2.0 | 24° |
| April | 1:03 AM – 4:23 AM | 3.3 | 28° |
| May | 11:04 PM – 3:44 AM | 4.7 | 28° |
| June | 9:19 PM – 3:29 AM | 6.2 | 28° |
| July | 9:15 PM – 2:05 AM | 4.8 | 28° |
| August | 8:43 PM – 12:03 AM | 3.3 | 28° |
| September | 7:57 PM – 9:57 PM | 2.0 | 25° |
| October | 7:16 PM – 8:06 PM | 0.8 | 17° |
| 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
Summer daytime temperatures frequently exceed 100 degrees F. Winter temperatures range from the 60's to the 80's F. Spring and fall are warm and dry, with highs in the 80's and 90's F. During summer months, be prepared for hot temperatures. Protective clothing, hats, sunscreen and personal water containers are highly recommended. BE AWARE: Walls of dirt and debris, usually miles wide and thousands of feet high, are pushed across dry desert terrain by high winds, causing dust to engulf highways.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show June as the clearest month (about 18% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (52%). July is the warmest month and December 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
Transportation is by private vehicle. The park is in Coolidge, Arizona, about an hour-long drive from either Phoenix or Tucson. From Interstate 10 take the Coolidge exits and follow the signs to the park entrance.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Craft Demonstrations
- Cultural Demonstrations
- Live Music
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Junior Ranger Program
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
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