Castillo de San Marcos National Monument is a National Monument in Florida. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 3 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Castillo de San Marcos
We matched 3 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Castillo de San Marcos. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Lighthouses (1)
State Parks (2)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Castillo de San Marcos the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 62° (ENE) at the June solstice and 117° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 298° (WNW) in June to 243° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 84° in summer but only 37° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:22 AM | 7:57 AM | 5:13 PM | 5:48 PM | 246° | 10h 26m |
| February | 7:06 AM | 7:39 AM | 5:42 PM | 6:15 PM | 256° | 11h 09m |
| March | 7:36 AM | 8:08 AM | 7:02 PM | 7:34 PM | 268° | 11h 58m |
| April | 6:59 AM | 7:31 AM | 7:21 PM | 7:53 PM | 282° | 12h 53m |
| May | 6:33 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:38 PM | 8:12 PM | 293° | 13h 39m |
| June | 6:25 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:53 PM | 8:28 PM | 298° | 14h 03m |
| July | 6:35 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:54 PM | 8:28 PM | 296° | 13h 53m |
| August | 6:54 AM | 7:26 AM | 7:35 PM | 8:08 PM | 287° | 13h 14m |
| September | 7:11 AM | 7:42 AM | 7:01 PM | 7:32 PM | 274° | 12h 22m |
| October | 7:28 AM | 8:00 AM | 6:24 PM | 6:56 PM | 261° | 11h 28m |
| November | 6:51 AM | 7:25 AM | 4:56 PM | 5:31 PM | 249° | 10h 40m |
| December | 7:14 AM | 7:50 AM | 4:52 PM | 5:28 PM | 244° | 10h 14m |
Computed for the park's reference point (29.8979, -81.3122); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Castillo de San Marcos, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 31° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 6 (bright 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 | 4:45 AM – 5:35 AM | 0.8 | 18° |
| March | 3:53 AM – 6:13 AM | 2.3 | 28° |
| April | 1:56 AM – 5:26 AM | 3.5 | 31° |
| May | 11:53 PM – 4:53 AM | 5.0 | 31° |
| June | 10:05 PM – 4:45 AM | 6.7 | 31° |
| July | 10:02 PM – 3:22 AM | 5.3 | 31° |
| August | 9:34 PM – 1:14 AM | 3.7 | 31° |
| September | 8:52 PM – 11:12 PM | 2.3 | 28° |
| October | 8:15 PM – 9:15 PM | 1.0 | 20° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
6 Estimated Bortle 6 — Bright suburban sky. The Milky Way is only visible near the zenith; the sky glows grey-orange in photos.
Weather & best time to visit
St. Augustine has a semi-tropical climate with over 300 days of sunshine each year. Summers (May-September) are hot, bright, and humid with afternoon thunderstorms common. Temperatures range from the lower 70s to the mid 90s F. Spring (March-mid-May) and Autumn (October-late November) can be pleasant with temperatures ranging from the upper 50s into the 80s F. The Winter months (December-March) are usually dry. Temperatures can be cool ranging from the upper 30s through the 60sF.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show May as the clearest month (about 44% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (60%). 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.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Entrance - Per Person | $15.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
On State Route A1A overlooking Matanzas Bay in the heart of the historic district of Saint Augustine, the Castillo is approximately a five mile drive from Interstate 95.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Living History
- Historic Weapons Demonstration
- Junior Ranger Program
- Park Film
Nearby parks
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