Charles Pinckney National Historic Site is a National Historic Site in South Carolina. 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 Charles Pinckney 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 81° in summer but only 34° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:23 AM | 7:59 AM | 4:59 PM | 5:36 PM | 245° | 10h 13m |
| February | 7:04 AM | 7:38 AM | 5:31 PM | 6:05 PM | 256° | 11h 02m |
| March | 7:31 AM | 8:03 AM | 6:55 PM | 7:28 PM | 268° | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:50 AM | 7:23 AM | 7:16 PM | 7:50 PM | 282° | 12h 59m |
| May | 6:21 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:37 PM | 8:12 PM | 293° | 13h 51m |
| June | 6:11 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:53 PM | 8:30 PM | 299° | 14h 18m |
| July | 6:22 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:54 PM | 8:29 PM | 297° | 14h 07m |
| August | 6:43 AM | 7:17 AM | 7:32 PM | 8:06 PM | 287° | 13h 23m |
| September | 7:04 AM | 7:36 AM | 6:55 PM | 7:27 PM | 274° | 12h 23m |
| October | 7:24 AM | 7:57 AM | 6:14 PM | 6:47 PM | 260° | 11h 24m |
| November | 6:50 AM | 7:26 AM | 4:44 PM | 5:19 PM | 248° | 10h 29m |
| December | 7:15 AM | 7:53 AM | 4:38 PM | 5:15 PM | 243° | 10h 00m |
Computed for the park's reference point (32.8458, -79.8249); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Charles Pinckney, 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 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 | 4:48 AM – 5:38 AM | 0.8 | 17° |
| March | 3:59 AM – 5:59 AM | 2.0 | 25° |
| April | 1:55 AM – 5:15 AM | 3.3 | 28° |
| May | 11:56 PM – 4:36 AM | 4.7 | 28° |
| June | 10:11 PM – 4:21 AM | 6.2 | 28° |
| July | 10:07 PM – 2:57 AM | 4.8 | 28° |
| August | 9:35 PM – 12:55 AM | 3.3 | 28° |
| September | 8:50 PM – 11:00 PM | 2.2 | 25° |
| October | 8:09 PM – 8:59 PM | 0.8 | 17° |
| 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
Winters are generally mild. Summers are hot and humid.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show April as the clearest month (about 48% 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
The park is located on the south side of Long Point Road .7 miles from US Highway 17, or 3 miles if coming from I-526.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hands-On
- Citizen Science
- Volunteer Vacation
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
SC
SC
SC
GA