Chesapeake Bay is a National Park Service unit in District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 1 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Chesapeake Bay
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Chesapeake Bay. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Beaches (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Chesapeake Bay 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 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 74° in summer but only 28° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:24 AM | 8:05 AM | 4:27 PM | 5:08 PM | 243° | 9h 44m |
| February | 6:58 AM | 7:35 AM | 5:06 PM | 5:44 PM | 255° | 10h 45m |
| March | 7:18 AM | 7:54 AM | 6:38 PM | 7:13 PM | 268° | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:30 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:07 PM | 7:43 PM | 284° | 13h 13m |
| May | 5:54 AM | 6:32 AM | 7:34 PM | 8:12 PM | 296° | 14h 18m |
| June | 5:41 AM | 6:21 AM | 7:54 PM | 8:34 PM | 302° | 14h 53m |
| July | 5:53 AM | 6:32 AM | 7:53 PM | 8:32 PM | 299° | 14h 39m |
| August | 6:20 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:26 PM | 8:03 PM | 289° | 13h 42m |
| September | 6:48 AM | 7:23 AM | 6:41 PM | 7:16 PM | 275° | 12h 28m |
| October | 7:16 AM | 7:52 AM | 5:53 PM | 6:29 PM | 260° | 11h 13m |
| November | 6:50 AM | 7:29 AM | 4:14 PM | 4:53 PM | 247° | 10h 04m |
| December | 7:18 AM | 8:00 AM | 4:03 PM | 4:45 PM | 240° | 9h 27m |
Computed for the park's reference point (38.9716, -76.4834); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Chesapeake Bay, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 22° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition), 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 | 5:13 AM – 5:23 AM | 0.2 | 12° |
| March | 4:22 AM – 5:42 AM | 1.3 | 19° |
| April | 2:18 AM – 4:48 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| May | 12:20 AM – 4:00 AM | 3.7 | 22° |
| June | 10:33 PM – 3:33 AM | 5.0 | 22° |
| July | 10:26 PM – 2:16 AM | 3.8 | 22° |
| August | 9:42 PM – 12:12 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| September | 8:47 PM – 10:07 PM | 1.3 | 19° |
| October | 7:58 PM – 8:08 PM | 0.2 | 12° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
7 Estimated Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye.
Weather & best time to visit
Annapolis, Maryland has a warm humid temperate climate with hot summers and no dry season. Over the course of a year, the temperature typically varies from 29°F to 86°F and is rarely below 19°F or above 91°F. The warm season lasts from May 30 to September 18 with an average daily high temperature above 77°F. The cold season lasts from November 29 to March 4 with an average daily high temperature below 50°F.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 50% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (61%). 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 Chesapeake Bay office is located off of Aris T. Allen Blvd in Annapolis, Maryland. Traveling east on Route 50, take the exit towards Riva road and 665, Aris T. Allen Blvd. Continue on 665 to Forest drive. Our office is on the left through the first light, across from the Safeway.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Boating
- Compass and GPS
- Geocaching
- Guided Tours
- Paddling
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
Nearby parks
VA/MD
MD
MD
MD
MD/VA
DC