Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park is a National Military Park in Georgia, Tennessee. 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 Chickamauga & Chattanooga the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 60° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 78° in summer but only 32° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:49 AM | 8:27 AM | 5:15 PM | 5:53 PM | 245° | 10h 04m |
| February | 7:28 AM | 8:03 AM | 5:49 PM | 6:24 PM | 255° | 10h 56m |
| March | 7:53 AM | 8:26 AM | 7:16 PM | 7:49 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 7:10 AM | 7:44 AM | 7:40 PM | 8:14 PM | 283° | 13h 04m |
| May | 6:39 AM | 7:14 AM | 8:02 PM | 8:38 PM | 294° | 13h 59m |
| June | 6:28 AM | 7:05 AM | 8:20 PM | 8:57 PM | 300° | 14h 29m |
| July | 6:39 AM | 7:16 AM | 8:20 PM | 8:56 PM | 297° | 14h 17m |
| August | 7:02 AM | 7:37 AM | 7:56 PM | 8:31 PM | 288° | 13h 29m |
| September | 7:25 AM | 7:58 AM | 7:16 PM | 7:50 PM | 274° | 12h 25m |
| October | 7:48 AM | 8:22 AM | 6:33 PM | 7:08 PM | 260° | 11h 20m |
| November | 7:16 AM | 7:53 AM | 5:00 PM | 5:37 PM | 248° | 10h 21m |
| December | 7:42 AM | 8:21 AM | 4:53 PM | 5:32 PM | 242° | 9h 49m |
Computed for the park's reference point (34.9432, -85.2875); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Chickamauga & Chattanooga, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 26° 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 | 5:19 AM – 5:59 AM | 0.7 | 15° |
| March | 4:33 AM – 6:23 AM | 1.8 | 23° |
| April | 2:33 AM – 5:33 AM | 3.0 | 26° |
| May | 12:37 AM – 4:57 AM | 4.3 | 26° |
| June | 10:44 PM – 4:34 AM | 5.8 | 26° |
| July | 10:39 PM – 3:09 AM | 4.5 | 26° |
| August | 10:04 PM – 1:14 AM | 3.2 | 26° |
| September | 9:15 PM – 11:05 PM | 1.8 | 23° |
| October | 8:32 PM – 9:12 PM | 0.7 | 16° |
| 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
The climate in northern Georgia is generally temperate. Short, cool winters give relief from hot summers. Most visitors enjoy this area during long, mild fall and spring seasons.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 45% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (64%). 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 | $10.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
From I-75, take exit 350 onto Battlefield Parkway (GA HWY 2) and continue to the intersection of Battlefield Parkway and LaFayette Road. Turn left onto LaFayette Road and continue for approximately 1 mile. The visitor center will be on the right. From I-24, take exit 180 onto Rossville Boulevard (US HWY 27). Continue south to the intersection of Battlefield Parkway. Drive through the intersection, continuing on the LaFayette Road. The visitor center will be on the right.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Biking
- Road Biking
- Climbing
- Rock Climbing
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Self-Guided Tours - Auto
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horseback Riding
- Living History
- Historic Weapons Demonstration
- First Person Interpretation
- Paddling
- Canoeing
- Kayaking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
Nearby parks
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GA
GA
TN
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