Congaree National Park is a National Park in South Carolina. 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 Congaree
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Congaree. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
State Parks (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Congaree 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 33° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:28 AM | 8:06 AM | 5:00 PM | 5:38 PM | 245° | 10h 09m |
| February | 7:08 AM | 7:43 AM | 5:33 PM | 6:08 PM | 256° | 10h 59m |
| March | 7:34 AM | 8:07 AM | 6:58 PM | 7:31 PM | 268° | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:53 AM | 7:26 AM | 7:21 PM | 7:54 PM | 283° | 13h 01m |
| May | 6:23 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:42 PM | 8:18 PM | 294° | 13h 55m |
| June | 6:13 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:59 PM | 8:36 PM | 299° | 14h 23m |
| July | 6:24 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:59 PM | 8:35 PM | 297° | 14h 11m |
| August | 6:46 AM | 7:20 AM | 7:37 PM | 8:11 PM | 288° | 13h 25m |
| September | 7:07 AM | 7:40 AM | 6:58 PM | 7:31 PM | 274° | 12h 24m |
| October | 7:28 AM | 8:02 AM | 6:17 PM | 6:50 PM | 260° | 11h 22m |
| November | 6:56 AM | 7:32 AM | 4:45 PM | 5:21 PM | 248° | 10h 25m |
| December | 7:21 AM | 8:00 AM | 4:38 PM | 5:17 PM | 242° | 9h 55m |
Computed for the park's reference point (33.7919, -80.7487); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Congaree, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 27° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:01 AM – 5:41 AM | 0.7 | 16° |
| March | 4:14 AM – 6:04 AM | 1.8 | 24° |
| April | 2:12 AM – 5:22 AM | 3.2 | 27° |
| May | 12:14 AM – 4:44 AM | 4.5 | 27° |
| June | 10:20 PM – 4:20 AM | 6.0 | 27° |
| July | 10:16 PM – 2:56 AM | 4.7 | 27° |
| August | 9:42 PM – 1:02 AM | 3.3 | 27° |
| September | 8:55 PM – 10:55 PM | 2.0 | 24° |
| October | 8:13 PM – 8:53 PM | 0.7 | 17° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
3 Estimated Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead.
Weather & best time to visit
Check the forecast before getting on the road. Conditions can change rapidly within the park. Flooding can happen with little or no warning, so make sure to check water levels for Cedar Creek and the Congaree River.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show November as the clearest month (about 43% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (56%). 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
From Interstate 77, Exit 5 At Exit 5 turn onto SC Hwy 48 East/Bluff Road. Following the brown and white "Congaree National Park" directional signs, travel approximately 8 miles on and then take a slight right onto Old Bluff Road. Follow Old Bluff Road for 4.5 miles to the park entrance sign, which will be on the right. Proceed one mile to the Harry Hampton Visitor Center. Parking lots will be on the right.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Group Camping
- Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hands-On
- Citizen Science
- Volunteer Vacation
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Off-Trail Permitted Hiking
- Paddling
- Canoeing
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Kayaking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Museum Exhibits
Nearby parks
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NC/SC
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