Cumberland Island National Seashore is a National Seashore in Georgia. 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 Cumberland Island
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Cumberland Island. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Lighthouses (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Cumberland Island 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 83° in summer but only 36° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:25 AM | 8:00 AM | 5:11 PM | 5:47 PM | 246° | 10h 22m |
| February | 7:08 AM | 7:41 AM | 5:41 PM | 6:14 PM | 256° | 11h 06m |
| March | 7:37 AM | 8:09 AM | 7:03 PM | 7:34 PM | 268° | 11h 58m |
| April | 6:59 AM | 7:31 AM | 7:22 PM | 7:54 PM | 282° | 12h 55m |
| May | 6:32 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:40 PM | 8:14 PM | 293° | 13h 43m |
| June | 6:23 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:56 PM | 8:31 PM | 298° | 14h 08m |
| July | 6:34 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:56 PM | 8:31 PM | 296° | 13h 58m |
| August | 6:53 AM | 7:26 AM | 7:37 PM | 8:10 PM | 287° | 13h 17m |
| September | 7:11 AM | 7:43 AM | 7:01 PM | 7:33 PM | 274° | 12h 22m |
| October | 7:29 AM | 8:01 AM | 6:23 PM | 6:56 PM | 261° | 11h 27m |
| November | 6:53 AM | 7:28 AM | 4:55 PM | 5:29 PM | 249° | 10h 36m |
| December | 7:17 AM | 7:54 AM | 4:50 PM | 5:27 PM | 243° | 10h 10m |
Computed for the park's reference point (30.8586, -81.4525); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Cumberland Island, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 30° 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 | 4:45 AM – 5:45 AM | 1.0 | 19° |
| March | 3:55 AM – 6:15 AM | 2.3 | 27° |
| April | 1:58 AM – 5:28 AM | 3.5 | 30° |
| May | 11:56 PM – 4:56 AM | 5.0 | 30° |
| June | 10:09 PM – 4:39 AM | 6.5 | 30° |
| July | 10:06 PM – 3:16 AM | 5.2 | 30° |
| August | 9:37 PM – 1:17 AM | 3.7 | 30° |
| September | 8:54 PM – 11:14 PM | 2.3 | 27° |
| October | 8:16 PM – 9:16 PM | 1.0 | 19° |
| 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
Cumberland Island’s climate is hot and humid during summer when temperatures tend to be in the 80's (>26 C) and mild during winter when temperatures tend to be in the 60's (<20 C). The warmest month of the year is July with an average high of 90 degrees F (32 C), while the coldest is January with an average low of 45 degrees F (44 C). Visit the Current Conditions page for an up-to-date local forecast: https://www.nps.gov/cuis/planyourvisit/conditions.htm#weather
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show May as the clearest month (about 45% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (66%). August 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
Cumberland Island is only accessible by ferry or private boat. These directions are to the mainland visitor center in St. Marys, GA. Driving Directions To reach the visitor center from Interstate 95: •Take Exit 3 for US 40 •Take US 40 East toward “Historic Downtown St. Marys” •US 40 becomes Osborne Rd. Continue on until you reach the waterfront •Turn right on St. Marys Rd •The visitor center will be two blocks down on your left (113 St. Marys St W, St Marys GA 31558)
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Guided Tours
- Hiking
- Hunting and Gathering
- Hunting
- Swimming
- Saltwater Swimming
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
Nearby parks
GA
FL
FL
FL
GA
SC