Fort Donelson National Battlefield is a National Battlefield in Kentucky, 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 Fort Donelson 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 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 77° in summer but only 30° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:03 AM | 7:42 AM | 4:21 PM | 5:00 PM | 244° | 9h 57m |
| February | 6:41 AM | 7:16 AM | 4:57 PM | 5:33 PM | 255° | 10h 52m |
| March | 7:04 AM | 7:38 AM | 6:25 PM | 6:59 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:19 AM | 6:53 AM | 6:51 PM | 7:26 PM | 283° | 13h 07m |
| May | 5:46 AM | 6:22 AM | 7:15 PM | 7:52 PM | 295° | 14h 06m |
| June | 5:34 AM | 6:12 AM | 7:34 PM | 8:12 PM | 300° | 14h 38m |
| July | 5:46 AM | 6:23 AM | 7:33 PM | 8:11 PM | 298° | 14h 25m |
| August | 6:10 AM | 6:45 AM | 7:09 PM | 7:44 PM | 288° | 13h 34m |
| September | 6:35 AM | 7:09 AM | 6:27 PM | 7:01 PM | 274° | 12h 26m |
| October | 6:59 AM | 7:34 AM | 5:42 PM | 6:17 PM | 260° | 11h 17m |
| November | 6:30 AM | 7:08 AM | 4:07 PM | 4:44 PM | 248° | 10h 14m |
| December | 6:57 AM | 7:37 AM | 3:58 PM | 4:38 PM | 241° | 9h 41m |
Computed for the park's reference point (36.4902, -87.9245); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Fort Donelson, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 25° 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 | 4:40 AM – 5:10 AM | 0.5 | 14° |
| March | 3:56 AM – 5:36 AM | 1.7 | 21° |
| April | 1:47 AM – 4:37 AM | 2.8 | 24° |
| May | 11:54 PM – 3:54 AM | 4.0 | 25° |
| June | 10:03 PM – 3:33 AM | 5.5 | 25° |
| July | 9:58 PM – 2:18 AM | 4.3 | 25° |
| August | 9:20 PM – 12:10 AM | 2.8 | 24° |
| September | 8:28 PM – 10:08 PM | 1.7 | 21° |
| October | 7:43 PM – 8:13 PM | 0.5 | 14° |
| 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
Fort Donelson National Battlefield traditionally experiences mild to moderate winters and hot summers with an average high of 90 degrees in the summer and 40 in winter; average lows in the winter are 30 degrees but single digits are not unusual. Rainfall in the area averages 53 inches a year with an additional 6 inches of ice/snow. Violent thunderstorms and severe weather can take place at any time of year but are most common in December and spring time.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 45% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (68%). 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 main entrance is at 120 Fort Donelson Park Road, in Dover Tennessee. It is advised to start a visitor experience here. Brochures and information are available at this location. Physical address for the park's Fort Heiman unit, in Calloway County, Kentucky: 654 Fort Heiman Road, New Concord, Kentucky. This site is not staffed daily, but exhibits and information are available for visitors.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Auto
- Hiking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
Nearby parks
TN
TN/MS
AL/AR
KY
IN