Fort Laramie National Historic Site is a National Historic Site in Wyoming. 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 Laramie the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 57° (ENE) at the June solstice and 122° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 304° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 71° in summer but only 24° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:25 AM | 8:08 AM | 4:08 PM | 4:51 PM | 242° | 9h 26m |
| February | 6:55 AM | 7:35 AM | 4:52 PM | 5:31 PM | 254° | 10h 36m |
| March | 7:11 AM | 7:48 AM | 6:28 PM | 7:05 PM | 268° | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:18 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:02 PM | 7:40 PM | 284° | 13h 21m |
| May | 5:38 AM | 6:18 AM | 7:33 PM | 8:13 PM | 297° | 14h 35m |
| June | 5:22 AM | 6:05 AM | 7:54 PM | 8:37 PM | 303° | 15h 15m |
| July | 5:36 AM | 6:17 AM | 7:52 PM | 8:34 PM | 301° | 14h 58m |
| August | 6:07 AM | 6:45 AM | 7:22 PM | 8:01 PM | 290° | 13h 54m |
| September | 6:39 AM | 7:16 AM | 6:33 PM | 7:10 PM | 275° | 12h 31m |
| October | 7:11 AM | 7:49 AM | 5:40 PM | 6:18 PM | 259° | 11h 06m |
| November | 6:49 AM | 7:31 AM | 3:56 PM | 4:38 PM | 246° | 9h 49m |
| December | 7:21 AM | 8:06 AM | 3:43 PM | 4:28 PM | 239° | 9h 07m |
Computed for the park's reference point (42.2030, -104.5459); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Fort Laramie, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 19° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | 4:38 AM – 5:28 AM | 0.8 | 15° |
| April | 2:31 AM – 4:31 AM | 2.0 | 18° |
| May | 12:40 AM – 3:30 AM | 2.8 | 19° |
| June | 10:50 PM – 3:00 AM | 4.2 | 19° |
| July | 10:40 PM – 1:40 AM | 3.0 | 19° |
| August | 9:48 PM – 11:38 PM | 1.8 | 18° |
| September | 8:45 PM – 9:35 PM | 0.8 | 15° |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
1 Estimated Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious.
Weather & best time to visit
Fort Laramie summer days can be quite hot (over 100F/37C), average highs are in the 80s and 90s (30-35C) with cool nights and low humidity. Winters are often bitterly cold and windy with subzero wind chills. The region is semi-arid with a distinct winter dry season. About 70% of annual precipitation falls as thunderstorms during the spring and early summer. Breezy days are common year-round and peak in the winter when wind speeds can approach hurricane-strength.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 43% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (67%). July is the warmest month and December 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 park is located in southeast Wyoming approximately 125 miles southeast of Casper, 100 miles north of Cheyenne and 55 miles west of Scottsbluff, Nebraska. From Interstate 25, take exit 92 to US Highway 26, proceed east to the town of Fort Laramie; turn right on State Route 160 and travel three miles to the park entrance. From westbound US 26, proceed west from Scottsbluff, Nebraska to the town of Fort Laramie; turn left on State Route 160 and continue three miles to the park entrance.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Self-Guided Tours - Auto
- Living History
- Historic Weapons Demonstration
- Junior Ranger Program
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
Nearby parks
NE
NE
SD
SD