Fort Monroe National Monument is a National Monument in Virginia. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 4 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Fort Monroe
We matched 4 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Fort Monroe. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Beaches (1)
Lighthouses (3)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Fort Monroe 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 76° in summer but only 30° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:18 AM | 7:57 AM | 4:33 PM | 5:12 PM | 244° | 9h 54m |
| February | 6:55 AM | 7:31 AM | 5:10 PM | 5:46 PM | 255° | 10h 51m |
| March | 7:17 AM | 7:52 AM | 6:38 PM | 7:13 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:32 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:05 PM | 7:40 PM | 283° | 13h 08m |
| May | 5:58 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:30 PM | 8:07 PM | 295° | 14h 09m |
| June | 5:46 AM | 6:24 AM | 7:49 PM | 8:27 PM | 301° | 14h 41m |
| July | 5:58 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:48 PM | 8:26 PM | 298° | 14h 28m |
| August | 6:23 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:23 PM | 7:58 PM | 288° | 13h 36m |
| September | 6:48 AM | 7:22 AM | 6:40 PM | 7:15 PM | 274° | 12h 27m |
| October | 7:13 AM | 7:48 AM | 5:55 PM | 6:30 PM | 260° | 11h 17m |
| November | 6:45 AM | 7:23 AM | 4:19 PM | 4:57 PM | 247° | 10h 12m |
| December | 7:12 AM | 7:53 AM | 4:10 PM | 4:50 PM | 241° | 9h 38m |
Computed for the park's reference point (37.0173, -76.3010); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Fort Monroe, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 24° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 8 (city 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 | 5:03 AM – 5:23 AM | 0.3 | 14° |
| March | 4:09 AM – 5:39 AM | 1.5 | 20° |
| April | 2:02 AM – 4:52 AM | 2.8 | 24° |
| May | 12:09 AM – 4:09 AM | 4.0 | 24° |
| June | 10:19 PM – 3:49 AM | 5.5 | 24° |
| July | 10:13 PM – 2:23 AM | 4.2 | 24° |
| August | 9:34 PM – 12:24 AM | 2.8 | 24° |
| September | 8:42 PM – 10:22 PM | 1.7 | 21° |
| October | 7:56 PM – 8:26 PM | 0.5 | 14° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
8 Estimated Bortle 8 — City sky. Only bright constellations are visible; the sky glows orange or white.
Weather & best time to visit
Spring: Temperatures range from 40 F to 70 F with rain being common. Summer: Temperatures range from 75 F to 100 F with rain and sun equally common. On very sunny days, be prepared with plenty of water. Fall: Temperatures usually range from 40 F to 65 F. Hurricanes are more likely to threaten the are at this time of year. If planning a visit during this time, please be mindful of the storm activity. Winter: Temperatures range from 40 F to 50 F on average with snow being uncommon.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 50% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (60%). 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
Take exit 268 from Interstate 64 (I-64) in Hampton, Virginia toward Fort Monroe. Turn left from the exit ramp onto South Mallory Street. Turn right at the second light onto East Mellen Street. Cross the bridge and turn left at the light onto Ingalls Road. The Fort Monroe Visitor & Education Center is on the left after about two-thirds of a mile. Park on Ingalls Road or in the lot behind the building.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Biking
- Road Biking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hands-On
- Citizen Science
- Volunteer Vacation
- Hiking
- Living History
- Reenactments
- Historic Weapons Demonstration
- First Person Interpretation
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
VA
VA
VA
VA
VA
VA