Fort Scott National Historic Site is a National Historic Site in Kansas. 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 Scott the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (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 29° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:34 AM | 8:14 AM | 4:44 PM | 5:24 PM | 244° | 9h 50m |
| February | 7:10 AM | 7:46 AM | 5:22 PM | 5:58 PM | 255° | 10h 49m |
| March | 7:31 AM | 8:06 AM | 6:52 PM | 7:26 PM | 268° | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:44 AM | 7:19 AM | 7:19 PM | 7:55 PM | 283° | 13h 10m |
| May | 6:10 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:45 PM | 8:22 PM | 295° | 14h 13m |
| June | 5:57 AM | 6:36 AM | 8:04 PM | 8:43 PM | 301° | 14h 46m |
| July | 6:09 AM | 6:48 AM | 8:03 PM | 8:41 PM | 298° | 14h 32m |
| August | 6:35 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:37 PM | 8:13 PM | 289° | 13h 38m |
| September | 7:01 AM | 7:36 AM | 6:54 PM | 7:28 PM | 275° | 12h 27m |
| October | 7:28 AM | 8:03 AM | 6:07 PM | 6:43 PM | 260° | 11h 15m |
| November | 7:00 AM | 7:39 AM | 4:30 PM | 5:09 PM | 247° | 10h 09m |
| December | 7:28 AM | 8:09 AM | 4:21 PM | 5:02 PM | 241° | 9h 34m |
Computed for the park's reference point (37.8436, -94.7043); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Fort Scott, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 23° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 5 (suburban 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 | 5:17 AM – 5:37 AM | 0.3 | 13° |
| March | 4:24 AM – 5:54 AM | 1.5 | 20° |
| April | 2:28 AM – 5:08 AM | 2.7 | 23° |
| May | 12:27 AM – 4:17 AM | 3.8 | 23° |
| June | 10:38 PM – 3:58 AM | 5.3 | 23° |
| July | 10:31 PM – 2:31 AM | 4.0 | 23° |
| August | 9:51 PM – 12:31 AM | 2.7 | 23° |
| September | 8:57 PM – 10:27 PM | 1.5 | 20° |
| October | 8:10 PM – 8:30 PM | 0.3 | 13° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
5 Estimated Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow.
Weather & best time to visit
Spring and autumn are pleasant with mild temperatures. Summers are generally hot and humid, while winters are mild with periods of cold weather, snowfall, and ice storms. Thunderstorms, some severe, are common throughout the spring and summer. During periods of severe weather, visitors should seek shelter, as the area is prone to lightning strikes. Visitors are advised to check the weather prior to traveling.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 42% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (62%). 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
Fort Scott National Historic Site is located in downtown Fort Scott, Kansas. U.S. Highways 69 and 54 intersect here. Fort Scott is about 90 miles south of Kansas City and 60 miles northwest of Joplin, Missouri. It is 4 miles from the Kansas-Missouri border. Signs directing visitors to Fort Scott are posted on Highway 69 for visitors coming from the north and the south and on Highway 54 for visitors coming from the east and the west.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Guided Tours
- Living History
- Historic Weapons Demonstration
- Junior Ranger Program
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
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