Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in South Carolina. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 3 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie
We matched 3 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Lighthouses (3)
Lighthouse
Lighthouse
LighthouseSunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 61° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 299° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 81° in summer but only 34° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:23 AM | 7:59 AM | 5:00 PM | 5:36 PM | 245° | 10h 14m |
| February | 7:04 AM | 7:38 AM | 5:31 PM | 6:05 PM | 256° | 11h 02m |
| March | 7:31 AM | 8:03 AM | 6:55 PM | 7:28 PM | 268° | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:51 AM | 7:24 AM | 7:17 PM | 7:50 PM | 282° | 12h 59m |
| May | 6:22 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:37 PM | 8:12 PM | 293° | 13h 50m |
| June | 6:12 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:53 PM | 8:30 PM | 299° | 14h 18m |
| July | 6:23 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:54 PM | 8:29 PM | 297° | 14h 06m |
| August | 6:44 AM | 7:17 AM | 7:32 PM | 8:06 PM | 287° | 13h 22m |
| September | 7:04 AM | 7:36 AM | 6:55 PM | 7:27 PM | 274° | 12h 23m |
| October | 7:24 AM | 7:57 AM | 6:15 PM | 6:48 PM | 260° | 11h 24m |
| November | 6:50 AM | 7:26 AM | 4:44 PM | 5:20 PM | 249° | 10h 29m |
| December | 7:15 AM | 7:53 AM | 4:38 PM | 5:16 PM | 243° | 10h 00m |
Computed for the park's reference point (32.7565, -79.8707); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 28° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition), 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 | 4:48 AM – 5:38 AM | 0.8 | 17° |
| March | 3:59 AM – 5:59 AM | 2.0 | 25° |
| April | 1:55 AM – 5:15 AM | 3.3 | 28° |
| May | 11:56 PM – 4:36 AM | 4.7 | 28° |
| June | 10:11 PM – 4:21 AM | 6.2 | 28° |
| July | 10:07 PM – 2:57 AM | 4.8 | 28° |
| August | 9:35 PM – 12:55 AM | 3.3 | 28° |
| September | 8:50 PM – 11:00 PM | 2.2 | 25° |
| October | 8:09 PM – 8:59 PM | 0.8 | 17° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
7 Estimated Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye.
Weather & best time to visit
Mild winters. Hot and humid during the summer.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show April as the clearest month (about 48% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (70%). 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.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Entrance - Per Person | $10.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
Fort Sumter is accessible by ferry boat. Boats depart at scheduled times from two sites. The primary departure point is the Fort Sumter Visitor Center, 340 Concord Street, Charleston. Boats also depart from Patriots Point, 40 Patriots Point Boulevard, Mount Pleasant. There is a fee for the concession-operated ferry. Fort Moultrie is accessible by car at 1214 Middle Street, Sullivan's Island. A park entrance fee is charged for the park. Details at: https://www.nps.gov/fosu/planyourvisit/directions.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Boating
- Boat Tour
- Fishing
- Saltwater Fishing
- Food
- Dining
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Boat Tour
- Hands-On
- Citizen Science
- Living History
- Reenactments
- Historic Weapons Demonstration
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
SC
SC
GA
SC