Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park is a National Military Park in Virginia. 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 Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania 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 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 75° in summer but only 28° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:26 AM | 8:06 AM | 4:34 PM | 5:14 PM | 244° | 9h 48m |
| February | 7:01 AM | 7:38 AM | 5:12 PM | 5:49 PM | 255° | 10h 47m |
| March | 7:22 AM | 7:57 AM | 6:42 PM | 7:17 PM | 268° | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:35 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:11 PM | 7:46 PM | 283° | 13h 11m |
| May | 6:00 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:37 PM | 8:14 PM | 295° | 14h 15m |
| June | 5:47 AM | 6:26 AM | 7:56 PM | 8:36 PM | 301° | 14h 49m |
| July | 5:59 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:55 PM | 8:34 PM | 299° | 14h 35m |
| August | 6:25 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:05 PM | 289° | 13h 40m |
| September | 6:52 AM | 7:27 AM | 6:45 PM | 7:20 PM | 275° | 12h 28m |
| October | 7:19 AM | 7:55 AM | 5:58 PM | 6:33 PM | 260° | 11h 14m |
| November | 6:52 AM | 7:31 AM | 4:20 PM | 4:59 PM | 247° | 10h 07m |
| December | 7:20 AM | 8:02 AM | 4:10 PM | 4:51 PM | 241° | 9h 31m |
Computed for the park's reference point (38.2938, -77.4673); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.2 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 6 (bright 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 | 5:07 AM – 5:27 AM | 0.3 | 13° |
| March | 4:25 AM – 5:45 AM | 1.3 | 19° |
| April | 2:20 AM – 4:50 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| May | 12:20 AM – 4:10 AM | 3.8 | 23° |
| June | 10:32 PM – 3:42 AM | 5.2 | 23° |
| July | 10:25 PM – 2:25 AM | 4.0 | 23° |
| August | 9:44 PM – 12:24 AM | 2.7 | 23° |
| September | 8:49 PM – 10:19 PM | 1.5 | 19° |
| October | 8:01 PM – 8:21 PM | 0.3 | 13° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
6 Estimated Bortle 6 — Bright suburban sky. The Milky Way is only visible near the zenith; the sky glows grey-orange in photos.
Weather & best time to visit
The regional climate is characterized by mild winters and warm, humid summers. The mean annual temperatures is 56 degrees Fahrenheit. The average summer temperature is 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Daytime highs during the summer can reach the 90s, and nighttime lows are in the lower 60s. Daytime highs in the winter are typically in the upper 40s, and nighttime lows in the middle 20s. Precipitation is well distributed throughout the year, with the minimum amount in August and the maximum in February.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 52% average cloud cover) and May as the cloudiest (61%). 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
Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park manages 4 battlefields and multiple historical sites across multiple counties. The park is located approximately 50 miles south of Washington DC. Different battlefields and historical sites are accessible via I-95 and VA Route 3. For directions and physical addresses for each of our sites, please visit the Directions & Transportation section of our website.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Biking
- Road Biking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Self-Guided Tours - Auto
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Living History
- Reenactments
- Historic Weapons Demonstration
- Junior Ranger Program
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
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