George Washington Birthplace 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 1 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in George Washington Birthplace
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to George Washington Birthplace. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
State Parks (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At George Washington Birthplace 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 | 7:24 AM | 8:04 AM | 4:32 PM | 5:12 PM | 244° | 9h 48m |
| February | 6:59 AM | 7:36 AM | 5:10 PM | 5:46 PM | 255° | 10h 47m |
| March | 7:20 AM | 7:55 AM | 6:40 PM | 7:15 PM | 268° | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:33 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:08 PM | 7:44 PM | 283° | 13h 11m |
| May | 5:58 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:34 PM | 8:12 PM | 295° | 14h 14m |
| June | 5:45 AM | 6:24 AM | 7:54 PM | 8:33 PM | 301° | 14h 48m |
| July | 5:57 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:53 PM | 8:31 PM | 299° | 14h 34m |
| August | 6:23 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:27 PM | 8:03 PM | 289° | 13h 40m |
| September | 6:50 AM | 7:25 AM | 6:43 PM | 7:18 PM | 275° | 12h 27m |
| October | 7:17 AM | 7:53 AM | 5:56 PM | 6:31 PM | 260° | 11h 14m |
| November | 6:50 AM | 7:28 AM | 4:18 PM | 4:57 PM | 247° | 10h 07m |
| December | 7:18 AM | 7:59 AM | 4:08 PM | 4:49 PM | 241° | 9h 32m |
Computed for the park's reference point (38.1936, -76.9208); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From George Washington Birthplace, 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 4 (rural / suburban transition), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:05 AM – 5:25 AM | 0.3 | 13° |
| March | 4:23 AM – 5:43 AM | 1.3 | 19° |
| April | 2:18 AM – 4:48 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| May | 12:18 AM – 4:08 AM | 3.8 | 23° |
| June | 10:30 PM – 3:40 AM | 5.2 | 23° |
| July | 10:23 PM – 2:23 AM | 4.0 | 23° |
| August | 9:42 PM – 12:22 AM | 2.7 | 23° |
| September | 8:47 PM – 10:17 PM | 1.5 | 19° |
| October | 7:59 PM – 8:19 PM | 0.3 | 13° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
4 Estimated Bortle 4 — Rural / suburban transition. Light domes are visible in several directions; the Milky Way is clear but lacks detail near the horizon.
Weather & best time to visit
George Washington Birthplace can be very warm and humid in the summer months while cold and dry in the winter. Spring and fall are the best seasons to visit.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 50% average cloud cover) and January 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
George Washington Birthplace is located two miles from Virginia State Highway 3 on Virginia State Route 204. The park is located 38 miles east of Fredericksburg, 11 miles west of Montross, and 10 miles west of Colonial Beach.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Fishing
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hiking
- Paddling
- Canoeing
- Kayaking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
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