George Washington Memorial Parkway is a Memorial Parkway in District of Columbia, Maryland, 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 George Washington 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 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 74° in summer but only 28° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:27 AM | 8:07 AM | 4:30 PM | 5:11 PM | 243° | 9h 44m |
| February | 7:01 AM | 7:38 AM | 5:09 PM | 5:46 PM | 255° | 10h 45m |
| March | 7:21 AM | 7:56 AM | 6:41 PM | 7:16 PM | 268° | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:33 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:46 PM | 284° | 13h 13m |
| May | 5:57 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:37 PM | 8:15 PM | 296° | 14h 18m |
| June | 5:43 AM | 6:23 AM | 7:57 PM | 8:36 PM | 302° | 14h 53m |
| July | 5:56 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:55 PM | 8:34 PM | 299° | 14h 38m |
| August | 6:23 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:05 PM | 289° | 13h 42m |
| September | 6:51 AM | 7:26 AM | 6:44 PM | 7:19 PM | 275° | 12h 28m |
| October | 7:19 AM | 7:55 AM | 5:55 PM | 6:32 PM | 260° | 11h 13m |
| November | 6:52 AM | 7:31 AM | 4:17 PM | 4:56 PM | 247° | 10h 04m |
| December | 7:21 AM | 8:03 AM | 4:06 PM | 4:48 PM | 240° | 9h 27m |
Computed for the park's reference point (38.9628, -77.1495); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From George Washington, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 22° 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 | 5:16 AM – 5:26 AM | 0.2 | 12° |
| March | 4:25 AM – 5:45 AM | 1.3 | 19° |
| April | 2:21 AM – 4:51 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| May | 12:23 AM – 4:03 AM | 3.7 | 22° |
| June | 10:36 PM – 3:36 AM | 5.0 | 22° |
| July | 10:29 PM – 2:19 AM | 3.8 | 22° |
| August | 9:45 PM – 12:15 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| September | 8:50 PM – 10:10 PM | 1.3 | 19° |
| October | 8:01 PM – 8:11 PM | 0.2 | 12° |
| 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
Summers on the parkway are generally hot and humid, with daytime highs frequently above 90 degrees Fahrenheit and scattered afternoon thunderstorms. Please carry water while participating in physical activity and be prepared to take shelter from lightning. Winters on the parkway are generally cold, with nighttime lows frequently near freezing and occasional snowfall. Please be alert for snowplows and icy spots on roadways. Weather during spring and fall is generally moderate, but can change quickly.
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
Directions to Parkway Headquarters From the south, take the George Washington Memorial Parkway north. Just past the CIA exit turn right into the parking lot for the US Park Police and parkway headquarters. Go through the chain link fence and take an immediate right. Follow the road down to a stop sign and turn right into the parking lot for the headquarters building.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Live Music
- Biking
- Road Biking
- Food
- Picnicking
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
Nearby parks
MD
MD
DC
VA
DC/MD
VA