Great Egg Harbor River is a National Park Service unit in New Jersey. 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 Great Egg Harbor River the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 58° (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 27° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:17 AM | 7:58 AM | 4:19 PM | 5:00 PM | 243° | 9h 42m |
| February | 6:52 AM | 7:29 AM | 4:58 PM | 5:36 PM | 254° | 10h 44m |
| March | 7:11 AM | 7:46 AM | 6:30 PM | 7:06 PM | 268° | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:22 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:00 PM | 7:36 PM | 284° | 13h 14m |
| May | 5:46 AM | 6:24 AM | 7:27 PM | 8:06 PM | 296° | 14h 20m |
| June | 5:32 AM | 6:12 AM | 7:47 PM | 8:28 PM | 302° | 14h 55m |
| July | 5:45 AM | 6:24 AM | 7:46 PM | 8:25 PM | 299° | 14h 40m |
| August | 6:12 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:19 PM | 7:56 PM | 289° | 13h 44m |
| September | 6:41 AM | 7:16 AM | 6:34 PM | 7:09 PM | 275° | 12h 28m |
| October | 7:09 AM | 7:45 AM | 5:45 PM | 6:21 PM | 260° | 11h 12m |
| November | 6:43 AM | 7:22 AM | 4:06 PM | 4:45 PM | 247° | 10h 02m |
| December | 7:12 AM | 7:54 AM | 3:55 PM | 4:37 PM | 240° | 9h 25m |
Computed for the park's reference point (39.3042, -74.6497); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Great Egg Harbor River, 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 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 | 5:06 AM – 5:16 AM | 0.2 | 12° |
| March | 4:15 AM – 5:35 AM | 1.3 | 18° |
| April | 2:12 AM – 4:42 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| May | 12:14 AM – 3:54 AM | 3.7 | 22° |
| June | 10:28 PM – 3:28 AM | 5.0 | 22° |
| July | 10:20 PM – 2:00 AM | 3.7 | 22° |
| August | 9:36 PM – 12:06 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| September | 8:40 PM – 10:00 PM | 1.3 | 18° |
| October | 7:51 PM – 8:01 PM | 0.2 | 12° |
| 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
Temperate, with a moderating influence of the Atlantic Ocean. NOAA Weather Seven-Day Forecast for Mays Landing, New Jersey: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=39.4521478&lon=-74.7275318 Tide information for Mays Landing, Great Egg Harbor River, New Jersey: https://www.usharbors.com/harbor/new-jersey/mays-landing-great-egg-harbor-river-nj/tides/
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 (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
Estell Manor Park, where visitors can see the Great Egg Harbor National Scenic and Recreational River, is located 3.5 miles South of Mays Landing, New Jersey, off of Route 50. It is approximately 17 miles west of Atlantic City. There is a stamper for Passport Stamp Books at the Fox Nature Center, and a stamp can be obtained at the mailing address provided below.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- Saltwater Fishing
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hiking
- Hunting and Gathering
- Hunting
- Paddling
- Canoeing
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Kayaking
- Stand Up Paddleboarding
- Tubing
- River Tubing
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
Nearby parks
NJ
PA
PA
PA
PA
MA/RI