Independence National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in Pennsylvania. 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 Independence the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 58° (ENE) at the June solstice and 121° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 73° in summer but only 27° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:21 AM | 8:03 AM | 4:19 PM | 5:00 PM | 243° | 9h 39m |
| February | 6:55 AM | 7:32 AM | 4:59 PM | 5:37 PM | 254° | 10h 42m |
| March | 7:13 AM | 7:49 AM | 6:32 PM | 7:08 PM | 268° | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:24 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:03 PM | 7:39 PM | 284° | 13h 15m |
| May | 5:46 AM | 6:25 AM | 7:31 PM | 8:09 PM | 296° | 14h 23m |
| June | 5:32 AM | 6:13 AM | 7:51 PM | 8:32 PM | 302° | 14h 59m |
| July | 5:45 AM | 6:25 AM | 7:49 PM | 8:29 PM | 299° | 14h 44m |
| August | 6:13 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:22 PM | 7:59 PM | 289° | 13h 46m |
| September | 6:42 AM | 7:18 AM | 6:36 PM | 7:11 PM | 275° | 12h 29m |
| October | 7:11 AM | 7:48 AM | 5:46 PM | 6:23 PM | 260° | 11h 11m |
| November | 6:46 AM | 7:26 AM | 4:06 PM | 4:46 PM | 246° | 9h 59m |
| December | 7:16 AM | 7:59 AM | 3:54 PM | 4:37 PM | 240° | 9h 21m |
Computed for the park's reference point (39.9475, -75.1479); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Independence, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 21° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 9 (inner-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 | 5:08 AM – 5:18 AM | 0.2 | 11° |
| March | 4:18 AM – 5:38 AM | 1.3 | 18° |
| April | 2:16 AM – 4:36 AM | 2.3 | 21° |
| May | 12:20 AM – 3:50 AM | 3.5 | 21° |
| June | 10:35 PM – 3:25 AM | 4.8 | 21° |
| July | 10:27 PM – 1:57 AM | 3.5 | 21° |
| August | 9:41 PM – 12:01 AM | 2.3 | 21° |
| September | 8:44 PM – 9:54 PM | 1.2 | 18° |
| October | 7:53 PM – 8:03 PM | 0.2 | 11° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
9 Estimated Bortle 9 — Inner-city sky. Only the Moon, planets and a few bright stars are visible.
Weather & best time to visit
Summers are typically hot and muggy, fall and spring are generally mild, and winter is cold. Snowfall is highly variable, with some winters bringing only light snow and others bringing several major snowstorms, with the normal seasonal snowfall standing at 22.4 in (57 cm). Precipitation is generally spread throughout the year, with eight to twelve wet days per month.
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 December as the cloudiest (63%). 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) |
|---|---|
| Timed Entry Reservation - Location | $1.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
Independence National Historical Park is located in an urban area served by Interstates 95 and 676. The park is also easily accessible by public transportation, including SEPTA and PATCO mass transit routes. Whether you choose driving, the bus or the train, we recommend that you start your visit at the Independence Visitor Center at 6th and Market Streets. See the park's website for specific directions.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Food
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
PA
PA
PA
MA/RI
PA
DE/PA