Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve is a National Historical Park and Preserve in Louisiana. 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 Jean Lafitte the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 62° (ENE) at the June solstice and 117° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 298° (WNW) in June to 243° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 84° in summer but only 37° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:57 AM | 7:33 AM | 4:49 PM | 5:24 PM | 246° | 10h 26m |
| February | 6:41 AM | 7:14 AM | 5:17 PM | 5:50 PM | 256° | 11h 09m |
| March | 7:11 AM | 7:43 AM | 6:38 PM | 7:09 PM | 268° | 11h 58m |
| April | 6:35 AM | 7:07 AM | 6:56 PM | 7:28 PM | 282° | 12h 53m |
| May | 6:08 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:14 PM | 7:47 PM | 293° | 13h 39m |
| June | 6:00 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:28 PM | 8:03 PM | 298° | 14h 03m |
| July | 6:11 AM | 6:45 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:04 PM | 296° | 13h 53m |
| August | 6:29 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:43 PM | 287° | 13h 14m |
| September | 6:46 AM | 7:18 AM | 6:36 PM | 7:07 PM | 274° | 12h 21m |
| October | 7:03 AM | 7:35 AM | 5:59 PM | 6:31 PM | 261° | 11h 28m |
| November | 6:26 AM | 7:00 AM | 4:32 PM | 5:06 PM | 249° | 10h 40m |
| December | 6:49 AM | 7:25 AM | 4:28 PM | 5:04 PM | 244° | 10h 14m |
Computed for the park's reference point (29.8174, -90.1402); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Jean Lafitte, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 31° 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 | 4:21 AM – 5:11 AM | 0.8 | 18° |
| March | 3:29 AM – 5:49 AM | 2.3 | 28° |
| April | 1:31 AM – 5:01 AM | 3.5 | 31° |
| May | 11:28 PM – 4:38 AM | 5.2 | 31° |
| June | 9:40 PM – 4:20 AM | 6.7 | 31° |
| July | 9:37 PM – 2:57 AM | 5.3 | 31° |
| August | 9:09 PM – 12:49 AM | 3.7 | 31° |
| September | 8:28 PM – 10:48 PM | 2.3 | 28° |
| October | 7:51 PM – 8:51 PM | 1.0 | 20° |
| 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
All of the temperatures listed are in degrees Fahrenheit. Note that relative humidity, especially in summer months, can reach 90%, so temperatures can feel 10-20 degrees hotter than the actual temperature. Spring (March, April, May): average high 77 and low 61. Summer (June, July, August): average high 89 and low 75. Fall (September, October, November): average high 78 and low 64. Winter (December, January, February): average high 64 and low 48.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 37% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (58%). August 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
Jean Lafitte's headquarters and the park's French Quarter Visitor Center are located at 419 Decatur Street in New Orleans. There are five other park sites scattered throughout south Louisiana. For information on all of the park sites and visitor centers, see the Directions Details link.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Craft Demonstrations
- Cultural Demonstrations
- Live Music
- Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hands-On
- Citizen Science
- Arts and Crafts
- Hunting and Gathering
- Hunting
- Living History
- Historic Weapons Demonstration
- First Person Interpretation
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
