Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park is a National Battlefield Park in Georgia. 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 Kennesaw Mountain the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 61° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 299° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 79° in summer but only 33° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:44 AM | 8:21 AM | 5:15 PM | 5:53 PM | 245° | 10h 08m |
| February | 7:24 AM | 7:59 AM | 5:48 PM | 6:23 PM | 255° | 10h 59m |
| March | 7:50 AM | 8:23 AM | 7:13 PM | 7:47 PM | 268° | 11h 57m |
| April | 7:08 AM | 7:42 AM | 7:36 PM | 8:10 PM | 283° | 13h 02m |
| May | 6:38 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:58 PM | 8:33 PM | 294° | 13h 55m |
| June | 6:28 AM | 7:05 AM | 8:15 PM | 8:52 PM | 299° | 14h 24m |
| July | 6:39 AM | 7:15 AM | 8:15 PM | 8:51 PM | 297° | 14h 12m |
| August | 7:01 AM | 7:35 AM | 7:53 PM | 8:27 PM | 288° | 13h 26m |
| September | 7:22 AM | 7:55 AM | 7:14 PM | 7:47 PM | 274° | 12h 24m |
| October | 7:44 AM | 8:18 AM | 6:32 PM | 7:06 PM | 260° | 11h 22m |
| November | 7:12 AM | 7:48 AM | 5:00 PM | 5:36 PM | 248° | 10h 25m |
| December | 7:37 AM | 8:15 AM | 4:53 PM | 5:32 PM | 242° | 9h 54m |
Computed for the park's reference point (33.9537, -84.5921); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Kennesaw Mountain, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 27° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition), 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 – 5:56 AM | 0.7 | 16° |
| March | 4:29 AM – 6:19 AM | 1.8 | 24° |
| April | 2:27 AM – 5:37 AM | 3.2 | 27° |
| May | 12:30 AM – 4:50 AM | 4.3 | 27° |
| June | 10:36 PM – 4:36 AM | 6.0 | 27° |
| July | 10:32 PM – 3:12 AM | 4.7 | 27° |
| August | 9:58 PM – 1:08 AM | 3.2 | 27° |
| September | 9:11 PM – 11:11 PM | 2.0 | 24° |
| October | 8:28 PM – 9:08 PM | 0.7 | 16° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
7 Estimated Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye.
Weather & best time to visit
Before you start your trip to the mountain, check the local weather forecast to be sure that you will have a dry time. Though we are located north of Atlanta, we're still have the same hot summers and mild winters as our neighbors. The mountain top generally ranges 8-10 degrees cooler than at the base. In fall and winter, be prepared with a light weight jacket on hand. After planning your activities, check back to see what the weather will have in store for your day.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 43% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (59%). 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) |
|---|---|
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $5.00 |
| Entrance - Per Person | $5.00 |
| Entrance - Education/Academic Groups | $0.00 |
| Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach | $100.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
Kennesaw Mountain NBP is fairly spread out with multiple parking lots. Many visitors begin their visit at the Visitor Center located at 900 Kennesaw Mountain Dr. and orient themselves to the park with Ranger or Volunteer. For more detailed directions, please see link below.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Biking
- Road Biking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Self-Guided Tours - Auto
- Hiking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Museum Exhibits
Nearby parks
GA
GA
AL
AL
GA/TN
AL