Lincoln Memorial is a National Park Service unit in District of Columbia. 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 Lincoln Memorial 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 75° in summer but only 28° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:26 AM | 8:07 AM | 4:30 PM | 5:10 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 | 6:40 PM | 7:15 PM | 268° | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:32 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:09 PM | 7:45 PM | 284° | 13h 13m |
| May | 5:57 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:36 PM | 8:14 PM | 296° | 14h 18m |
| June | 5:43 AM | 6:23 AM | 7:56 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 | 7:28 PM | 8:05 PM | 289° | 13h 42m |
| September | 6:50 AM | 7:26 AM | 6:43 PM | 7:18 PM | 275° | 12h 28m |
| October | 7:18 AM | 7:54 AM | 5:55 PM | 6:31 PM | 260° | 11h 13m |
| November | 6:52 AM | 7:31 AM | 4:17 PM | 4:56 PM | 247° | 10h 04m |
| December | 7:20 AM | 8:02 AM | 4:06 PM | 4:48 PM | 240° | 9h 28m |
Computed for the park's reference point (38.8893, -77.0502); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Lincoln Memorial, 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 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 | 5:15 AM – 5:25 AM | 0.2 | 12° |
| March | 4:24 AM – 5:44 AM | 1.3 | 19° |
| April | 2:20 AM – 4:50 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| May | 12:22 AM – 4:02 AM | 3.7 | 22° |
| June | 10:35 PM – 3:35 AM | 5.0 | 22° |
| July | 10:28 PM – 2:18 AM | 3.8 | 22° |
| August | 9:44 PM – 12:14 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| September | 8:49 PM – 10:09 PM | 1.3 | 19° |
| October | 8:00 PM – 8:10 PM | 0.2 | 12° |
| 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
Washington, DC experiences all four seasons. Humidity will make the temps feel hotter in summer and colder in winter. Spring (March - May) Temp: Average high is 65.5 degrees with a low of 46.5 degrees Summer (June - August) Temp: Average high is 86 degrees with a low of 68.5 degrees Fall (September - November) Temp: Average high is 68 degrees with a low of 51.5 degrees Winter (December - February) Temp: Average high is 45 degrees with a low of 30 degrees (Source: www.usclimatedata.com)
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.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Timed Entry Reservation - Location | $1.00 |
| Timed Entry Reservation - Location | $0.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
From the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro Station, go south on 23rd St NW until you reach the Lincoln Memorial. From the Smithsonian Metro Station, go along the National Mall past the Washington Monument and the World War II Memorial until you reach the Lincoln Memorial. The Lincoln Memorial is on the opposite side of the National Mall as the U.S. Capitol Building.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
Nearby parks
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