Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument is a National Monument in Montana. 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 Little Bighorn Battlefield the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 55° (NE) at the June solstice and 124° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 306° (NW) in June to 237° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 68° in summer but only 21° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:47 AM | 8:34 AM | 4:05 PM | 4:53 PM | 240° | 9h 06m |
| February | 7:13 AM | 7:54 AM | 4:55 PM | 5:37 PM | 253° | 10h 24m |
| March | 7:23 AM | 8:02 AM | 6:36 PM | 7:16 PM | 268° | 11h 53m |
| April | 6:25 AM | 7:05 AM | 7:16 PM | 7:56 PM | 285° | 13h 31m |
| May | 5:40 AM | 6:23 AM | 7:51 PM | 8:34 PM | 299° | 14h 54m |
| June | 5:21 AM | 6:07 AM | 8:15 PM | 9:01 PM | 306° | 15h 40m |
| July | 5:36 AM | 6:20 AM | 8:12 PM | 8:57 PM | 303° | 15h 21m |
| August | 6:11 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:38 PM | 8:19 PM | 291° | 14h 08m |
| September | 6:49 AM | 7:28 AM | 6:44 PM | 7:23 PM | 275° | 12h 34m |
| October | 7:27 AM | 8:07 AM | 5:45 PM | 6:26 PM | 259° | 10h 59m |
| November | 7:10 AM | 7:55 AM | 3:55 PM | 4:41 PM | 244° | 9h 31m |
| December | 7:44 AM | 8:34 AM | 3:38 PM | 4:27 PM | 237° | 8h 43m |
Computed for the park's reference point (45.5563, -107.4184); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Little Bighorn Battlefield, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 3.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 16° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | 5:15 AM – 5:35 AM | 0.3 | 12° |
| April | 3:15 AM – 4:25 AM | 1.2 | 15° |
| May | 1:15 AM – 3:25 AM | 2.2 | 16° |
| June | 11:38 PM – 2:38 AM | 3.0 | 16° |
| July | 11:21 PM – 1:21 AM | 2.0 | 16° |
| August | 10:16 PM – 11:26 PM | 1.2 | 14° |
| September | 9:05 PM – 9:25 PM | 0.3 | 12° |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
1 Estimated Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious.
Weather & best time to visit
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument average weather: Spring: 50-60 (F) degree days/ 30+/- (F) degree nights Summer: 70-100 (F) degree days/ 45-60+ (F) degree nights Fall: 40-50 (F) degree days/ 25+/- (F) degree nights Winter: 20-30 (F) degree days/ 0+/- (F) degree nights
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 40% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (70%). July is the warmest month and December 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 | $25.00 |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $20.00 |
| Entrance - Per Person | $15.00 |
| Commercial Entrance - Sedan | $25.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
Take Interstate I-90 and exit at the Crow Agency Exit 510 at Jct. 212. To reach Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, turn right at the park entrance onto Battlefield Tour Road 756.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Self-Guided Tours - Auto
- Junior Ranger Program
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
