Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in Texas. 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 Lyndon B Johnson 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 83° in summer but only 36° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:32 AM | 8:08 AM | 5:21 PM | 5:57 PM | 246° | 10h 24m |
| February | 7:16 AM | 7:49 AM | 5:50 PM | 6:23 PM | 256° | 11h 08m |
| March | 7:45 AM | 8:17 AM | 7:11 PM | 7:43 PM | 268° | 11h 58m |
| April | 7:08 AM | 7:40 AM | 7:30 PM | 8:02 PM | 282° | 12h 54m |
| May | 6:41 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:48 PM | 8:22 PM | 293° | 13h 40m |
| June | 6:33 AM | 7:08 AM | 8:03 PM | 8:38 PM | 298° | 14h 05m |
| July | 6:44 AM | 7:18 AM | 8:04 PM | 8:38 PM | 296° | 13h 55m |
| August | 7:02 AM | 7:35 AM | 7:45 PM | 8:17 PM | 287° | 13h 15m |
| September | 7:20 AM | 7:51 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:41 PM | 274° | 12h 22m |
| October | 7:37 AM | 8:09 AM | 6:32 PM | 7:05 PM | 261° | 11h 28m |
| November | 7:01 AM | 7:35 AM | 5:05 PM | 5:39 PM | 249° | 10h 38m |
| December | 7:24 AM | 8:00 AM | 5:01 PM | 5:37 PM | 243° | 10h 12m |
Computed for the park's reference point (30.2520, -98.6069); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Lyndon B Johnson, 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 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 4:54 AM – 5:54 AM | 1.0 | 19° |
| March | 4:02 AM – 6:22 AM | 2.3 | 28° |
| April | 2:05 AM – 5:35 AM | 3.5 | 31° |
| May | 12:02 AM – 5:02 AM | 5.0 | 31° |
| June | 10:15 PM – 4:55 AM | 6.7 | 31° |
| July | 10:12 PM – 3:22 AM | 5.2 | 31° |
| August | 9:43 PM – 1:23 AM | 3.7 | 31° |
| September | 9:02 PM – 11:22 PM | 2.3 | 28° |
| October | 8:24 PM – 9:24 PM | 1.0 | 19° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
3 Estimated Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead.
Weather & best time to visit
Overall, the park enjoys a sunny, mild climate during three seasons of the year. Spring: Temperatures range from 45 F to 85 F (7 C/29 C). Rain is common in April and May. Summer: Temperatures range from 70 F to 95 F (21 C/35 C). Temperatures can exceed 100 F (38 C) in July and August. Lightweight clothing and sunscreen are advisable. Be prepared with plenty of water. Fall: Temperatures range from 45 F to 85 F (7 C/29 C). Winter: Temperatures range from 35 F to 65 F (2 C/18 C) . Snow and ice are rare.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show August as the clearest month (about 38% average cloud cover) and May as the cloudiest (57%). 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
By car to National Park Headquarters and the Visitor Center in Johnson City: From Austin, take Highway 290 west. From San Antonio, take Highway 281 north. From Fredericksburg, take Highway 290 east. By car to the LBJ Ranch and LBJ State Park and Historic Site: From Johnson City, take Highway 290 fourteen miles west to the LBJ State Park. From Fredericksburg, take Highway 290 sixteen miles east to the LBJ State Park. The nearest major airports are in Austin and San Antonio.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Auto
- Junior Ranger Program
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
TX
TX/LA