Monocacy National Battlefield is a National Battlefield in Maryland. 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 Monocacy the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 58° (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 74° in summer but only 27° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:29 AM | 8:10 AM | 4:30 PM | 5:11 PM | 243° | 9h 42m |
| February | 7:03 AM | 7:40 AM | 5:09 PM | 5:47 PM | 254° | 10h 44m |
| March | 7:22 AM | 7:58 AM | 6:41 PM | 7:17 PM | 268° | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:33 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:11 PM | 7:47 PM | 284° | 13h 14m |
| May | 5:57 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:38 PM | 8:17 PM | 296° | 14h 20m |
| June | 5:43 AM | 6:23 AM | 7:59 PM | 8:39 PM | 302° | 14h 56m |
| July | 5:56 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:57 PM | 8:37 PM | 299° | 14h 41m |
| August | 6:23 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:30 PM | 8:07 PM | 289° | 13h 44m |
| September | 6:52 AM | 7:27 AM | 6:45 PM | 7:20 PM | 275° | 12h 28m |
| October | 7:20 AM | 7:56 AM | 5:56 PM | 6:32 PM | 260° | 11h 12m |
| November | 6:54 AM | 7:34 AM | 4:17 PM | 4:56 PM | 247° | 10h 02m |
| December | 7:23 AM | 8:06 AM | 4:06 PM | 4:48 PM | 240° | 9h 25m |
Computed for the park's reference point (39.3608, -77.3964); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Monocacy, 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 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 | 5:17 AM – 5:27 AM | 0.2 | 12° |
| March | 4:26 AM – 5:46 AM | 1.3 | 18° |
| April | 2:23 AM – 4:53 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| May | 12:25 AM – 4:05 AM | 3.7 | 22° |
| June | 10:39 PM – 3:39 AM | 5.0 | 22° |
| July | 10:31 PM – 2:11 AM | 3.7 | 22° |
| August | 9:47 PM – 12:17 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| September | 8:51 PM – 10:11 PM | 1.3 | 18° |
| October | 8:02 PM – 8:12 PM | 0.2 | 12° |
| 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
Spring (March - May) Temperatures: Average high is 67 degrees with a low of 53 degrees Summer (June - August) Temperatures: Average high is 87 degrees with a low of 65 degrees Fall (September - November) Temperatures: Average high is 68 degrees with a low of 48 degrees Winter (December - February) Temperatures: Average high is 45 degrees with a low of 27 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 December as the cloudiest (66%). 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.
Getting there
From the North (U.S. 15) or West (Hagerstown): Use I-70 east and take Exit 54. Bear right then take a left onto Rt. 355. The visitor center will be on the left. From the East (Baltimore): Use I-70 west and take Exit 54. Bear left then take a left onto Rt. 355. The visitor center will be on the left. From the South (Washington): Use I-270 north to I-70 east and take Exit 54. Bear right then take a left onto Rt. 355. The visitor center will be on the the left.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Self-Guided Tours - Auto
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Living History
- Historic Weapons Demonstration
- First Person Interpretation
- Paddling
- Canoeing
- Kayaking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
Nearby parks
DC/MD
WV/VA
MD
MD
DC/MD
VA