Ninety Six National Historic Site is a National Historic Site in South Carolina. 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 Ninety Six 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 300° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 79° in summer but only 32° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:34 AM | 8:12 AM | 5:04 PM | 5:42 PM | 245° | 10h 08m |
| February | 7:14 AM | 7:49 AM | 5:38 PM | 6:12 PM | 255° | 10h 58m |
| March | 7:40 AM | 8:13 AM | 7:03 PM | 7:36 PM | 268° | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:58 AM | 7:31 AM | 7:26 PM | 8:00 PM | 283° | 13h 02m |
| May | 6:27 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:48 PM | 8:23 PM | 294° | 13h 56m |
| June | 6:17 AM | 6:54 AM | 8:05 PM | 8:42 PM | 299° | 14h 25m |
| July | 6:28 AM | 7:04 AM | 8:05 PM | 8:41 PM | 297° | 14h 13m |
| August | 6:50 AM | 7:24 AM | 7:42 PM | 8:17 PM | 288° | 13h 26m |
| September | 7:12 AM | 7:45 AM | 7:03 PM | 7:36 PM | 274° | 12h 24m |
| October | 7:34 AM | 8:08 AM | 6:21 PM | 6:55 PM | 260° | 11h 21m |
| November | 7:02 AM | 7:38 AM | 4:49 PM | 5:25 PM | 248° | 10h 24m |
| December | 7:27 AM | 8:06 AM | 4:42 PM | 5:21 PM | 242° | 9h 54m |
Computed for the park's reference point (34.1427, -82.0164); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Ninety Six, 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 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:06 AM – 5:46 AM | 0.7 | 16° |
| March | 4:20 AM – 6:10 AM | 1.8 | 23° |
| April | 2:18 AM – 5:28 AM | 3.2 | 27° |
| May | 12:21 AM – 4:41 AM | 4.3 | 27° |
| June | 10:27 PM – 4:27 AM | 6.0 | 27° |
| July | 10:23 PM – 3:03 AM | 4.7 | 27° |
| August | 9:48 PM – 12:58 AM | 3.2 | 27° |
| September | 9:01 PM – 11:01 PM | 2.0 | 24° |
| October | 8:18 PM – 8:58 PM | 0.7 | 16° |
| 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
Temperatures for the area range from very hot and humid in the summer to cool and moderate in the winter.
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 July as the cloudiest (57%). 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
2 miles south of Ninety Six, SC on Hwy 248. For more detailed information, click on "Directions Details" below.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Boating
- Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horseback Riding
- Living History
- Paddling
- Canoeing
- Kayaking
- Stand Up Paddleboarding
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
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NC/SC
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