Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in Georgia. 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 Ocmulgee Mounds 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 299° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 81° in summer but only 34° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:38 AM | 8:14 AM | 5:14 PM | 5:51 PM | 245° | 10h 13m |
| February | 7:19 AM | 7:53 AM | 5:46 PM | 6:20 PM | 256° | 11h 02m |
| March | 7:46 AM | 8:18 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:43 PM | 268° | 11h 57m |
| April | 7:05 AM | 7:38 AM | 7:32 PM | 8:05 PM | 282° | 12h 59m |
| May | 6:36 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:52 PM | 8:27 PM | 293° | 13h 51m |
| June | 6:27 AM | 7:03 AM | 8:09 PM | 8:45 PM | 299° | 14h 18m |
| July | 6:38 AM | 7:13 AM | 8:09 PM | 8:44 PM | 297° | 14h 07m |
| August | 6:59 AM | 7:32 AM | 7:47 PM | 8:21 PM | 287° | 13h 23m |
| September | 7:19 AM | 7:51 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:42 PM | 274° | 12h 23m |
| October | 7:39 AM | 8:12 AM | 6:29 PM | 7:03 PM | 260° | 11h 24m |
| November | 7:06 AM | 7:41 AM | 4:59 PM | 5:34 PM | 248° | 10h 29m |
| December | 7:30 AM | 8:08 AM | 4:53 PM | 5:30 PM | 243° | 10h 00m |
Computed for the park's reference point (32.8382, -83.6022); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Ocmulgee Mounds, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 28° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition), 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 | 5:03 AM – 5:53 AM | 0.8 | 17° |
| March | 4:14 AM – 6:14 AM | 2.0 | 25° |
| April | 2:10 AM – 5:30 AM | 3.3 | 28° |
| May | 12:11 AM – 4:51 AM | 4.7 | 28° |
| June | 10:26 PM – 4:36 AM | 6.2 | 28° |
| July | 10:22 PM – 3:12 AM | 4.8 | 28° |
| August | 9:50 PM – 1:10 AM | 3.3 | 28° |
| September | 9:05 PM – 11:15 PM | 2.2 | 25° |
| October | 8:24 PM – 9:14 PM | 0.8 | 17° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
7 Estimated Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye.
Weather & best time to visit
Macon has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average high temperature ranges from 46 to 58°F (7.7 to 14.4°C) in January and 82 to 91°F (27.7 to 32.7°C) in July. Winters are mild. Temps ranging from 30 degrees to 50 degrees. Spring is mild but wet. Temps ranging from 50 degrees to low 70 degrees. Summers are hot and very humid. Temp ranging from upper 80 degrees to 100 degrees. Fall is pleasant. Temps ranging from 60 to 80 degrees.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 41% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (56%). 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
The park is located in East Macon, along Emery Highway. Enter the park address, 1207 Emery Highway, Macon, GA 31217 to get directions to the site.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Biking
- Fishing
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hiking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
Nearby parks
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