Oklahoma City National Memorial is a National Memorial in Oklahoma. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 1 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Oklahoma City
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Oklahoma City. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Botanical Gardens (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Oklahoma City the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 60° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 78° in summer but only 31° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:39 AM | 8:18 AM | 5:03 PM | 5:41 PM | 245° | 10h 01m |
| February | 7:18 AM | 7:53 AM | 5:37 PM | 6:13 PM | 255° | 10h 55m |
| March | 7:42 AM | 8:15 AM | 7:04 PM | 7:38 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:58 AM | 7:32 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:03 PM | 283° | 13h 05m |
| May | 6:26 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:52 PM | 8:28 PM | 294° | 14h 02m |
| June | 6:15 AM | 6:53 AM | 8:10 PM | 8:48 PM | 300° | 14h 32m |
| July | 6:27 AM | 7:04 AM | 8:09 PM | 8:46 PM | 297° | 14h 20m |
| August | 6:50 AM | 7:25 AM | 7:46 PM | 8:21 PM | 288° | 13h 31m |
| September | 7:14 AM | 7:47 AM | 7:05 PM | 7:39 PM | 274° | 12h 25m |
| October | 7:37 AM | 8:11 AM | 6:22 PM | 6:56 PM | 260° | 11h 19m |
| November | 7:06 AM | 7:43 AM | 4:48 PM | 5:25 PM | 248° | 10h 18m |
| December | 7:33 AM | 8:12 AM | 4:40 PM | 5:19 PM | 242° | 9h 47m |
Computed for the park's reference point (35.4730, -97.5171); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Oklahoma City, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 26° 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 | 5:18 AM – 5:48 AM | 0.5 | 15° |
| March | 4:23 AM – 6:13 AM | 1.8 | 22° |
| April | 2:23 AM – 5:23 AM | 3.0 | 25° |
| May | 12:28 AM – 4:38 AM | 4.2 | 26° |
| June | 10:36 PM – 4:26 AM | 5.8 | 26° |
| July | 10:31 PM – 3:01 AM | 4.5 | 26° |
| August | 9:54 PM – 12:54 AM | 3.0 | 25° |
| September | 9:05 PM – 10:55 PM | 1.8 | 22° |
| October | 8:21 PM – 8:51 PM | 0.5 | 15° |
| 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
Summers are very warm with temperatures averaging mid-high 90’s. Also, be mindful of the heat index. Spring weather brings mild temperatures, 60’s-70’s, but the ability to produce severe storms that could include heavy rains, strong winds, hail, and tornadoes. While winters are generally mild delivering temperatures in the 30’s and 40’s, the wind chill can be brutal. No matter the season you are planning to visit, be prepared for the winds to be gusting.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 38% 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.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Timed Entry Reservation - Location | $18.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
The Memorial & Museum are located at 6th St. and Harvey Ave in Oklahoma City, OK.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Junior Ranger Program
