Petersburg National Battlefield is a National Battlefield in Virginia. 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 Petersburg the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 76° in summer but only 29° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:23 AM | 8:03 AM | 4:37 PM | 5:16 PM | 244° | 9h 53m |
| February | 7:00 AM | 7:36 AM | 5:14 PM | 5:50 PM | 255° | 10h 50m |
| March | 7:22 AM | 7:56 AM | 6:43 PM | 7:17 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:36 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:45 PM | 283° | 13h 09m |
| May | 6:02 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:35 PM | 8:12 PM | 295° | 14h 10m |
| June | 5:50 AM | 6:29 AM | 7:54 PM | 8:32 PM | 301° | 14h 42m |
| July | 6:02 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:53 PM | 8:31 PM | 298° | 14h 29m |
| August | 6:27 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:28 PM | 8:03 PM | 288° | 13h 36m |
| September | 6:53 AM | 7:27 AM | 6:45 PM | 7:19 PM | 275° | 12h 27m |
| October | 7:18 AM | 7:53 AM | 5:59 PM | 6:34 PM | 260° | 11h 16m |
| November | 6:50 AM | 7:28 AM | 4:23 PM | 5:01 PM | 247° | 10h 11m |
| December | 7:17 AM | 7:58 AM | 4:14 PM | 4:55 PM | 241° | 9h 37m |
Computed for the park's reference point (37.1911, -77.4759); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Petersburg, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 24° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 5 (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 | 5:08 AM – 5:28 AM | 0.3 | 13° |
| March | 4:14 AM – 5:44 AM | 1.5 | 20° |
| April | 2:17 AM – 4:57 AM | 2.7 | 24° |
| May | 12:16 AM – 4:16 AM | 4.0 | 24° |
| June | 10:26 PM – 3:56 AM | 5.5 | 24° |
| July | 10:20 PM – 2:30 AM | 4.2 | 24° |
| August | 9:40 PM – 12:30 AM | 2.8 | 24° |
| September | 8:48 PM – 10:28 PM | 1.7 | 21° |
| October | 8:01 PM – 8:21 PM | 0.3 | 14° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
5 Estimated Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow.
Weather & best time to visit
Winters are usually cool with temperatures averaging in the 40s. Spring and fall are mild. Summer can bring very hot and humid weather.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show November as the clearest month (about 49% average cloud cover) and May as the cloudiest (59%). 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 Eastern Front (Main) Visitor Center is located approximately 2.5 miles east of Rt. 95 off of Route 36 in Petersburg. If travelling north on Rt. 95, take exit 50D and follow signs to Wythe Street. Once on Wythe Street, travel 2.5 miles east to entrance of Battlefield. If travelling south on Rt. 95, take Exit 52 (Wythe Street). Again, travel about 2.5 miles to entrance.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Road Biking
- Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Self-Guided Tours - Auto
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horseback Riding
- Junior Ranger Program
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
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