San Antonio Missions National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in Texas. 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 San Antonio Missions the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 62° (ENE) at the June solstice and 117° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 298° (WNW) in June to 243° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 84° in summer but only 37° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:30 AM | 8:04 AM | 5:23 PM | 5:58 PM | 246° | 10h 28m |
| February | 7:14 AM | 7:46 AM | 5:51 PM | 6:24 PM | 256° | 11h 10m |
| March | 7:44 AM | 8:16 AM | 7:11 PM | 7:43 PM | 268° | 11h 58m |
| April | 7:08 AM | 7:40 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:01 PM | 282° | 12h 52m |
| May | 6:43 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:46 PM | 8:19 PM | 292° | 13h 37m |
| June | 6:35 AM | 7:09 AM | 8:01 PM | 8:35 PM | 298° | 14h 01m |
| July | 6:45 AM | 7:19 AM | 8:01 PM | 8:36 PM | 295° | 13h 51m |
| August | 7:03 AM | 7:35 AM | 7:43 PM | 8:15 PM | 287° | 13h 12m |
| September | 7:19 AM | 7:51 AM | 7:09 PM | 7:40 PM | 274° | 12h 21m |
| October | 7:36 AM | 8:08 AM | 6:33 PM | 7:05 PM | 261° | 11h 29m |
| November | 6:58 AM | 7:33 AM | 5:06 PM | 5:40 PM | 249° | 10h 42m |
| December | 7:21 AM | 7:57 AM | 5:02 PM | 5:38 PM | 244° | 10h 17m |
Computed for the park's reference point (29.3126, -98.4290); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From San Antonio Missions, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 32° 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 | 4:54 AM – 5:44 AM | 0.8 | 19° |
| March | 4:02 AM – 6:22 AM | 2.3 | 29° |
| April | 2:03 AM – 5:43 AM | 3.7 | 32° |
| May | 11:59 PM – 5:09 AM | 5.2 | 32° |
| June | 10:11 PM – 4:51 AM | 6.7 | 32° |
| July | 10:08 PM – 3:28 AM | 5.3 | 32° |
| August | 9:41 PM – 1:31 AM | 3.8 | 32° |
| September | 9:00 PM – 11:30 PM | 2.5 | 29° |
| October | 8:24 PM – 9:24 PM | 1.0 | 20° |
| 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
Over the course of a year, the temperature typically varies from 40°F to 95°F and is rarely below 29°F or above 100°F. The warm season lasts from May through September with an average daily high temperature above 90°F and a low of 75°F. The cold season lasts from November through February with an average daily high below 68°F and an average low of 40°F. The relative humidity ranges from 40-80% over the course of the year, which can be very uncomfortable to many people.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show August as the clearest month (about 41% average cloud cover) and March as the cloudiest (61%). August 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
Park Headquarter's is located 4 miles south of downtown San Antonio. The four mission sites lay as a chain south of downtown. Mission Concepción is 3 miles, Mission San José and the park visitor center is 6 miles south, Mission San Juan is 3 miles south of San José, and Mission Espada lays another mile beyond. Written directions and GPS addresses can be found at the link below.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Biking
- Road Biking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Self-Guided Tours - Auto
- Hiking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
