Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail is a National Historic Trail in Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 3 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Star-Spangled Banner
We matched 3 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Star-Spangled Banner. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Lighthouses (3)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Star-Spangled Banner the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 58° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 74° in summer but only 27° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:25 AM | 8:06 AM | 4:27 PM | 5:08 PM | 243° | 9h 42m |
| February | 6:59 AM | 7:37 AM | 5:06 PM | 5:44 PM | 254° | 10h 44m |
| March | 7:19 AM | 7:54 AM | 6:38 PM | 7:14 PM | 268° | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:30 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:08 PM | 7:44 PM | 284° | 13h 14m |
| May | 5:54 AM | 6:32 AM | 7:35 PM | 8:13 PM | 296° | 14h 20m |
| June | 5:40 AM | 6:20 AM | 7:55 PM | 8:35 PM | 302° | 14h 55m |
| July | 5:53 AM | 6:32 AM | 7:54 PM | 8:33 PM | 299° | 14h 40m |
| August | 6:20 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:27 PM | 8:04 PM | 289° | 13h 43m |
| September | 6:48 AM | 7:24 AM | 6:41 PM | 7:17 PM | 275° | 12h 28m |
| October | 7:17 AM | 7:53 AM | 5:53 PM | 6:29 PM | 260° | 11h 12m |
| November | 6:51 AM | 7:30 AM | 4:14 PM | 4:53 PM | 247° | 10h 02m |
| December | 7:20 AM | 8:02 AM | 4:03 PM | 4:45 PM | 240° | 9h 25m |
Computed for the park's reference point (39.2873, -76.6034); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Star-Spangled Banner, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 22° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 9 (inner-city 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 | 5:13 AM – 5:23 AM | 0.2 | 12° |
| March | 4:22 AM – 5:42 AM | 1.3 | 18° |
| April | 2:19 AM – 4:49 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| May | 12:21 AM – 4:01 AM | 3.7 | 22° |
| June | 10:35 PM – 3:35 AM | 5.0 | 22° |
| July | 10:27 PM – 2:07 AM | 3.7 | 22° |
| August | 9:43 PM – 12:13 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| September | 8:47 PM – 10:07 PM | 1.3 | 18° |
| October | 7:58 PM – 8:08 PM | 0.2 | 12° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
9 Estimated Bortle 9 — Inner-city sky. Only the Moon, planets and a few bright stars are visible.
Weather & best time to visit
The Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail is made up of parks, museums, outdoor trails, and waterways throughout the Chesapeake Bay region. Weather can effect the hours of operation and access points to many sites along the trail. Exercise caution when exploring the trail outdoors. Dress appropriately for seasonal conditions such as heat, snow, and ice. Parks, museums, and visitor centers may be impacted by weather conditions year round. Please call ahead to your planned trail stop for updates on
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 51% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (63%). 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 Trail's headquarters is at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine. The park is three miles southeast of the Baltimore Inner Harbor and just off I-95. Follow the brown Fort McHenry directional signs along all major routes to the park. From I-95 northbound, take Exit 55 Key Highway and follow Fort McHenry signs. To visit other trail locations, download a trail map.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Cultural Demonstrations
- Live Music
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Road Biking
- Boating
- Sailing
- Camping
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- RV Camping
- Compass and GPS
- Geocaching
- Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- Fly Fishing
- Saltwater Fishing
- Food
- Dining
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Self-Guided Tours - Auto
Nearby parks
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MD
VA/MD
DC/DE
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