Stones River National Battlefield is a National Battlefield in Tennessee. 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 Stones River 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 241° (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 | 6:56 AM | 7:34 AM | 4:17 PM | 4:55 PM | 244° | 9h 59m |
| February | 6:34 AM | 7:09 AM | 4:52 PM | 5:28 PM | 255° | 10h 54m |
| March | 6:57 AM | 7:31 AM | 6:20 PM | 6:54 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:13 AM | 6:48 AM | 6:45 PM | 7:19 PM | 283° | 13h 06m |
| May | 5:41 AM | 6:17 AM | 7:08 PM | 7:45 PM | 294° | 14h 04m |
| June | 5:30 AM | 6:08 AM | 7:26 PM | 8:04 PM | 300° | 14h 35m |
| July | 5:41 AM | 6:19 AM | 7:26 PM | 8:03 PM | 298° | 14h 22m |
| August | 6:05 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:02 PM | 7:37 PM | 288° | 13h 32m |
| September | 6:29 AM | 7:03 AM | 6:21 PM | 6:55 PM | 274° | 12h 26m |
| October | 6:53 AM | 7:27 AM | 5:37 PM | 6:11 PM | 260° | 11h 18m |
| November | 6:23 AM | 7:00 AM | 4:02 PM | 4:40 PM | 248° | 10h 17m |
| December | 6:50 AM | 7:29 AM | 3:54 PM | 4:34 PM | 242° | 9h 44m |
Computed for the park's reference point (35.8761, -86.4308); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Stones River, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 25° 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 | 4:34 AM – 5:04 AM | 0.5 | 15° |
| March | 3:39 AM – 5:29 AM | 1.8 | 22° |
| April | 1:40 AM – 4:40 AM | 3.0 | 25° |
| May | 11:46 PM – 3:56 AM | 4.2 | 25° |
| June | 9:55 PM – 3:35 AM | 5.7 | 25° |
| July | 9:49 PM – 2:09 AM | 4.3 | 25° |
| August | 9:12 PM – 12:12 AM | 3.0 | 25° |
| September | 8:22 PM – 10:12 PM | 1.8 | 22° |
| October | 7:37 PM – 8:07 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
Summer is hot and humid with highs in the 90s. Spring and fall are pleasant. Winter temperatures are variable, but temperatures may drop below freezing with occasional snow.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 46% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (68%). 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
From Interstate 24 - Take Exit 76 and turn left (eastbound) or right (westbound) onto Medical Center Parkway. Turn left onto Thompson Lane. Turn left at the park entrance at 1563 N. Thompson Lane. Follow the tour road to the visitor center. From Interstate 40 - Take Exit 235 onto TN 840. Take Exit 55 onto US 41/TN 70 and follow the signs for Murfreesboro. Turn right onto Thompson Lane at the first traffic light. Turn right at the park entrance at 1563 N. Thompson Lane.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Cultural Demonstrations
- Theater
- Biking
- Road Biking
- Fishing
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Self-Guided Tours - Auto
- Hands-On
- Arts and Crafts
- Hiking
- Living History
- Historic Weapons Demonstration
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
AL
GA/TN
KY
KY/TN
TN
KY/TN