Tupelo National Battlefield is a National Battlefield in Mississippi. 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 Tupelo the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 61° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 79° in summer but only 32° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:01 AM | 7:39 AM | 4:31 PM | 5:08 PM | 245° | 10h 07m |
| February | 6:41 AM | 7:16 AM | 5:04 PM | 5:39 PM | 255° | 10h 58m |
| March | 7:06 AM | 7:40 AM | 6:30 PM | 7:03 PM | 268° | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:24 AM | 6:58 AM | 6:53 PM | 7:27 PM | 283° | 13h 02m |
| May | 5:54 AM | 6:29 AM | 7:15 PM | 7:50 PM | 294° | 13h 57m |
| June | 5:43 AM | 6:20 AM | 7:32 PM | 8:09 PM | 299° | 14h 26m |
| July | 5:55 AM | 6:31 AM | 7:32 PM | 8:08 PM | 297° | 14h 14m |
| August | 6:17 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:09 PM | 7:44 PM | 288° | 13h 27m |
| September | 6:39 AM | 7:12 AM | 6:30 PM | 7:03 PM | 274° | 12h 24m |
| October | 7:01 AM | 7:35 AM | 5:48 PM | 6:22 PM | 260° | 11h 21m |
| November | 6:29 AM | 7:05 AM | 4:16 PM | 4:52 PM | 248° | 10h 23m |
| December | 6:55 AM | 7:33 AM | 4:09 PM | 4:47 PM | 242° | 9h 53m |
Computed for the park's reference point (34.2556, -88.7371); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Tupelo, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 27° 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 | 4:33 AM – 5:13 AM | 0.7 | 16° |
| March | 3:47 AM – 5:37 AM | 1.8 | 23° |
| April | 1:45 AM – 4:55 AM | 3.2 | 27° |
| May | 11:48 PM – 4:08 AM | 4.3 | 27° |
| June | 9:54 PM – 3:54 AM | 6.0 | 27° |
| July | 9:50 PM – 2:30 AM | 4.7 | 27° |
| August | 9:15 PM – 12:25 AM | 3.2 | 27° |
| September | 8:28 PM – 10:28 PM | 2.0 | 24° |
| October | 7:45 PM – 8:25 PM | 0.7 | 16° |
| 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
Mississippi is classified as a humid subtropical climate, the weather ranges from mild winters to hot summers with high humidity between May and September. Average high temperatures reach into the high 80's in summer, and into the high 40's in winter. Check local forecasts to plan your trip.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 44% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (64%). 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
Tupelo National Battlefield (NB) is a one-acre monument located on Main Street, Tupelo, Mississippi. Main Street in Tupelo is also known as Highway 6 and Highway 278. Tupelo NB sits on the south side of Main Street on the west side of Tupelo. Exit off the Natchez Trace Parkway onto Highway 6 (near Milepost 260), head east, into Tupelo. Travel one mile east and find Tupelo NB on the right side of Main Street. There is limited parking available adjacent to the monument.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
Nearby parks
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TN/MS
IL/MS
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