Vicksburg National Military Park is a National Military Park in Mississippi, Louisiana. 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 Vicksburg 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 299° (WNW) in June to 243° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 81° in summer but only 34° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:06 AM | 7:42 AM | 4:45 PM | 5:21 PM | 245° | 10h 15m |
| February | 6:47 AM | 7:21 AM | 5:16 PM | 5:50 PM | 256° | 11h 03m |
| March | 7:15 AM | 7:47 AM | 6:39 PM | 7:12 PM | 268° | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:35 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:00 PM | 7:33 PM | 282° | 12h 58m |
| May | 6:06 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:20 PM | 7:55 PM | 293° | 13h 49m |
| June | 5:57 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:37 PM | 8:13 PM | 299° | 14h 16m |
| July | 6:08 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:37 PM | 8:12 PM | 296° | 14h 04m |
| August | 6:28 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:16 PM | 7:49 PM | 287° | 13h 21m |
| September | 6:48 AM | 7:20 AM | 6:39 PM | 7:11 PM | 274° | 12h 23m |
| October | 7:08 AM | 7:41 AM | 5:59 PM | 6:32 PM | 260° | 11h 24m |
| November | 6:34 AM | 7:09 AM | 4:29 PM | 5:04 PM | 249° | 10h 31m |
| December | 6:58 AM | 7:36 AM | 4:23 PM | 5:01 PM | 243° | 10h 02m |
Computed for the park's reference point (32.3621, -90.8503); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Vicksburg, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 29° 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 | 4:32 AM – 5:22 AM | 0.8 | 18° |
| March | 3:43 AM – 5:43 AM | 2.0 | 25° |
| April | 1:38 AM – 4:58 AM | 3.3 | 29° |
| May | 11:38 PM – 4:28 AM | 4.8 | 29° |
| June | 9:53 PM – 4:13 AM | 6.3 | 29° |
| July | 9:49 PM – 2:49 AM | 5.0 | 29° |
| August | 9:18 PM – 12:48 AM | 3.5 | 29° |
| September | 8:33 PM – 10:43 PM | 2.2 | 26° |
| October | 7:53 PM – 8:43 PM | 0.8 | 18° |
| 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
Spring and fall in Vicksburg are always very pleasant with cool nights and warm, sunny days with temperatures ranging from lows of 40 degrees to highs of 70 degrees. Winter weather in Mississippi is usually mild except for occasional cold air invasions which normally last only a couple of days. Temperatures range from lows of 30 degrees to highs of 50 degrees. In the summer, weather is consistently hot, beginning in the low 70's and climbing to highs ranging from 80-100 degrees in the afternoon.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 40% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (62%). 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.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $20.00 |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $15.00 |
| Entrance - Per Person | $10.00 |
| Entrance - Non-commercial Groups | $0.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
Plane — Closest commercial airport: Jackson, MS, 50 miles to the east. Car — Directions to Vicksburg: From the east — Take Interstate 20 west to Vicksburg, MS. Use exit ramp 4B. Follow Clay Street (US-80) west 0.25 miles to park entrance. From the north — Take Interstate 55 south to Jackson, MS. To save time, use Interstate 220 bypass on west side of Jackson. Take Interstate 20 west to Vicksburg approximately 40 miles. Use exit ramp 4B. Follow Clay Street (US-80) west 0.25 miles to park entrance.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Biking
- Road Biking
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Auto
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Living History
- Historic Weapons Demonstration
- Junior Ranger Program
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
MS
LA
MS
IL/MS
AR