Wright Brothers National Memorial is a National Memorial in North Carolina. 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 Wright Brothers 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 77° in summer but only 31° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:13 AM | 7:52 AM | 4:34 PM | 5:12 PM | 244° | 9h 59m |
| February | 6:51 AM | 7:27 AM | 5:09 PM | 5:44 PM | 255° | 10h 53m |
| March | 7:15 AM | 7:48 AM | 6:37 PM | 7:10 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:30 AM | 7:05 AM | 7:02 PM | 7:36 PM | 283° | 13h 06m |
| May | 5:58 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:26 PM | 8:02 PM | 294° | 14h 04m |
| June | 5:46 AM | 6:24 AM | 7:44 PM | 8:22 PM | 300° | 14h 36m |
| July | 5:58 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:43 PM | 8:20 PM | 298° | 14h 23m |
| August | 6:22 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:19 PM | 7:54 PM | 288° | 13h 32m |
| September | 6:46 AM | 7:20 AM | 6:38 PM | 7:12 PM | 274° | 12h 26m |
| October | 7:10 AM | 7:45 AM | 5:54 PM | 6:28 PM | 260° | 11h 18m |
| November | 6:40 AM | 7:17 AM | 4:19 PM | 4:56 PM | 248° | 10h 16m |
| December | 7:07 AM | 7:47 AM | 4:11 PM | 4:51 PM | 242° | 9h 44m |
Computed for the park's reference point (36.0164, -75.6700); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Wright Brothers, 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 5 (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 | 4:51 AM – 5:21 AM | 0.5 | 15° |
| March | 3:56 AM – 5:46 AM | 1.8 | 22° |
| April | 1:57 AM – 4:57 AM | 3.0 | 25° |
| May | 12:03 AM – 4:13 AM | 4.2 | 25° |
| June | 10:12 PM – 3:52 AM | 5.7 | 25° |
| July | 10:06 PM – 2:26 AM | 4.3 | 25° |
| August | 9:29 PM – 12:29 AM | 3.0 | 25° |
| September | 8:39 PM – 10:29 PM | 1.8 | 22° |
| October | 7:54 PM – 8:24 PM | 0.5 | 15° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
5 Estimated Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow.
Weather & best time to visit
Weather on the Outer Banks varies seasonally and daily. Summers can be very hot and sunny (wear sunscreen and drink water), while winters can be cold and wet. High winds are always a possibility any time of the year. It is not uncommon for a brief winter snow each year. Being on a barrier island, the memorial is susceptible to storm impacts, including hurricanes in the summer and nor'easters in the winter. No matter what time of year you visit, dress for the weather, and be ready for wind!
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 55% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (73%). 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 - Per Person | $10.00 |
| Commercial Entrance - Sedan | $25.00 |
| Commercial Entrance - Van | $40.00 |
| Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus | $40.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
Wright Brothers National Memorial is located along US 158 in the town of Kill Devil Hills on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Flying
- Junior Ranger Program
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
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