Hontoon Island State Park on the St. Johns River in Florida
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28.9669° N81.3631° WBortle 5New York

Hontoon Island State Park Photography Guide

State Park in Volusia County, Florida

  • Bortle 5 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 244°–298°
  • Clearest: November
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct
Photo: Moni3 at English Wikipedia · CC BY 3.0 · source

Located in Volusia County, Florida, Hontoon Island State Park is a state park. It sits roughly 6.2 km (3.9 mi) SSW of West DeLand.

Hontoon Island State Park is a 1,648-acre (6.67 km2) Florida State Park located on Hontoon Island between the St. Johns River and the Hontoon Dead River in Volusia County. It is six miles (10 km) west of DeLand, off SR 44, and can only be reached by boat or park-operated passenger ferry. No motorized vehicles, other than wheelchairs, are allowed to be brought onto the island and there is no swimming. The island has pine flatwoods, palm and oak hammocks, bald cypress swamps and marshes. Hontoon Island is surrounded by the St. Johns River, the Hontoon Dead River, and Snake Creek.From the Wikipedia article “Hontoon Island State Park”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
West DeLand
6.2 km (3.9 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 5
Suburban sky
Clearest month
November
41% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
6.8 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
6:25 PM
sunset 6:57 PM

Light at Hontoon Island State Park

Live
Sunrise
7:30 AM
Sunset
6:52 PM
Golden hour AM
7:16 AM – 8:02 AM
Golden hour PM
6:19 PM – 7:06 PM
Blue hour AM
7:06 AM – 7:16 AM
Blue hour PM
7:06 PM – 7:16 PM
Full darkness
8:11 PM – 6:12 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:37 PM / 2:02 AM
Day length
11h 21m
Sunrise azimuth
101°
Sunset azimuth
259°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/New York. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Sunrise & sunset directions

At Hontoon Island State Park the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 63° (ENE) at the June solstice and 117° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 298° (WNW) in June to 244° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 84° in summer but only 38° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:30 AM90° E7:37 PM271° W61°12h 07m
June solstice (Jun 21)6:28 AM63° ENE8:28 PM298° WNW84°14h 00m
September equinox (Sep 22)7:15 AM89° E7:23 PM271° W61°12h 09m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:16 AM117° ESE5:33 PM244° WSW38°10h 17m

Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (90° = east, 270° = west). Computed for 2026; values change by less than a degree from year to year.

Golden hour & blue hour by month

State parks often protect a signature feature — a gorge, lake or overlook — that is best in early morning before visitors and harsh light arrive.

Month (15th)Blue hour startsSunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January6:55 AM7:21 AM7:55 AM5:15 PM5:50 PM6:16 PM10h 30m
February6:41 AM7:05 AM7:38 AM5:43 PM6:16 PM6:40 PM11h 11m
March7:12 AM7:36 AM8:07 AM7:03 PM7:34 PM7:58 PM11h 58m
April6:36 AM7:00 AM7:32 AM7:20 PM7:52 PM8:16 PM12h 52m
May6:09 AM6:35 AM7:08 AM7:37 PM8:10 PM8:36 PM13h 36m
June6:00 AM6:27 AM7:02 AM7:52 PM8:26 PM8:53 PM13h 59m
July6:11 AM6:37 AM7:11 AM7:53 PM8:27 PM8:53 PM13h 49m
August6:30 AM6:55 AM7:27 AM7:34 PM8:07 PM8:31 PM13h 12m
September6:47 AM7:11 AM7:42 AM7:01 PM7:32 PM7:56 PM12h 21m
October7:03 AM7:27 AM7:59 AM6:25 PM6:57 PM7:21 PM11h 30m
November6:25 AM6:50 AM7:23 AM4:58 PM5:32 PM5:57 PM10h 43m
December6:46 AM7:12 AM7:48 AM4:55 PM5:31 PM5:57 PM10h 18m

Local time (America/New York), including daylight saving time. Golden hour runs from about −4° to +6° solar altitude, so the morning golden hour begins during blue hour, before sunrise.

Milky Way & night sky

From Hontoon Island State Park, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 32° 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.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—2°—
February4:45 AM – 5:35 AM0.819°SE → SE
March3:53 AM – 6:13 AM2.329°SE → SSE
April1:44 AM – 5:34 AM3.832°SE → S
May11:49 PM – 4:59 AM5.232°SE → SSW
June10:01 PM – 4:51 AM6.832°SE → SW
July9:59 PM – 3:19 AM5.332°SSE → SW
August9:31 PM – 1:21 AM3.832°S → SW
September8:51 PM – 11:21 PM2.529°SSW → SW
October8:15 PM – 9:15 PM1.020°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—5°—
DecemberBelow 10° in darkness—-18°—

Window when the galactic core is at least 10° high during astronomical darkness on the 15th of each month. Pick nights within a few days of the new moon. Plan exact nights with the Milky Way planner.

Estimated sky darkness: 5 Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 19.85 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show November as the clearest month (about 41% average cloud cover) and June as the cloudiest (61%). 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 (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F86899698101102999994938987
Low °F232633405366676960373625
Precip. (in)2.32.42.62.43.88.37.17.56.93.51.92.3

Monthly climatology for the surrounding 1° grid cell from NASA POWER (MERRA-2). Mountain sites can be colder and cloudier than the cell average.

Photography tips for this state park

  • Check park hours: many state parks close at dusk, which affects sunset and night shooting.
  • Ask rangers about photography permits for commercial work, models or drones.
  • Weekday mornings are the least crowded at popular viewpoints.
  • Trail maps often mark overlooks — combine them with the sun azimuth to plan.
  • Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.

Season: Spring wildflowers and autumn color are peak seasons in most parks.

Suggested gear: Versatile zoom lens, Tripod, Park pass. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.

Permits, drones & access

Drones: Drone rules in state parks vary by state and even by park — many require a permit or ban recreational drone flights. Check the park's rules and the FAA B4UFLY app before flying.

Nearby photo spots

Other locations within 40 km of Hontoon Island State Park, closest first.

Blue Spring State ParkState Park
Blue Spring State Park3.1 km away · Volusia County
National Wildlife Refuge
Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge15 km away · Lake County
Wilderness Area
Alexander Springs Wilderness16 km away · Lake County
Lake MonroeLake
Lake Monroe19 km away · Volusia County
De Leon Springs State ParkState Park
De Leon Springs State Park19 km away · Volusia County
Wekiwa Springs State ParkState Park
Wekiwa Springs State Park26 km away · Orange County
Wilderness Area
Billies Bay Wilderness26 km away · Lake County
State Park
Rock Springs Run State Reserve29 km away · Seminole County
Lake JoannaLake
Lake Joanna31 km away · Lake County · 47 m

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Hontoon Island State Park?
November has the clearest skies on average; june is best for the milky way core. For light, plan around the first and last hour of sun. Spring wildflowers and autumn color are peak seasons in most parks.
What time is golden hour at Hontoon Island State Park?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 6:25 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:57 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 7:59 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Hontoon Island State Park?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 63° in June to 117° in December; sunset ranges from 298° to 244°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Hontoon Island State Park?
Yes — the core is visible from February to October on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 5 (suburban sky).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Hontoon Island State Park?
Personal photography from public land rarely needs a permit. Commercial shoots, models, large groups and drones may require permission from the land manager — check before you go.
How far is Hontoon Island State Park from West DeLand?
About 6.2 km (3.9 mi) in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

Sources

Location data: Wikidata, Wikipedia. Sun, moon and Milky Way times are computed by LWPhoto Atlas for 2026. Climate: NASA POWER. Sky darkness is a population-based estimate (Walker's law), not a measurement. See data sources & licenses.