Located in Volusia County, Florida, New Smyrna Sugar Mill Ruins is a state park. It sits roughly 2.3 km (1.4 mi) SW of New Smyrna Beach. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The New Smyrna Sugar Mill Ruins (also known as the Cruger and DePeyster Sugar Mill) is a historic site in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, at 600 Old Mission Road, one mile west of the Intracoastal Waterway. On August 12, 1970, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. In 1830, a steam-operated sugarcane mill and a sawmill were erected at this site. The mills' masonry buildings were constructed of coquina, a sedimentary rock composed of fossilized tiny mollusc shells, quarried nearby. The structures included a crushing house, with a chimney and large arched doors and window openings, which contained the steam-driven grinding machinery that extracted the juice from the sugarcane. The entire process was carried out using slave labor and draft animals, under the management of the plantation overseer, John Dwight Sheldon.From the Wikipedia article “New Smyrna Sugar Mill Ruins”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At New Smyrna Sugar Mill Ruins 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.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:29 AM | 90° E | 7:36 PM | 271° W | 61° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:26 AM | 63° ENE | 8:26 PM | 298° WNW | 84° | 14h 00m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:13 AM | 89° E | 7:22 PM | 271° W | 61° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:14 AM | 117° ESE | 5:31 PM | 244° WSW | 38° | 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 starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:53 AM | 7:19 AM | 7:54 AM | 5:14 PM | 5:48 PM | 6:14 PM | 10h 29m |
| February | 6:39 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:36 AM | 5:42 PM | 6:14 PM | 6:38 PM | 11h 11m |
| March | 7:11 AM | 7:34 AM | 8:06 AM | 7:01 PM | 7:33 PM | 7:56 PM | 11h 58m |
| April | 6:34 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:30 AM | 7:19 PM | 7:50 PM | 8:15 PM | 12h 52m |
| May | 6:07 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:36 PM | 8:09 PM | 8:35 PM | 13h 36m |
| June | 5:58 AM | 6:26 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:50 PM | 8:25 PM | 8:52 PM | 13h 59m |
| July | 6:09 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:51 PM | 8:25 PM | 8:52 PM | 13h 49m |
| August | 6:28 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:26 AM | 7:33 PM | 8:05 PM | 8:30 PM | 13h 12m |
| September | 6:46 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:41 AM | 6:59 PM | 7:30 PM | 7:54 PM | 12h 21m |
| October | 7:02 AM | 7:25 AM | 7:57 AM | 6:23 PM | 6:55 PM | 7:19 PM | 11h 30m |
| November | 6:23 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:22 AM | 4:57 PM | 5:31 PM | 5:56 PM | 10h 43m |
| December | 6:45 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:46 AM | 4:53 PM | 5:29 PM | 5:55 PM | 10h 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 New Smyrna Sugar Mill Ruins, 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 7 (suburban / urban transition), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 2° | — |
| February | 4:44 AM – 5:34 AM | 0.8 | 19° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:52 AM – 6:12 AM | 2.3 | 29° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:43 AM – 5:33 AM | 3.8 | 32° | SE → S |
| May | 11:48 PM – 4:58 AM | 5.2 | 32° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:00 PM – 4:50 AM | 6.8 | 32° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:58 PM – 3:18 AM | 5.3 | 32° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:30 PM – 1:20 AM | 3.8 | 32° | S → SW |
| September | 8:50 PM – 11:20 PM | 2.5 | 29° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:14 PM – 9:14 PM | 1.0 | 20° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 5° | — |
| December | Below 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: 7 Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.91 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show May as the clearest month (about 52% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (66%). August is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 77 | 76 | 79 | 81 | 83 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 87 | 85 | 81 | 78 |
| Low °F | 42 | 44 | 48 | 55 | 63 | 72 | 77 | 77 | 72 | 58 | 53 | 43 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.9 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 2.6 | 4.2 | 7.8 | 7.3 | 7.7 | 6.9 | 3.6 | 2.5 | 3.1 |
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.
- Day-use fees or passes are common; buy them online before arriving.
- 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 New Smyrna Sugar Mill Ruins, closest first.
Lighthouse
Botanical Garden
BeachBeach
Lake
State ParkCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Canaveral National Seashore Permits14.5 km (9.0 mi) · reservable
- Middle Dredge Campsite19.4 km (12.0 mi)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph New Smyrna Sugar Mill Ruins?
What time is golden hour at New Smyrna Sugar Mill Ruins?
Where does the sun rise and set at New Smyrna Sugar Mill Ruins?
Can you see the Milky Way from New Smyrna Sugar Mill Ruins?
Do you need a permit to photograph at New Smyrna Sugar Mill Ruins?
How far is New Smyrna Sugar Mill Ruins from New Smyrna Beach?
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.