Kings Mountain National Military Park

Park Revolutionary War battlefield commemorating Patriot victory

Park preserving the 1780 Kings Mountain Revolutionary War battlefield with monuments, a museum and wooded trails; visitors study the battle’s regional impact and walk preserved ground.

Main image

Kings Mountain National Military Park preserves the site of the key Revolutionary War engagement fought on October 7, 1780. The park is administered by the National Park Service and interprets the battle between Patriot militia and Loyalist forces.

The park offers a visitor center with exhibits, a self-guided driving tour, and short trails that lead to monuments and interpretive markers. Several overlooks and markers identify militia lines and the main action areas on the ridge where the battle occurred.

The battle at Kings Mountain was fought in 1780 when mainly American frontiersmen confronted Loyalist troops under Major Patrick Ferguson. The Patriot victory had strategic consequences for the British Southern campaign and the site was later preserved to commemorate that action.

The park sits on the border region between South Carolina and North Carolina near the town of Blacksburg, South Carolina, on a wooded ridge known as Kings Mountain.

  • Administration: Maintained by the National Park Service with short interpretive trails and a self-guided driving tour that covers principal battlefield locations.
  • Battle Date and Significance: The decisive engagement took place on October 7, 1780, and is considered a turning point in the Southern campaign of the American Revolutionary War.

What to See #

  • Visitor Center and Driving Tour: Includes a visitor center with exhibits about the 1780 battle and a marked driving loop that highlights key positions on the battlefield.
  • Monument and Battle Sites: Kings Mountain Monument and several interpretive markers locate the main engagement sites and militia positions from the battle of October 7, 1780.
Kings Mountain National Military Park
35.1390, -81.3898

Tips for Visiting Kings Mountain National Military Park #

  • Start your visit in the cool morning hours to walk the park's trails and tour the battlefield markers before late-day heat and visitor traffic increase.
  • Begin at the main visitor center to pick up a map and talk to rangers about self-guided routes and living-history schedules so you can follow the most historically significant stops in logical order.
  • Don't skip the interpretive trail markers and monument inscriptions along the battlefield loop - they pinpoint skirmish sites and perspectives that give the best sense of troop movements and the park's significance.

Best Time to Visit Kings Mountain National Military Park #

Visit in spring or fall for comfortable hiking weather and the most pleasant conditions for exploring the park.

Spring and Fall (best)
March-May, September-November · ~50-75°F (10-24°C)
Comfortable temperatures for walking the battlefield trails and enjoying fall foliage or spring growth.
Summer
June-August · ~70-90°F (21-32°C)
Hotter and more humid with afternoon thunderstorms possible; expect higher visitor numbers on weekends.
Winter (quiet)
December-February · ~30-55°F (-1-13°C)
Cooler, less busy months - trails may be brisk but the park is generally quieter for contemplative visits.

Weather & Climate near Kings Mountain National Military Park #

Climate

Kings Mountain National Military Park's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -2°C to 31°C. Abundant rainfall (1249 mm/year), wettest in March, distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.

Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
31°
Warmest Month
-2°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coolest month with highs of 10°C and lows of -2°C. Significant rainfall (108 mm).

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
-2° 10°

Weather

108 mm
Rainfall
2.7 m/s
Wind
Calm

February

February is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 0°C. Significant rainfall (105 mm).

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
13°

Weather

105 mm
Rainfall
2.8 m/s
Wind
Calm

March

March is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 4°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (127 mm).

Comfort

11°
Feels Like Cool
11°C
Temperature
17°

Weather

127 mm
Rainfall
3.0 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

April

April is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 7°C. Regular rainfall (83 mm).

Comfort

15°
Feels Like Cool
15°C
Temperature
22°

Weather

83 mm
Rainfall
3.0 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

May

May is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 12°C. Significant rainfall (105 mm).

Comfort

19°
Feels Like Mild
19°C
Temperature
12° 26°

Weather

105 mm
Rainfall
2.5 m/s
Wind
Calm

June

June is mild with highs of 29°C and lows of 17°C. Significant rainfall (111 mm).

Comfort

23°
Feels Like Mild
23°C
Temperature
17° 29°

Weather

111 mm
Rainfall
2.2 m/s
Wind
Calm

July

July is the warmest month with highs of 31°C and lows of 19°C. Significant rainfall (109 mm).

Comfort

25°
Feels Like Warm
25°C
Temperature
19° 31°

Weather

109 mm
Rainfall
2.0 m/s
Wind
Calm

August

August is warm with highs of 30°C and lows of 19°C. Significant rainfall (114 mm).

Comfort

24°
Feels Like Warm
24°C
Temperature
19° 30°

Weather

114 mm
Rainfall
1.9 m/s
Wind
Calm

September

September is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 15°C. Significant rainfall (102 mm).

Comfort

21°
Feels Like Mild
21°C
Temperature
15° 27°

Weather

102 mm
Rainfall
2.0 m/s
Wind
Calm

October

October is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 8°C. Regular rainfall (94 mm).

Comfort

15°
Feels Like Cool
15°C
Temperature
22°

Weather

94 mm
Rainfall
2.1 m/s
Wind
Calm

November

November is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 4°C. Regular rainfall (90 mm).

Comfort

10°
Feels Like Cool
10°C
Temperature
17°

Weather

90 mm
Rainfall
2.3 m/s
Wind
Calm

December

December is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 0°C. Significant rainfall (101 mm).

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
12°

Weather

101 mm
Rainfall
2.4 m/s
Wind
Calm

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