# X-10 Graphite Reactor, United States: what it is and when to go

> X-10 Graphite Reactor is a world's second artificial nuclear reactor and the first reactor designed and built for continuous operation in United States (Oak Ridge, Tennessee). Interests: Nature, History and Wildlife. The best time to visit is March to October. In June there are 14 h 26 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 34. It has articles in 14 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in United States: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/x-10-graphite-reactor-facility-bldg-3001/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-08
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **What it is:** World's second artificial nuclear reactor and the first reactor designed and built for continuous operation · Nature, History, Wildlife
- **Where:** United States
- **Best time:** March to October.
- **Nearest airport:** ORD Chicago, 742 km as the crow flies
- **Protection:** Protected heritage
- **Coordinates:** 35.92809, -84.31755

## What it is and where

X-10 Graphite Reactor is a world's second artificial nuclear reactor and the first reactor designed and built for continuous operation in United States (Oak Ridge, Tennessee). It has articles in 14 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in United States: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.

It is in [Oak Ridge, Tennessee](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/oak-ridge/), where this site lists 26 more places to see, 10 km from the centre.

Its coordinates are 35.92809, -84.31755; the nearest main airport is Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD, Chicago), 742 km as the crow flies. How to get around United States (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/#moverse).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=35.928086%2C-84.317554)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=35.928086%2C-84.317554)

- **Protection:** Protected heritage

It is one of the [Nature](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/naturaleza/), [History](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/historia/) and [Wildlife](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/fauna/) places in United States. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap.

## When to go

The best time to visit X-10 Graphite Reactor is **March to October**.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Possible | 9 h 49 |
| February | Possible | 10 h 41 |
| March | Best time | 11 h 44 |
| April | Best time | 12 h 55 |
| May | Best time | 13 h 54 |
| June | Best time | 14 h 26 |
| July | Best time | 14 h 13 |
| August | Best time | 13 h 22 |
| September | Best time | 12 h 13 |
| October | Best time | 11 h 04 |
| November | Possible | 10 h 03 |
| December | Possible | 9 h 34 |

In June there are 14 h 26 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 34. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather.

| What you come for | Best time | Possible |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Nature | April to October | November to March |
| History | March to October | November to February |
| Wildlife | April to October | November to March |

It is not the same trip whatever you come for: X-10 Graphite Reactor has a different season depending on what you want to do here, and [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) puts it in the right month for you.

When to go to United States in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/#cuando-ir).

## Before you go to United States

To enter United States there are 9 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Book national parks and cars in advance”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the United States checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/#antes-de-salir). Currency: US dollar (USD); plugs: Type A and B · 120 V · 60 Hz (you need an adapter, and check your devices' voltage); emergencies: 911 for everything.

In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it.

## What is nearby

- [K-25](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/k-25-oak-ridge-gaseous-diffusion-plant/): Codename given by the Manhattan Project during World War II for the project to produce enriched uranium for atomic bombs using the gaseous diffusion method · 7.0 km
- [American Museum of Science and Energy](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/american-museum-of-science-and-energy/): Science museum in Oak Ridge, Tennessee · 11 km
- [Children's Museum of Oak Ridge](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/oak-ridge-children-s-museum/): Children's museum in Oak Ridge, Tennessee · 11 km
- [Sir Goony's Family Fun Center](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/sir-goony-s-family-fun-center/): With kids · 16 km
- [Lenoir Cotton Mill](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/lenoir-cotton-mill/): Place in Tennessee listed on National Register of Historic Places · 16 km

Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the United States guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/).

## More in United States: Nature

- [Niagara Falls](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/niagara-falls-2/): three waterfalls that straddle the international border between Canada and the United States
- [Grand Canyon](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/grand-canyon-2/): steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in Arizona, United States
- [Yellowstone National Park](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/parque-nacional-de-yellowstone/): first national park in the world, located in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho in the United States
- [Denali](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/monte-denali/): highest mountain in North America, located in Alaska
- [Mount Rushmore](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/mount-rushmore/): mountain in South Dakota featuring a sculpture of four US presidents
- [Mauna Kea](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/mauna-kea/): Hawaiian volcano

Every United States place under Nature, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/naturaleza/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is X-10 Graphite Reactor?

It is a world's second artificial nuclear reactor and the first reactor designed and built for continuous operation in United States. It has articles in 14 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in United States: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.

### When is the best time to visit X-10 Graphite Reactor?

March to October. In June there are 14 h 26 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 34.

### How do you get to X-10 Graphite Reactor?

The nearest main airport is Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), 742 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=35.928086%2C-84.317554) opens the route on the map, and how to get around United States is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/#moverse).

### How do I add it to my trip?

With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the United States map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby.

### What else is around here?

Nearby you have [K-25](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/k-25-oak-ridge-gaseous-diffusion-plant/), [American Museum of Science and Energy](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/american-museum-of-science-and-energy/), [Children's Museum of Oak Ridge](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/oak-ridge-children-s-museum/). The rest is in [the United States guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/).

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/89183609), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4133095), CC0. More about X-10 Graphite Reactor on [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-10_Graphite_Reactor). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).