Sunset time in San Diego

Sunset in San Diego through the year

The longest day of 2026 is June 21, with 14 h 18 min between sunrise and sunset; the shortest is December 21, with 10 h 0 min. The earliest sunset around midwinter (December 3, 4:42 PM) comes 18 days before the shortest day (December 21): from then on sunsets get later even though the days are still getting shorter, because sunrise is getting later even faster. In 2026 clocks go forward on March 8 and back on November 1; sunset jumps an hour later when clocks go forward and an hour earlier when they go back.

Golden hour and blue hour in San Diego

The evening golden hour in San Diego lasts about 33 minutes around the March and September equinoxes, 36 minutes in late June and 38 minutes in late December. The blue hour after sunset lasts about 25, 29 and 27 minutes at those same times of year. Head out about 35 minutes before sunset to catch both.

How long the evening light lasts in San Diego, month by month

San Diego lies at 32.7° N, and the further a place is from the equator the more slowly the sun sinks at sunset, so the evening golden hour here runs from 32 minutes in September to 38 minutes in December, against 27 to 30 minutes all year at the equator.

How long is golden hour in San Diego? has the same numbers with answers to the common questions.

Where to watch the sunset in San Diego

Sunset Cliffs in Point Loma is named for the obvious reason; La Jolla Cove and the bluffs at Torrey Pines face the Pacific as well.

How these times are calculated

Times are computed for San Diego (32.72° N, 117.16° W) with the NOAA solar-position algorithm, for a flat horizon, in local time (America/Los Angeles). They are usually within a minute of published tables. Hills, buildings and weather can hide the sun a few minutes earlier than shown.