Sunrise and Sunset Times in San Diego, California

Today's sunrise and sunset times for San Diego, California are shown below in local time, along with daylight length and golden hour periods.

Sunrise & Sunset in San Diego, California

Tuesday, March 3, 2026

Last updated: March 3, 2026

Sunrise
6:15 AM
Local time
Sunset
5:48 PM
Local time
Daylight length: 11 hours 33 minutes
Golden Hour: 5:15 PM 5:48 PM

10h 40m of daylight remaining today

Today's Sun Data

EventTime
Sunrise6:15 AM
Solar Noon12:02 PM
Sunset5:48 PM
Morning Golden Hour6:15 AM - 6:48 AM
Evening Golden Hour5:15 PM - 5:48 PM
Civil Dawn5:50 AM
Civil Dusk6:13 PM
Nautical Dawn5:22 AM
Nautical Dusk6:41 PM
Astronomical Dawn4:53 AM
Astronomical Dusk7:10 PM
Day Length11h 33m

Data updated daily.

Last updated: March 3, 2026

Daily changes (tomorrow vs today)

  • Sunrise shifts 23h 58m later.
  • Sunset shifts 24h 0m later.
  • Daylight changes 2m longer.

Why Sunrise and Sunset Times Change

Sunrise and sunset times change throughout the year because the Earth is tilted on its axis and orbits the sun in an elliptical path. This tilt causes different parts of the planet to receive varying amounts of sunlight as we move through the seasons, resulting in longer days during summer and shorter days during winter.

How People Use Sunrise and Sunset Times

Accurate sunrise and sunset times help people plan their daily activities:

  • Travelers use them to plan flights, road trips, and sightseeing schedules
  • Runners and cyclists check sunset times to ensure they finish outdoor workouts before dark
  • Photographers rely on golden hour times for optimal lighting conditions
  • Gardeners track daylight hours to understand growing seasons and plant care needs
  • Workers adjust schedules based on available daylight, especially for outdoor jobs

Seasonal Daylight Patterns

As spring progresses, daylight hours in San Diego gradually increase, with days getting noticeably longer each week.

More Sunrise and Sunset Information

About Our Calculations

Sunrise and sunset times for San Diego are calculated using standard astronomical formulas based on the sun's position relative to Earth. These calculations account for the city's exact geographic coordinates (latitude 32.7157°, longitude -117.1611°) and use NOAA-based solar position algorithms to ensure accuracy. Times are displayed in local time for San Diego, California.

Browse by Month

View detailed sunrise and sunset times for each month of the year in San Diego, California.

Nearby Cities in California

Looking for sunrise and sunset times near San Diego? Check nearby cities like Chula Vista, El Cajon, Escondido, and and 5 more for today's daylight and golden hour times.

About Sun Times in San Diego

San Diego, California experiences varying sunrise and sunset times throughout the year due to its location at latitude 32.7157° and longitude -117.1611°. Today, the sun rises at 6:15 AM and sets at 5:48 PM, providing 11 hours and 33 minutes of daylight.

San Diego sits in the Northern Hemisphere at about 32.7° latitude, placing it in a mid-latitude band. Cities in this band typically see noticeable seasonal shifts in daylight, which influences how quickly sunrise and sunset times shift across the seasons.

The golden hour, ideal for photography and outdoor activities, occurs in two periods today: morning from 6:15 AM to 6:48 AM, and evening from 5:15 PM to 5:48 PM. During these periods, the sun is low in the sky, creating warm, soft lighting conditions. Civil twilight begins at 5:50 AM and ends at 6:13 PM, offering enough natural light for most activities without artificial lighting.

Understanding these sun times helps residents and visitors plan their day, whether for outdoor recreation, photography, or simply knowing when to expect daylight. The times change daily as the Earth orbits the sun, with longer days in summer and shorter days in winter.

How People Use This Information

People use sunrise and sunset times for planning outdoor activities, photography, travel, prayer times, fitness routines, gardening, and understanding seasonal daylight changes. SunTimesToday is designed as a quick, location-specific reference that updates daily to reflect accurate astronomical calculations.

Data Source & Accuracy

Sunrise, sunset, daylight length, and twilight times on SunTimesToday are calculated using standard astronomical algorithms based on your selected location and date. Data is updated daily to reflect seasonal and yearly changes. While times are accurate for most practical uses, small variations may occur due to atmospheric conditions and local geography.