What time does it get dark in Anchorage, AK?
In Anchorage, sunset ranges from about 3:41 PM around December 17 to about 11:44 PM around June 23. The shortest day (December 21) has 5h 27m of daylight and the longest (June 21) has 19h 22m. When daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 1, 2026, sunset jumps from about 6:02 PM to 5:00 PM overnight.
Working out today's sunset…
Sunset and last light in Anchorage, month by month
Times for the 15th of each month in 2026, local time. "Start by" is the latest start for a 30 or 60 minute run, ride or walk that finishes by sunset. Last light is when civil twilight ends and it becomes too dark to see without a light.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Last light | Daylight | 30-min start by | 60-min start by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9:58 AM | 4:22 PM | 5:18 PM | 6h 24m | 3:52 PM | 3:22 PM |
| February | 8:43 AM | 5:46 PM | 6:32 PM | 9h 04m | 5:16 PM | 4:46 PM |
| March | 8:17 AM | 8:01 PM | 8:44 PM | 11h 44m | 7:31 PM | 7:01 PM |
| April | 6:39 AM | 9:21 PM | 10:10 PM | 14h 42m | 8:51 PM | 8:21 PM |
| May | 5:13 AM | 10:41 PM | 11:51 PM | 17h 28m | 10:11 PM | 9:41 PM |
| June | 4:22 AM | 11:40 PM | none | 19h 19m | 11:10 PM | 10:40 PM |
| July | 4:52 AM | 11:20 PM | 12:53 AM | 18h 28m | 10:50 PM | 10:20 PM |
| August | 6:09 AM | 10:01 PM | 10:55 PM | 15h 52m | 9:31 PM | 9:01 PM |
| September | 7:27 AM | 8:24 PM | 9:08 PM | 12h 57m | 7:54 PM | 7:24 PM |
| October | 8:43 AM | 6:49 PM | 7:33 PM | 10h 07m | 6:19 PM | 5:49 PM |
| November | 9:07 AM | 4:24 PM | 5:15 PM | 7h 17m | 3:54 PM | 3:24 PM |
| December | 10:10 AM | 3:41 PM | 4:43 PM | 5h 31m | 3:11 PM | 2:41 PM |
Heading out near dark in Anchorage
From late fall through winter it is dark in Anchorage before 6 p.m., so after-work runs and walks happen in the dark for months. If you head out close to sunset, be seen and be findable: wear a light and something reflective on the parts of you that move, pick a route with streetlights and other people, and send someone a live location link with a return time before you go. Our guide to running in the dark after the clocks change covers the rest.
Questions people ask
What time does it get dark in Anchorage in winter?
In mid-December the sun sets around 3:41 PM in Anchorage and last light (the end of civil twilight) is around 4:43 PM. The earliest sunset of 2026 is about 3:41 PM, around December 17.
When is the latest sunset in Anchorage?
The latest sunset of 2026 in Anchorage is about 11:44 PM, around June 23. In mid-June, usable light lasts until roughly none.
How much earlier does it get dark in Anchorage after daylight saving time ends?
Daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 1, 2026. Sunset in Anchorage moves from about 6:02 PM on October 31 to about 5:00 PM on November 1, so an after-work run that finished in daylight the week before can finish in the dark.
What time should I start a run in Anchorage to finish before dark?
Subtract your run time from sunset. A 60-minute run in Anchorage should start by about 2:41 PM in mid-December and by about 10:40 PM in mid-June. The table on this page lists the latest start for 30 and 60 minute runs in every month, and the calculator at the top gives today's times.
Keep reading
Calculated from Anchorage's coordinates (61.22, -149.90) with the standard solar position formulas used by NOAA. Times can differ by a minute or two from other sources, and hills or buildings bring darkness sooner.