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Run before dark

What time does it get dark in Lexington, KY?

In Lexington, sunset ranges from about 5:19 PM around December 7 to about 9:06 PM around June 28. The shortest day (December 22) has 9h 31m of daylight and the longest (June 21) has 14h 48m. When daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 1, 2026, sunset jumps from about 6:41 PM to 5:40 PM overnight.

Today in Lexington

Working out today's sunset…

Sunset and last light in Lexington, 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.

MonthSunriseSunsetLast lightDaylight30-min start by60-min start by
January7:54 AM5:42 PM6:11 PM9h 49m5:12 PM4:42 PM
February7:29 AM6:17 PM6:44 PM10h 48m5:47 PM5:17 PM
March7:50 AM7:45 PM8:12 PM11h 55m7:15 PM6:45 PM
April7:03 AM8:14 PM8:41 PM13h 11m7:44 PM7:14 PM
May6:28 AM8:42 PM9:12 PM14h 14m8:12 PM7:42 PM
June6:16 AM9:03 PM9:35 PM14h 47m8:33 PM8:03 PM
July6:28 AM9:01 PM9:32 PM14h 33m8:31 PM8:01 PM
August6:54 AM8:33 PM9:01 PM13h 39m8:03 PM7:33 PM
September7:21 AM7:48 PM8:14 PM12h 27m7:18 PM6:48 PM
October7:47 AM7:02 PM7:28 PM11h 15m6:32 PM6:02 PM
November7:20 AM5:27 PM5:56 PM10h 08m4:57 PM4:27 PM
December7:48 AM5:20 PM5:50 PM9h 32m4:50 PM4:20 PM

Heading out near dark in Lexington

From late fall through winter it is dark in Lexington 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 Lexington in winter?

In mid-December the sun sets around 5:20 PM in Lexington and last light (the end of civil twilight) is around 5:50 PM. The earliest sunset of 2026 is about 5:19 PM, around December 7.

When is the latest sunset in Lexington?

The latest sunset of 2026 in Lexington is about 9:06 PM, around June 28. In mid-June, usable light lasts until roughly 9:35 PM.

How much earlier does it get dark in Lexington after daylight saving time ends?

Daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 1, 2026. Sunset in Lexington moves from about 6:41 PM on October 31 to about 5:40 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 Lexington to finish before dark?

Subtract your run time from sunset. A 60-minute run in Lexington should start by about 4:20 PM in mid-December and by about 8:03 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

How to choose a running headlampHow to stay safe running alone at nightSunset in Louisville, KYSunset in Cincinnati, OHSunset in Knoxville, TNSunset in Indianapolis, IN

Calculated from Lexington's coordinates (38.04, -84.50) 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.

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