What time does it get dark in Washington, DC?
In Washington, sunset ranges from about 4:47 PM around December 8 to about 8:38 PM around June 28. The shortest day (December 22) has 9h 26m of daylight and the longest (June 21) has 14h 54m. When daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 1, 2026, sunset jumps from about 6:10 PM to 5:09 PM overnight.
Working out today's sunset…
Sunset and last light in Washington, 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 | 7:26 AM | 5:10 PM | 5:40 PM | 9h 44m | 4:40 PM | 4:10 PM |
| February | 7:01 AM | 5:46 PM | 6:13 PM | 10h 45m | 5:16 PM | 4:46 PM |
| March | 7:20 AM | 7:15 PM | 7:42 PM | 11h 55m | 6:45 PM | 6:15 PM |
| April | 6:32 AM | 7:45 PM | 8:13 PM | 13h 13m | 7:15 PM | 6:45 PM |
| May | 5:57 AM | 8:14 PM | 8:44 PM | 14h 18m | 7:44 PM | 7:14 PM |
| June | 5:43 AM | 8:36 PM | 9:08 PM | 14h 53m | 8:06 PM | 7:36 PM |
| July | 5:56 AM | 8:34 PM | 9:05 PM | 14h 38m | 8:04 PM | 7:34 PM |
| August | 6:23 AM | 8:05 PM | 8:33 PM | 13h 42m | 7:35 PM | 7:05 PM |
| September | 6:50 AM | 7:18 PM | 7:45 PM | 12h 28m | 6:48 PM | 6:18 PM |
| October | 7:18 AM | 6:31 PM | 6:58 PM | 11h 13m | 6:01 PM | 5:31 PM |
| November | 6:52 AM | 4:56 PM | 5:24 PM | 10h 04m | 4:26 PM | 3:56 PM |
| December | 7:20 AM | 4:48 PM | 5:18 PM | 9h 27m | 4:18 PM | 3:48 PM |
Heading out near dark in Washington
From late fall through winter it is dark in Washington 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 Washington in winter?
In mid-December the sun sets around 4:48 PM in Washington and last light (the end of civil twilight) is around 5:18 PM. The earliest sunset of 2026 is about 4:47 PM, around December 8.
When is the latest sunset in Washington?
The latest sunset of 2026 in Washington is about 8:38 PM, around June 28. In mid-June, usable light lasts until roughly 9:08 PM.
How much earlier does it get dark in Washington after daylight saving time ends?
Daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 1, 2026. Sunset in Washington moves from about 6:10 PM on October 31 to about 5:09 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 Washington to finish before dark?
Subtract your run time from sunset. A 60-minute run in Washington should start by about 3:48 PM in mid-December and by about 7:36 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 Washington's coordinates (38.91, -77.04) 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.