Sunset & Sunrise Today in Santa Cruz, California
Sunrise & Sunset Tomorrow in Santa Cruz: sunrise 7:16 AM, sunset 6:30 PM.
In Santa Cruz, California, the sun rises at 7:15 AM and sets at 6:32 PM today, Wednesday, October 14, 2026, for a total of 11h 17m of daylight. Local solar noon in Santa Cruz falls at 12:54 PM.
Sitting at 36.97° latitude puts Santa Cruz in the mid-latitudes — daylight swings noticeably between the long days of summer and the short days of winter. Each day is currently getting about 2 minutes shorter and 16 seconds. As autumn progresses, sunrise and sunset in Santa Cruz move a little each day rather than staying fixed.
Golden hour in Santa Cruz this evening is roughly 5:58 PM–6:48 PM, the best window for warm, soft photos. The blue hour follows, roughly 6:48 PM to 6:58 PM, as twilight deepens.
Tomorrow, sunset in Santa Cruz is at 6:30 PM and sunrise at 7:16 AM — about 2m 17s less daylight than today. The table below shows how sunrise and sunset in Santa Cruz drift across the whole year.
It's autumn in Santa Cruz, when sunset creeps earlier each week. Over the course of the year, sunset in Santa Cruz ranges from as early as 4:50 PM (around December 3) to as late as 8:31 PM (around June 22). Its longest day lands on June 20 with 14h 41m of daylight, and its shortest on December 21 with just 9h 36m.
Moon in Santa Cruz today
Sunset today: Santa Cruz vs nearby cities
| City | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | 7:15 AM | 6:32 PM | 11h 17m |
| Watsonville | 7:14 AM | 6:31 PM | 11h 17m |
| Campbell | 7:15 AM | 6:31 PM | 11h 16m |
| Morgan Hill | 7:13 AM | 6:30 PM | 11h 16m |
| Cupertino | 7:15 AM | 6:31 PM | 11h 16m |
Santa Cruz sun facts for 2026
- Longest day June 20 — 14h 41m of daylight
- Shortest day December 21 — 9h 36m
- Latest sunset 8:31 PM (June 22)
- Earliest sunset 4:50 PM (December 3)
- Earliest sunrise 5:48 AM (June 6)
- Latest sunrise 7:31 AM (October 31)
Solstices & equinoxes in Santa Cruz (2026)
| Event | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Mar 20, 2026 | 7:11 AM | 7:19 PM | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (longest day) | Jun 21, 2026 | 5:49 AM | 8:30 PM | 14h 41m |
| September equinox | Sep 22, 2026 | 6:56 AM | 7:04 PM | 12h 08m |
| December solstice (shortest day) | Dec 21, 2026 | 7:17 AM | 4:54 PM | 9h 36m |
Santa Cruz sunrise & sunset — next 14 days
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed Oct 14 | 7:15 AM | 6:32 PM | 11h 17m | — |
| Thu Oct 15 | 7:16 AM | 6:30 PM | 11h 14m | −2m 17s |
| Fri Oct 16 | 7:17 AM | 6:29 PM | 11h 12m | −2m 16s |
| Sat Oct 17 | 7:18 AM | 6:28 PM | 11h 10m | −2m 15s |
| Sun Oct 18 | 7:18 AM | 6:26 PM | 11h 07m | −2m 15s |
| Mon Oct 19 | 7:19 AM | 6:25 PM | 11h 05m | −2m 15s |
| Tue Oct 20 | 7:20 AM | 6:24 PM | 11h 03m | −2m 14s |
| Wed Oct 21 | 7:21 AM | 6:23 PM | 11h 01m | −2m 13s |
| Thu Oct 22 | 7:22 AM | 6:21 PM | 10h 59m | −2m 13s |
| Fri Oct 23 | 7:23 AM | 6:20 PM | 10h 56m | −2m 12s |
| Sat Oct 24 | 7:24 AM | 6:19 PM | 10h 54m | −2m 11s |
| Sun Oct 25 | 7:25 AM | 6:18 PM | 10h 52m | −2m 10s |
| Mon Oct 26 | 7:26 AM | 6:16 PM | 10h 50m | −2m 10s |
| Tue Oct 27 | 7:27 AM | 6:15 PM | 10h 48m | −2m 09s |
Twilight times in Santa Cruz today
| Phase | Begins | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Astronomical twilight | 5:48 AM | 7:58 PM |
| Nautical twilight | 6:18 AM | 7:28 PM |
| Civil twilight | 6:48 AM | 6:58 PM |
| Morning golden hour | 6:58 AM | 7:49 AM |
| Evening golden hour | 5:58 PM | 6:48 PM |
Civil, nautical and astronomical twilight describe how far the sun is below the horizon.
Sunrise & sunset in Santa Cruz by month
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:21 AM | 5:02 PM | 9h 40m |
| February | 7:10 AM | 5:33 PM | 10h 22m |
| March | 6:38 AM | 6:02 PM | 11h 23m |
| April | 6:53 AM | 7:30 PM | 12h 36m |
| May | 6:13 AM | 7:57 PM | 13h 43m |
| June | 5:50 AM | 8:22 PM | 14h 31m |
| July | 5:52 AM | 8:31 PM | 14h 38m |
| August | 6:13 AM | 8:14 PM | 14h 00m |
| September | 6:39 AM | 7:36 PM | 12h 56m |
| October | 7:03 AM | 6:50 PM | 11h 47m |
| November | 6:32 AM | 5:10 PM | 10h 37m |
| December | 7:03 AM | 4:51 PM | 9h 48m |
Times shown for the 1st of each month, local time.
Sunset & sunrise FAQ for Santa Cruz
What time is sunset in Santa Cruz today?
Sunset in Santa Cruz, California is at 6:32 PM today. It shifts by a minute or two each day as the seasons change.
What time is sunrise in Santa Cruz today?
Sunrise in Santa Cruz is at 7:15 AM today, with 11h 17m of daylight to follow.
What time is sunrise in Santa Cruz tomorrow?
Sunrise in Santa Cruz tomorrow is at 7:16 AM, and sunset tomorrow is at 6:30 PM.
What time is sunset in Santa Cruz tomorrow?
Sunset in Santa Cruz tomorrow is at 6:30 PM.
How long is the day in Santa Cruz today?
Santa Cruz gets 11h 17m of daylight today, between sunrise at 7:15 AM and sunset at 6:32 PM.
When is golden hour in Santa Cruz?
The evening golden hour in Santa Cruz is about 5:58 PM to 6:48 PM today — the warm, soft light ideal for photos.
When is blue hour in Santa Cruz?
The evening blue hour in Santa Cruz runs from about 6:48 PM to 6:58 PM today, just after sunset.
What time does it get dark in Santa Cruz?
After sunset at 6:32 PM, full darkness (the end of twilight) arrives in Santa Cruz at around 6:58 PM today.
When is solar noon in Santa Cruz?
Solar noon — when the sun is highest in the sky over Santa Cruz — is at 12:54 PM today.
Nearest cities to Santa Cruz
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Learn more about the sunset
- 🌇 What is golden hour?Golden hour is the warm, soft light just after sunrise and before sunset. Learn what it is, when it happens, how long it lasts, and how to use it.
- 🌆 What is blue hour?Discover what blue hour is, when it happens, how it differs from golden hour, and expert tips for photographing the soft blue twilight. Check exact blue.
- 🌌 Twilight explained: civil, nautical & astronomicalLearn the three phases of twilight—civil, nautical, astronomical—and what they mean for photographers, stargazers, and sunset lovers.
- 🌅 Why are sunsets red and orange?Discover the science behind red and orange sunsets, from Rayleigh scattering to air quality. Learn when and where to see the most vivid colors.
- 📸 The best time to photograph a sunsetDiscover the best time to photograph a sunset, from golden hour to blue hour. Learn exact timing, camera settings, and composition tips for stunning shots.
- ☀️ What is solar noon?Solar noon is when the sun reaches its highest point. Learn why it rarely matches 12:00 PM and how to find your exact solar noon.
- 📈 Why days get longer and shorter through the yearEarth's axial tilt drives seasonal day-length changes. Learn how solstices, equinoxes, and latitude affect daylight where you live.
- 🌞 The summer solstice explainedWhat causes the summer solstice, when it happens, and how it affects sunset times. Discover the science and beauty of the year's longest day.