Sunset & Sunrise Today in Waukegan, Illinois
Sunrise & Sunset Tomorrow in Waukegan: sunrise 7:05 AM, sunset 6:07 PM.
Waukegan, Illinois sees the sun come up at 7:04 AM and go down at 6:08 PM on Thursday, October 15, 2026 — 11h 04m of daylight from sunrise to sunset. Local solar noon in Waukegan falls at 12:37 PM.
Because Waukegan is at 42.36° (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 46 seconds. As autumn progresses, sunrise and sunset in Waukegan move a little each day rather than staying fixed.
If you're shooting at sunset, aim for Waukegan's golden hour, about 5:31 PM to 6:27 PM. The blue hour follows, roughly 6:27 PM to 6:37 PM, as twilight deepens.
Tomorrow, sunset in Waukegan is at 6:07 PM and sunrise at 7:05 AM — about 2m 46s less daylight than today. The table below shows how sunrise and sunset in Waukegan drift across the whole year.
It's autumn in Waukegan, when sunset creeps earlier each week. Over the course of the year, sunset in Waukegan ranges from as early as 4:18 PM (around December 3) to as late as 8:32 PM (around June 25). Its longest day lands on June 20 with 15h 16m of daylight, and its shortest on December 21 with just 9h 03m.
Moon in Waukegan today
Sunset today: Waukegan vs nearby cities
| City | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waukegan | 7:04 AM | 6:08 PM | 11h 04m |
| Kenosha | 7:04 AM | 6:08 PM | 11h 03m |
| Buffalo Grove | 7:04 AM | 6:09 PM | 11h 04m |
| Buffalo Grove | 7:04 AM | 6:09 PM | 11h 04m |
| Wheeling | 7:04 AM | 6:09 PM | 11h 04m |
Waukegan sun facts for 2026
- Longest day June 20 — 15h 16m of daylight
- Shortest day December 21 — 9h 03m
- Latest sunset 8:32 PM (June 25)
- Earliest sunset 4:18 PM (December 3)
- Earliest sunrise 5:14 AM (June 8)
- Latest sunrise 7:23 AM (October 31)
Solstices & equinoxes in Waukegan (2026)
| Event | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Mar 20, 2026 | 6:54 AM | 7:03 PM | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (longest day) | Jun 21, 2026 | 5:14 AM | 8:31 PM | 15h 16m |
| September equinox | Sep 22, 2026 | 6:39 AM | 6:48 PM | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (shortest day) | Dec 21, 2026 | 7:17 AM | 4:21 PM | 9h 03m |
Waukegan sunrise & sunset — next 14 days
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu Oct 15 | 7:04 AM | 6:08 PM | 11h 04m | — |
| Fri Oct 16 | 7:05 AM | 6:07 PM | 11h 01m | −2m 46s |
| Sat Oct 17 | 7:06 AM | 6:05 PM | 10h 58m | −2m 44s |
| Sun Oct 18 | 7:08 AM | 6:04 PM | 10h 56m | −2m 45s |
| Mon Oct 19 | 7:09 AM | 6:02 PM | 10h 53m | −2m 43s |
| Tue Oct 20 | 7:10 AM | 6:01 PM | 10h 50m | −2m 43s |
| Wed Oct 21 | 7:11 AM | 5:59 PM | 10h 47m | −2m 43s |
| Thu Oct 22 | 7:12 AM | 5:58 PM | 10h 45m | −2m 41s |
| Fri Oct 23 | 7:14 AM | 5:56 PM | 10h 42m | −2m 41s |
| Sat Oct 24 | 7:15 AM | 5:55 PM | 10h 39m | −2m 40s |
| Sun Oct 25 | 7:16 AM | 5:53 PM | 10h 37m | −2m 39s |
| Mon Oct 26 | 7:17 AM | 5:52 PM | 10h 34m | −2m 39s |
| Tue Oct 27 | 7:18 AM | 5:50 PM | 10h 32m | −2m 37s |
| Wed Oct 28 | 7:20 AM | 5:49 PM | 10h 29m | −2m 36s |
Twilight times in Waukegan today
| Phase | Begins | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Astronomical twilight | 5:30 AM | 7:42 PM |
| Nautical twilight | 6:03 AM | 7:10 PM |
| Civil twilight | 6:35 AM | 6:37 PM |
| Morning golden hour | 6:46 AM | 7:41 AM |
| Evening golden hour | 5:31 PM | 6:27 PM |
Civil, nautical and astronomical twilight describe how far the sun is below the horizon.
Sunrise & sunset in Waukegan by month
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:20 AM | 4:29 PM | 9h 08m |
| February | 7:05 AM | 5:05 PM | 10h 00m |
| March | 6:26 AM | 5:41 PM | 11h 14m |
| April | 6:33 AM | 7:17 PM | 12h 43m |
| May | 5:46 AM | 7:50 PM | 14h 04m |
| June | 5:17 AM | 8:21 PM | 15h 04m |
| July | 5:18 AM | 8:31 PM | 15h 13m |
| August | 5:44 AM | 8:10 PM | 14h 26m |
| September | 6:16 AM | 7:24 PM | 13h 08m |
| October | 6:48 AM | 6:32 PM | 11h 43m |
| November | 6:25 AM | 4:44 PM | 10h 19m |
| December | 7:01 AM | 4:19 PM | 9h 18m |
Times shown for the 1st of each month, local time.
Sunset & sunrise FAQ for Waukegan
What time is sunset in Waukegan today?
Sunset in Waukegan, Illinois is at 6:08 PM today. It shifts by a minute or two each day as the seasons change.
What time is sunrise in Waukegan today?
Sunrise in Waukegan is at 7:04 AM today, with 11h 04m of daylight to follow.
What time is sunrise in Waukegan tomorrow?
Sunrise in Waukegan tomorrow is at 7:05 AM, and sunset tomorrow is at 6:07 PM.
What time is sunset in Waukegan tomorrow?
Sunset in Waukegan tomorrow is at 6:07 PM.
How long is the day in Waukegan today?
Waukegan gets 11h 04m of daylight today, between sunrise at 7:04 AM and sunset at 6:08 PM.
When is golden hour in Waukegan?
The evening golden hour in Waukegan is about 5:31 PM to 6:27 PM today — the warm, soft light ideal for photos.
When is blue hour in Waukegan?
The evening blue hour in Waukegan runs from about 6:27 PM to 6:37 PM today, just after sunset.
What time does it get dark in Waukegan?
After sunset at 6:08 PM, full darkness (the end of twilight) arrives in Waukegan at around 6:37 PM today.
When is solar noon in Waukegan?
Solar noon — when the sun is highest in the sky over Waukegan — is at 12:37 PM today.
Nearest cities to Waukegan
- KenoshaWI
- Buffalo GroveIL
- Buffalo GroveIL
- WheelingIL
- NorthbrookIL
- NorthbrookIL
- PalatineIL
- Arlington HeightsIL
More cities in Illinois
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.