Sunset Time in San Antonio Today
San Antonio, USA
Forecast updated:
Cloud on the horizon does not move the astronomical sunset time — it can hide the sun a few minutes early, but it often produces the most dramatic colors.
Conditions can shift — arrive 30 minutes early for the best experience.
Pair with golden hour or moon visibility for complete planning.
Forecast accuracy is highest within the next 1–3 days.
Sunset & Daylight Patterns Specific to San Antonio
San Antonio sits at 29.4° N in the subtropical zone. It is autumn there now, and the sun currently spends 11.8 hours above the horizon each day.
Sunsets are latest in June around the summer solstice and earliest in December. Near the solstices, the sunset time barely shifts day to day; near the equinoxes (March, September), it moves up to 2 minutes per day. San Antonio runs from 10.3 to 14 hours of daylight across the year, a 3.8-hour swing. Today's 11.8 hours set how much room you have to move plans around.
Golden hour in San Antonio lasts about 46 minutes today, with civil twilight adding a further 24 minutes of usable blue-hour light after sunset.
The most photogenic sunset conditions in San Antonio come in July, August, March, when the atmosphere is clearest and high-pressure systems push cloud layers away from the western horizon. San Antonio sits on "Flash Flood Alley" — the Balcones Escarpment creates some of the most intense rainfall events in North America, with storms dumping 30cm+ in hours.
Civil twilight at San Antonio's latitude lasts approximately 24 minutes after the sun drops below the horizon — this is the "blue hour" window of soft, diffused light that photographers prize above all others. At 29.4°, this window is brief, making precise timing critical — the sky transitions from golden to dark in under half an hour.
City-specific facts for San Antonio
- •Latitude: 29.4° N — longest days in June, shortest in December
- •Summer daylight: ~14h | Winter daylight: ~10.3h — a 3.7-hour annual swing
- •Civil twilight (blue hour) duration: ~24 minutes post-sunset
- •Prime sunset colour months: July, August, March
- •Hemisphere: northern — sunset moves northward in summer, altering composition angles significantly
- •Local season right now: autumn (northern hemisphere)
- •Daylight today: 11.8 h — annual range 10.3–14 h
- •Solar regime today: normal sunrise/sunset cycle
Sun & Moon Times in San Antonio
Sunset timing in San Antonio is driven by latitude and season. We apply atmospheric refraction corrections for accuracy within one minute. Golden hour begins roughly 60 minutes before sunset — the most valuable window for photography, outdoor dining, and evening walks.
Sunset in San Antonio shifts by several minutes each week. Summer evenings are longest, winter sunsets arrive earliest. Cloud cover near the horizon does not change the sunset time itself, though it can hide the sun a few minutes early and often produces the most dramatic color displays.
For the best sunset experience, arrive at your viewing spot 30 minutes before the listed time. Conditions can shift — check again on the day itself.
Sunrise & Sunset Guide for San Antonio in October
San Antonio sits at the intersection of Texas Hill Country and the coastal plains, creating dramatic weather patterns. Flash flooding is the city's most significant weather hazard — the Balcones Escarpment forces moist Gulf air upward, triggering intense thunderstorms. Summers are hot and humid, while winters are generally mild with rare freezing events.
October brings shorter days and earlier sunsets to San Antonio, with temperatures around 5-17°C. While the days are shorter, they can produce some of the most dramatic sunset displays of the year. Cloud cover, common during this period, creates dynamic skies that scatter sunlight into vivid purples, pinks, and deep oranges that clear-sky months rarely match.
☀️ Daylight & Day Length
Shorter days in October mean you need to plan outdoor activities more carefully around available daylight. Sunrise comes later and sunset arrives earlier, concentrating your outdoor window. However, the lower sun angle means golden hour light lasts longer relative to the day length, and shadows are more dramatic — a hidden advantage for photographers and anyone who appreciates beautiful light.
📋 Planning Around Sunset
With limited daylight during October, start outdoor activities early to maximize your time. Plan indoor alternatives (museums, cafés, galleries) for afternoons when light fades. Evening events will happen after dark — bring warm layers and embrace San Antonio's atmospheric nighttime charm. Sunset-watching is still rewarding, but dress warmly and check the cloud forecast.
Photography at Sunrise & Sunset
Overcast skies in San Antonio during October create soft, even lighting all day — perfect for portraits and street photography without harsh shadows. For sunset shots, watch for breaks in the western sky; when the sun drops below the cloud layer, it illuminates clouds from beneath, creating vivid, unpredictable colors. Wet streets and reflections add a unique dimension to evening shots.
Seasonal Sun Patterns in San Antonio
☀️ Longest Days
July, August, March — these months bring the latest sunsets and longest daylight hours in San Antonio. Expect extended evenings perfect for outdoor dining, sunset walks, and golden hour photography. The warmest temperatures (25-36°C) coincide with the longest days.
🌙 Shortest Days
May, June, October — earlier sunsets and shorter daylight hours define this period in San Antonio. Temperatures drop to around 5-17°C. Plan outdoor activities around midday when the sun is highest. The dramatic low-angle light creates stunning photography opportunities despite the shorter window.
📍 Local Weather Insight
San Antonio sits on "Flash Flood Alley" — the Balcones Escarpment creates some of the most intense rainfall events in North America, with storms dumping 30cm+ in hours.
Local Tips for San Antonio
The River Walk is shaded and 5-8°C cooler than street level in summer
Early morning is the best time to visit the Alamo before heat and crowds build
Spring wildflowers in the Hill Country peak in April — especially bluebonnets
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When Sunset Viewing Is Not Worth It in San Antonio
- •Fully overcast skies — thick cloud cover blocks the sun entirely, producing a flat grey horizon with no color variation.
- •Heavy rain or thunderstorms — unsafe conditions and zero visibility of the sun. Check the rain forecast for San Antonio.
- •Dense smog or haze — obscures the horizon line and reduces color saturation, making sunset appear washed out.
- •West-blocked viewpoints — buildings, mountains, or trees blocking the western horizon will cut off sunset 10–30 minutes early.
What Determines Sunset Time?
Sunset time in San Antonio is determined by the city's latitude, longitude, and the time of year. During summer, the Earth's axial tilt causes the sun to take a longer path across the sky, resulting in later sunsets. In winter, the opposite occurs — shorter days mean earlier sunsets. Near the equinoxes (March and September), sunset times change most rapidly, shifting by 2–3 minutes per day. At San Antonio's latitude, the difference between the earliest and latest sunset can be several hours across the year. Our daily calculations use precise astronomical data to give you the exact sunset time accurate to the minute.
Did you know? Sunset in San Antonio shifts by up to 3 minutes per day near the equinoxes — timing matters more than you think.
Planning to watch the sunset in San Antonio?
Local Astronomy Profile · San Antonio
Subtropical latitude (29.4°) — 3.8 h annual day-length swing.
- Longest day
- 13 h 53 min
- Shortest day
- 10 h 07 min
- Sunset shifts by
- 0.6 min/day on average
- Civil twilight extends
- roughly 25–35 min after sunset
Latest possible sunset of the year (June solstice).
Earliest possible sunset of the year (December solstice).
Average daily sunset drift between the two solstices — peaks near the equinoxes.
Civil twilight is the usable shooting window after the sun is gone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is sunset in San Antonio today?
Today's sunset time for San Antonio is shown above and updates daily. Sunset times shift throughout the year based on San Antonio's latitude and the Earth's axial tilt. Summer sunsets are later, winter sunsets are earlier.
When is golden hour in San Antonio?
Golden hour in San Antonio begins approximately 1 hour before sunset and ends at sunset. The exact timing is displayed above. Morning golden hour starts at sunrise and lasts about 1 hour.
How long is the day in San Antonio?
Day length in San Antonio varies by season. Today's exact day length is shown above. At mid-latitudes, this ranges from about 8 hours in winter to 16+ hours in summer.
Is the moon visible tonight in San Antonio?
Moon visibility depends on the current phase and cloud cover. Tonight's moon phase and illumination percentage for San Antonio are shown above. A higher illumination percentage means a brighter, more visible moon.
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