What time should I leave home to be in place for sunrise or sunset?
Pick sunrise or sunset, a date and the spot, then add your drive, walk-in and setting-up times. The planner works backwards to the time you should leave and the alarm you should set.
How the tool works
The page calculates sunrise, sunset, golden hour and civil twilight for the spot you choose using the NOAA solar position method. Sunrise and sunset use the sun’s centre at -0.833 degrees. Golden hour is taken as the sun between -4 and +6 degrees, and civil twilight as -6 degrees to sunrise, which are photographers’ rules of thumb rather than official definitions. Times are good to about a minute on a flat horizon.
From your target it counts backwards: arrive at the spot a set number of minutes early (45 by default), walk in, park and kit up, drive, make any coffee or breakfast stop, then leave home and set the alarm after your wake-up prep. Every number is an input, so change it to match your own habits. All times are shown in UK time, so the clock change is included, and the page warns you on the day it happens.
The page flags a plan where you leave home or reach the parking before civil dawn or after civil dusk, because that drive will be in the dark. Allow extra time for traffic, weather and finding the way in the dark, and put in the place of the spot, not your home, when the two are in different parts of the country.
Questions
How early should I arrive before sunrise?
There is no fixed answer. 45 minutes before sunrise or before golden hour starts is a common starting point, and it gives time to find a composition and set up a tripod. Use more time if the walk is rough or you are somewhere new.
Does it include the clock change?
Yes. Times are worked out in UK time (Europe/London), so summer time and winter time are handled, and the page shows a reminder on the day the clocks change.
Does Use my location send my position anywhere?
No. The browser gives the page your coordinates and the sums are done on your device. You can choose a place or type coordinates instead.
More photography tools: Golden hour and blue hour calculator, Sunrise and sunset calculator, Night and dawn drive safety checklist