Bristol, VA: shortest day and earliest sunset
The shortest day in Bristol
On Dec 21 the sun rises at 7:37 am and sets at 5:17 pm: 9h 39m of daylight, a moderate winter. The longest day of summer has 14h 40m, so the swing is 5h 01m.
When it gets better in Bristol
- Earliest sunset: 5:13 pm on Dec 6, before the shortest day (here is why).
- Latest sunrise (standard time): 7:41 am on Jan 6.
- Back above 10 hours of daylight: Jan 18.
- By Feb 21 the days grow by 2.2 minutes a day.
Waking and coming home in the dark
With a 7:00 am alarm, the sun is not yet up on 143 weekdays a year. Heading home at 5:30 pm, it has already set on 49. 45 weekdays start and end in the dark. The alarm and lamp guide shows how that compares across the country.
At 36.6°N this sits between Sarasota FL (27°N, 1.4%) and Nashua NH (43°N, 9.7%) in a 1990 survey of winter depression by latitude.
What to do about it in Bristol
- A sunrise alarm clock is worth getting here: on 90 weekdays the sun is still at least 20 minutes from rising at 7:00 am. Dark mornings run from Sep 2 to Apr 9, so set it up before Sep 2.
- There is some case for a light therapy lamp: 45 weekdays start and end in the dark. If you notice winter low mood, ask a doctor whether one fits you.
- If you head home at 5:30 pm, the sun has already set from Nov 3 to Jan 8: worth checking your bike lights and porch light before Nov 3.
Daylight in Bristol, month by month
Sunrise, sunset and day length on the 21st of each month, local clock time. December is the darkest, at 9h 39m.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 6:26 am | 8:44 pm | 14h 17m |
| August 2026 | 6:51 am | 8:12 pm | 13h 21m |
| September 2026 | 7:16 am | 7:27 pm | 12h 11m |
| October 2026 | 7:42 am | 6:44 pm | 11h 03m |
| November 2026 | 7:13 am | 5:16 pm | 10h 04m |
| December 2026 | 7:37 am | 5:17 pm | 9h 39m |
| January 2027 | 7:38 am | 5:43 pm | 10h 05m |
| February 2027 | 7:10 am | 6:15 pm | 11h 05m |
| March 2027 | 7:31 am | 7:41 pm | 12h 10m |
| April 2027 | 6:47 am | 8:08 pm | 13h 21m |
| May 2027 | 6:17 am | 8:34 pm | 14h 17m |
| June 2027 | 6:10 am | 8:50 pm | 14h 40m |
Bristol against the places around it
On the shortest day, compared with Bristol (9h 39m, sunset 5:17 pm):
- Bristol, TN, 5 mi away: 9h 40m of daylight (+1 min), sunset 5:17 pm (0 min).
- Elizabethton, TN, 20 mi away: 9h 41m of daylight (+2 min), sunset 5:18 pm (+1 min).
- Kingsport, TN, 22 mi away: 9h 40m of daylight (+1 min), sunset 5:18 pm (+1 min).
- Johnson City, TN, 23 mi away: 9h 41m of daylight (+2 min), sunset 5:18 pm (+1 min).
- Boone, NC, 39 mi away: 9h 42m of daylight (+3 min), sunset 5:16 pm (-1 min).