Gainesville, GA: shortest day and earliest sunset
The shortest day in Gainesville
On Dec 21 the sun rises at 7:38 am and sets at 5:29 pm: 9h 52m of daylight, a moderate winter. The longest day of summer has 14h 27m, so the swing is 4h 35m.
When it gets better in Gainesville
- Earliest sunset: 5:25 pm on Dec 4, before the shortest day (here is why).
- Latest sunrise (standard time): 7:42 am on Jan 7.
- Back above 10 hours of daylight: Jan 9.
- By Feb 21 the days grow by 2 minutes a day.
Waking and coming home in the dark
With a 7:00 am alarm, the sun is not yet up on 161 weekdays a year. Heading home at 5:30 pm, it has already set on 26. 26 weekdays start and end in the dark. The alarm and lamp guide shows how that compares across the country.
At 34.3°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 Gainesville
- A sunrise alarm clock is worth getting here: on 102 weekdays the sun is still at least 20 minutes from rising at 7:00 am. Dark mornings run from Aug 20 to Apr 16, so set it up before Aug 20.
- There is some case for a light therapy lamp: 26 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 17 to Dec 22: worth checking your bike lights and porch light before Nov 17.
Daylight in Gainesville, month by month
Sunrise, sunset and day length on the 21st of each month, local clock time. December is the darkest, at 9h 52m.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 6:38 am | 8:45 pm | 14h 06m |
| August 2026 | 7:01 am | 8:15 pm | 13h 14m |
| September 2026 | 7:23 am | 7:33 pm | 12h 11m |
| October 2026 | 7:46 am | 6:54 pm | 11h 08m |
| November 2026 | 7:14 am | 5:28 pm | 10h 14m |
| December 2026 | 7:38 am | 5:29 pm | 9h 52m |
| January 2027 | 7:39 am | 5:54 pm | 10h 15m |
| February 2027 | 7:14 am | 6:24 pm | 11h 10m |
| March 2027 | 7:38 am | 7:48 pm | 12h 10m |
| April 2027 | 6:57 am | 8:12 pm | 13h 15m |
| May 2027 | 6:29 am | 8:35 pm | 14h 05m |
| June 2027 | 6:24 am | 8:51 pm | 14h 27m |
Gainesville against the places around it
On the shortest day, compared with Gainesville (9h 52m, sunset 5:29 pm):
- Flowery Branch, GA, 10 mi away: 9h 52m of daylight (0 min), sunset 5:30 pm (+1 min).
- Braselton, GA, 13 mi away: 9h 53m of daylight (+1 min), sunset 5:30 pm (+1 min).
- Buford, GA, 15 mi away: 9h 53m of daylight (+1 min), sunset 5:31 pm (+2 min).
- Jefferson, GA, 17 mi away: 9h 53m of daylight (+1 min), sunset 5:29 pm (0 min).
- Sugar Hill, GA, 18 mi away: 9h 53m of daylight (+1 min), sunset 5:31 pm (+2 min).