Traverse City, MI: shortest day and earliest sunset
The shortest day in Traverse City
On Dec 21 the sun rises at 8:17 am and sets at 5:05 pm: 8h 48m of daylight, a dark winter. The longest day of summer has 15h 35m, so the swing is 6h 47m.
When it gets better in Traverse City
- Earliest sunset: 5:02 pm on Dec 9, before the shortest day (here is why).
- Latest sunrise (standard time): 8:20 am on Jan 2.
- Back above 10 hours of daylight: Feb 6.
- By Feb 21 the days grow by 3 minutes a day.
Waking and coming home in the dark
With a 7:00 am alarm, the sun is not yet up on 164 weekdays a year. Heading home at 5:30 pm, it has already set on 55. 55 weekdays start and end in the dark. The alarm and lamp guide shows how that compares across the country.
At 44.8°N this is as far north as, or farther than, Nashua NH (43°N), where a 1990 survey found 9.7% of adults reported winter depression.
What to do about it in Traverse City
- A sunrise alarm clock is worth getting here: on 136 weekdays the sun is still at least 20 minutes from rising at 7:00 am. Dark mornings run from Aug 28 to Apr 14, so set it up before Aug 28.
- On daylight grounds there is a strong case for a light therapy lamp: 55 weekdays start and end in the dark. Use it in the morning, and if winter low mood is the reason, ask a doctor before you rely on one.
- If you head home at 5:30 pm, the sun has already set from Nov 2 to Jan 15: worth checking your bike lights and porch light before Nov 2.
Daylight in Traverse City, month by month
Sunrise, sunset and day length on the 21st of each month, local clock time. December is the darkest, at 8h 48m.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 6:17 am | 9:20 pm | 15h 04m |
| August 2026 | 6:52 am | 8:38 pm | 13h 46m |
| September 2026 | 7:28 am | 7:42 pm | 12h 13m |
| October 2026 | 8:06 am | 6:48 pm | 10h 42m |
| November 2026 | 7:47 am | 5:09 pm | 9h 21m |
| December 2026 | 8:17 am | 5:05 pm | 8h 48m |
| January 2027 | 8:12 am | 5:35 pm | 9h 23m |
| February 2027 | 7:34 am | 6:19 pm | 10h 45m |
| March 2027 | 7:44 am | 7:56 pm | 12h 12m |
| April 2027 | 6:48 am | 8:35 pm | 13h 47m |
| May 2027 | 6:08 am | 9:11 pm | 15h 02m |
| June 2027 | 5:57 am | 9:32 pm | 15h 35m |
Traverse City against the places around it
On the shortest day, compared with Traverse City (8h 48m, sunset 5:05 pm):
- Cadillac, MI, 36 mi away: 8h 51m of daylight (+3 min), sunset 5:06 pm (+1 min).
- Mount Pleasant, MI, 90 mi away: 8h 56m of daylight (+8 min), sunset 5:05 pm (0 min).
- Escanaba, MI, 99 mi away: 8h 40m of daylight (-8 min), sunset 5:07 pm (+2 min).
- Marinette, WI, 102 mi away: 8h 45m of daylight (-3 min), sunset 4:11 pm (-54 min), on America/Chicago time.
- Midland, MI, 103 mi away: 8h 56m of daylight (+8 min), sunset 5:03 pm (-2 min).