Beach Guide

Lido Key Sunset

South Lido Park · painted for this minute from Lido Key’s own horizon and tonight’s cloud forecast

Thu Oct 29 · — EDTLIVE

Golden hour · the sun is 1.3° up · clear at 22%

The sun goes down at

6:45 PM

T-00:05:00

It drops behind land 345 m away to the west-south-west, 6 min before the official sunset time of 6:51 PM. Look west-south-west, to the left of South Lido Park. Golden hour starts at 6:18 PM.

Sunset Score · Mostly clear (24% cloud): a good, dependable glow.

4 PM · 6:40 PM · 9:30 PM

Prefer the real thing? Watch the live Visit Sarasota cam →

Tonight’s Lineup

artisans & buskers
🌅

Big Pass Glow

at the dip

🐬

Pass Dolphins

at dusk

🦩

Roseate Spoonbills

late afternoon

🎭

St. Armands Scene

all evening

🎸

Columbia Flamenco

Fri & Sat

Know Before You Go

South Lido

free

Sarasota County park, free parking

Big Pass

walk-in

wade into the pass for snook, redfish

Best angle

south tip

5 different water bodies visible from the point

Columbia

tableside prep

1905 salad made at the table, reserve early

see you at sunset

Tonight’s times, the week ahead and the year by month are below. South Lido Sunset runs nightly, weather permitting, from about two hours before sunset.

What time is sunset at Lido Key tonight?

Tonight, Thursday, October 29, the sun sets at 6:51 PM at Lido Key. From the sand it drops behind land 1132 feet away 6 min earlier, at 6:45 PM. Golden hour starts at 6:18 PM, and the sky stays light until about 7:14 PM. Tonight's Sunset Score is 7 out of 10. Mostly clear (24% cloud): a good, dependable glow.

Sunrise today was at 7:40 AM, which gives Lido Key 11 hr 11 min of daylight. It is fully dark by about 7:41 PM.

Lido Key sunset times this week

The next seven evenings at Lido Key: when the sun goes down, when golden hour starts and when the last light fades, plus the Sunset Score from each night's cloud forecast.

DaySunsetGolden hourLast lightCloudScore
Tonight6:45 PMfrom 6:18 PM7:14 PM24%7/10
Fri Oct 306:44 PMfrom 6:17 PM7:13 PM81%6/10
Sat Oct 316:44 PMfrom 6:16 PM7:12 PM100%3/10
Sun Nov 15:43 PMfrom 5:15 PM6:11 PM100%3/10
Mon Nov 25:43 PMfrom 5:14 PM6:11 PM42%9/10
Tue Nov 35:42 PMfrom 5:14 PM6:10 PM97%3/10
Wed Nov 45:42 PMfrom 5:13 PM6:09 PM92%3/10

On nights the sun drops behind land, the table shows the time it disappears from the beach, which is earlier than the official sunset.

Where to watch the sunset at Lido Key

Tonight the sun goes down in the west-south-west (255° on a compass), to the left of South Lido Park as you face the water. The favorite place to watch is South Lido Park.

Tonight’s timeline for South Lido Sunset is at the top of this page.

Can’t make it to the beach? Watch the live Visit Sarasota cam at sunset.

Where the sun sets through the year

The spot where the sun sets moves along the horizon through the year. Around June 21 it goes down furthest north, in the west-north-west (296°); around December 21 it goes down furthest south, in the west-south-west (242°). In June it drops behind land 1070 feet away. In December it drops behind land 1070 feet away.

Golden hour and blue hour at Lido Key

Golden hour tonight runs from 6:18 PM to sunset at 6:51 PM. The sun is low, the light is warm and soft, and shadows are long. It is the best time for photos of people on the beach.

Blue hour follows, from about 7:04 PM to 7:23 PM, when the sun is below the horizon and the sky turns deep blue. The first lights come on along the shore and the water holds the last of the color.

Lido Key sunset times by month

Sunrise, sunset and daylight on the 15th of each month. Over the next year the earliest sunset is 5:37 PM (Tue Dec 1) and the latest is 8:30 PM (Thu Jul 1). Times are local and include daylight saving time where it applies.

MonthSunriseSunsetDaylight
October 20267:31 AM7:03 PM11 hr 32 min
November 20266:52 AM5:41 PM10 hr 48 min
December 20267:14 AM5:40 PM10 hr 26 min
January 20277:23 AM5:59 PM10 hr 36 min
February 20277:09 AM6:23 PM11 hr 14 min
March 20277:42 AM7:40 PM11 hr 58 min
April 20277:07 AM7:56 PM12 hr 48 min
May 20276:43 AM8:13 PM13 hr 29 min
June 20276:36 AM8:28 PM13 hr 51 min
July 20276:46 AM8:29 PM13 hr 42 min
August 20277:03 AM8:10 PM13 hr 8 min
September 20277:17 AM7:37 PM12 hr 20 min

Tips for a great sunset at Lido Key

  • Arrive 30 to 45 minutes early. The best spots fill up, and the light is often at its best in the last half hour before the sun goes down.
  • Stay 20 minutes after. The clouds often light up brightest after the sun is gone, and most people have already left.
  • Check the Sunset Score. Scattered clouds make the most color. A clear sky gives a clean sunset that fades fast, and a heavy overcast can hide it.
  • Plan your parking. Sunset is a busy time at popular beaches. See Lido Key parking for lots and rates.
  • Look at the water too. Today’s wind, waves and water temperature are on the Lido Key conditions page.
  • Make a night of it. Find places to eat and sunset cruises and things to do at Lido Key.

How we work out the sunset time

The official sunset time is when the top of the sun sinks below a flat sea horizon. We also check Lido Key’s real horizon: the hills, headlands and islands you can see from the sand. When land is in the way, the sun disappears before the official time, and we show you that earlier time. The Sunset Score rates how colorful the sky should be from the cloud forecast at sunset. Buildings are not included, so a tall hotel beside you can still hide the last minute.

Lido Key sunset FAQ

What time is sunset at Lido Key today?

The sun sets at 6:51 PM at Lido Key today (Thursday, October 29). From the beach it drops behind land 6 min earlier, at 6:45 PM.

What time is sunrise at Lido Key today?

The sun rose at 7:40 AM at Lido Key today.

How many hours of daylight does Lido Key get today?

11 hr 11 min of daylight, from 7:40 AM to 6:51 PM.

When is golden hour at Lido Key tonight?

Golden hour at Lido Key runs from 6:18 PM to sunset at 6:51 PM, when the sun is low and the light turns warm and soft. Blue hour follows, from 7:04 PM to 7:23 PM.

When does it get dark at Lido Key tonight?

The sky stays light enough to see without a flashlight until about 7:14 PM, the end of civil twilight. It is fully dark by about 7:41 PM.

Will the sunset be good at Lido Key tonight?

Tonight's Sunset Score is 7 out of 10, from the cloud forecast at sunset. Mostly clear (24% cloud): a good, dependable glow.

Which direction does the sun set at Lido Key?

Tonight the sun sets in the west-south-west, at 255° on a compass. Through the year it moves between the west-north-west in June and the west-south-west in December.

Can you see the sun set over the water at Lido Key?

Not tonight. The sun drops behind land 1132 feet away, to the west-south-west.

What are the earliest and latest sunset times at Lido Key?

Over the next year the earliest sunset at Lido Key is 5:37 PM on Tuesday, December 1, and the latest is 8:30 PM on Thursday, July 1.

Where is the best place to watch the sunset at Lido Key?

South Lido Park is the favorite spot at Lido Key. Get there 30 to 45 minutes before sunset for a good place, and stay 20 minutes after for the afterglow.

Is there a live sunset cam at Lido Key?

Yes. The Visit Sarasota live cam shows Lido Key in real time, linked from this page.

Sunset tonight at beaches near Lido Key

Siesta Key sunset4 mi6:51 PM
Longboat Key sunset7 mi6:51 PM
Bradenton Beach sunset13 mi6:51 PM
Anna Maria Island sunset17 mi6:51 PM
Venice Beach sunset18 mi6:50 PM
Fort De Soto Park sunset23 mi6:51 PM

See every beach on one map: sunset times tonight across the US →