Longboat Key Sunset

What time is sunset at Longboat Key tonight?

Tonight, Thursday, October 29, the sun sets at 6:51 PM at Longboat Key. It sets over open water here, so that is when you will see it go. Golden hour starts at 6:18 PM, and the sky stays light until about 7:14 PM. Tonight's Sunset Score is 9 out of 10. Scattered clouds (32% cover): the best kind of sky, the clouds light up orange and pink.

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

Longboat Key sunset times this week

The next seven evenings at Longboat 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.

Where to watch the sunset at Longboat Key

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

Tonight’s timeline for Longboat Key Sunset is at the top of this page.

Can’t make it to the beach? Watch the live Town of Longboat Key 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 (297°); around December 21 it goes down furthest south, in the west-south-west (244°). In June it sets over open water. In December it sets over open water.

Golden hour and blue hour at Longboat 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 7:05 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.

Longboat 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 8:31 PM (Thu Jul 1). Times are local and include daylight saving time where it applies.

Tips for a great sunset at Longboat 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 Longboat Key parking for lots and rates.
• Look at the water too. Today’s wind, waves and water temperature are on the Longboat Key conditions page.
• Make a night of it. Find places to eat and sunset cruises and things to do at Longboat 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 Longboat 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.

Longboat Key sunset FAQ

Sunset tonight at beaches near Longboat Key

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