Sun path · Chicago
Sunrise & sunset direction in Chicago
See which way the sun rises and sets in Chicago, with the full arc showing elevation against compass direction. Dashed curves show the June solstice, equinox and December solstice for comparison.
Drag the timeline to see where the sun will be in the sky.
Sun path in Chicago on Wed, Sep 23
The sun rises at 90°, E and sets at 270°, W in Chicago, reaching a peak elevation of 48° at solar noon. Day length is 12h 7m, measured from sunrise to sunset.
The chart above plots the full arc of the sun across the sky. The horizontal axis is compass direction, the vertical axis is elevation. Dashed reference curves show the June solstice, equinox and December solstice so you can see how the arc shifts through the year.
Use the scrubber to walk through the day and read the sun's compass bearing and elevation at any moment. For photography, check which direction light will come from at your planned shoot time and whether your subject will be front-lit, side-lit or backlit.
Sunrise and sunset direction in Chicago
Bearings are measured clockwise from north and calculated from the sun path for this location.
| Date | Sun rises | Sun sets |
|---|---|---|
| Today | 90°, E | 270°, W |
| June solstice | 57°, ENE | 303°, WNW |
| Equinox | 89°, E | 271°, W |
| December solstice | 121°, ESE | 239°, WSW |
Shooting the light in Chicago
Chicago’s defining feature is a water horizon to the east. Lake Michigan gives the city ocean-grade sunrises - sun climbing straight out of open water - and the lakefront parks and beaches all face it. Evening reverses the game: the skyline catches warm light from the west while the lake behind it goes soft and pastel.
The street grid runs true east-west, so around each equinox - late March and late September - the rising and setting sun aligns with the streets. Chicagohenge frames the sun in steel canyons, best on the downtown bridges.
Where photographers go
Adler Planetarium peninsula
The full skyline across the water at dawn, frontlit as the sun climbs out of the lake behind you.
North Avenue Beach
Skyline to the southwest over sand and water; strong at both golden hours.
Kinzie Street Bridge
A prime Chicagohenge sightline down the river-canyon streets at the equinoxes.
Montrose Point
A quieter lakefront dawn, with skyline, harbor and migrating birds in season.
Frequently asked
- Which way does the sun rise in Chicago?
- On Wed, Sep 23, the sun rises in Chicago at 90°, E (east).
- Which direction does the sun set in Chicago in December?
- At the December solstice, the sun sets in Chicago at 239°, WSW (west-southwest).
- How high does the sun get in Chicago?
- On Wed, Sep 23, the sun reaches about 48° above the horizon at its highest point in Chicago.
