← Rider Toolkit
Sunrise & Sunset Planner
The best miles on Route 66 are the ones you ride in the right light. Pick a month, see roughly when the sun comes up and goes down at each major stop, and plan your day around the photographs.
| Stop | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | 06:00 | 20:60 |
| St Louis, MO | 06:10 | 20:50 |
| Tulsa, OK | 06:17 | 20:43 |
| Amarillo, TX | 06:20 | 20:40 |
| Albuquerque, NM | 06:20 | 20:40 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | 06:20 | 20:40 |
| Kingman, AZ | 06:20 | 20:40 |
| Santa Monica, CA | 06:23 | 20:37 |
Times are rounded monthly averages and shift with longitude, daylight saving and the exact day. Use them to plan — then verify with your phone the evening before.
Photography Notes
Golden hour (sunrise)
Warm, low, side-lit. Best for neon signs, empty main streets and long shadows on the road. You will have the road to yourself.
Golden hour (sunset)
The desert glows. Best for silhouettes against silos, cacti and mountains. Park up 20 minutes early — the light goes fast.
Blue hour (after sunset)
Deep blue sky, neon still glowing. The 20 minutes after sunset is when Route 66 signs look their absolute best.