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44.9630° N92.9649° W326 mBortle 8Chicago

Sunrise, Sunset & Golden Hour in Oakdale, MN

Washington County, Minnesota · pop. 28,080

  • Sunrise 7:35 AM
  • Sunset 6:20 PM
  • Bortle 8

Oakdale is a city of about 28,080 people in Washington County, Minnesota, at 326 m (1,070 ft). Today the sun rises at 7:35 AM and sets at 6:20 PM; the evening golden hour runs 5:39 PM – 6:38 PM. Below are monthly times, sun directions, the best photo locations within 80 km and the nearest dark skies.

Light at Oakdale

Live
Sunrise
7:35 AM
Sunset
6:20 PM
Golden hour AM
7:16 AM – 8:15 AM
Golden hour PM
5:39 PM – 6:38 PM
Blue hour AM
7:05 AM – 7:16 AM
Blue hour PM
6:38 PM – 6:50 PM
Full darkness
7:58 PM – 5:58 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:50 PM / 1:17 AM
Day length
10h 45m
Sunrise azimuth
104°
Sunset azimuth
256°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Chicago. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Sunrise, sunset & golden hour by month

Month (15th)SunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January7:47 AM8:34 AM4:10 PM4:57 PM5:29 PM9h 10m
February7:14 AM7:55 AM4:59 PM5:40 PM6:10 PM10h 26m
March7:25 AM8:04 AM6:39 PM7:18 PM7:47 PM11h 53m
April6:28 AM7:07 AM7:18 PM7:57 PM8:28 PM13h 29m
May5:44 AM6:26 AM7:52 PM8:34 PM9:09 PM14h 50m
June5:25 AM6:11 AM8:16 PM9:01 PM9:38 PM15h 35m
July5:40 AM6:24 AM8:13 PM8:57 PM9:32 PM15h 16m
August6:14 AM6:55 AM7:40 PM8:20 PM8:52 PM14h 06m
September6:51 AM7:30 AM6:46 PM7:25 PM7:54 PM12h 33m
October7:28 AM8:08 AM5:49 PM6:29 PM6:58 PM11h 01m
November7:10 AM7:55 AM4:00 PM4:44 PM5:16 PM9h 34m
December7:44 AM8:33 AM3:43 PM4:32 PM5:06 PM8h 48m

Local time in America/Chicago, daylight saving time included.

Where the sun rises and sets in Oakdale

At Oakdale the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 55° (NE) at the June solstice and 123° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 305° (NW) in June to 237° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 68° in summer but only 22° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice

Best photo spots near Oakdale

54 photo locations lie within 80 km of Oakdale. Each links to a full planning page with sunrise and sunset directions.

Scenic Viewpoints

Scenic Viewpoint
Lookout Point19 km away · Washington County · 204 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Overlook Lake Park35 km away · Hennepin County · 239 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Lookout Point45 km away · Hennepin County · 288 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Taylor Falls Overlook - South54 km away · Chisago County · 232 m

Waterfalls

Saint Anthony FallsWaterfall
Saint Anthony Falls23 km away · Hennepin County · 241 m
Waterfall
Hidden Falls19 km away · Hennepin County
Minnehaha FallsWaterfall
Minnehaha Falls20 km away · Hennepin County · 247 m
Waterfall
Shadow Falls18 km away · Ramsey County · 255 m
Waterfall
Apple River Falls29 km away · Saint Croix County · 226 m
Waterfall
Cascade Falls (Osceola)50 km away · Saint Croix County

State Parks

Afton State ParkState Park
Afton State Park18 km away · Washington County
Fort Snelling State ParkState Park
Fort Snelling State Park19 km away · Dakota County
Kinnickinnic State ParkState Park
Kinnickinnic State Park22 km away · Pierce County
Willow River State ParkState Park
Willow River State Park23 km away · Saint Croix County
William O'Brien State ParkState Park
William O'Brien State Park32 km away · Washington County
Interstate ParkState Park
Interstate Park53 km away · Polk County

Lakes

Lake PhalenLake
Lake Phalen7.1 km away · Ramsey County · 262 m
White Bear LakeLake
White Bear Lake12 km away · Washington County · 281 m
Como LakeLake
Como Lake14 km away · Ramsey County · 269 m
Vadnais LakeLake
Vadnais Lake14 km away · Ramsey County · 269 m
Bennett LakeLake
Bennett Lake15 km away · Ramsey County · 270 m
Lake JosephineLake
Lake Josephine17 km away · Ramsey County · 270 m

Beaches

Beach
Cedar Lake East Beach28 km away · Hennepin County

Botanical Gardens

Como Park Zoo and ConservatoryBotanical Garden
Como Park Zoo and Conservatory15 km away · Ramsey County
Horton Park (Saint Paul, Minnesota)Botanical Garden
Horton Park (Saint Paul, Minnesota)15 km away · Ramsey County
University of Minnesota Landscape ArboretumBotanical Garden
University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum52 km away · Carver County

Night sky, Milky Way & aurora

The sky over central Oakdale is estimated at Bortle 8 (city sky). The nearest truly dark location in our database is St. Croix State Park, about 116 km (72 mi) away (Bortle 2). The Milky Way core is up during darkness from April to August, best in June. Northern lights need roughly Kp 4.5+ to appear low on the northern horizon here.

Darkest skies within 200 km

LocationTypeDistanceEst. Bortle
St. Croix State ParkState Park116 km (72 mi)2
Red Cedar LakeLake129 km (80 mi)2
Dorothy Lake State Natural AreaLake134 km (83 mi)2
Father Hennepin State ParkState Park138 km (85 mi)2
Mille Lacs National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge142 km (88 mi)2
Mille Lacs Kathio State ParkState Park143 km (89 mi)2
Mille Lacs Kathio Observation TowerFire Lookout143 km (89 mi)2
Brunet Island State ParkState Park143 km (89 mi)2
MonthMilky Way core window (15th)HoursMax altitude
March5:16 AM – 5:36 AM0.312°
April3:15 AM – 4:35 AM1.315°
May1:13 AM – 3:23 AM2.216°
June11:34 PM – 2:44 AM3.216°
July11:18 PM – 1:28 AM2.216°
August10:15 PM – 11:25 PM1.215°
September9:05 PM – 9:25 PM0.312°

Cloud cover by month

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 47% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (70%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

FAQ

What time is golden hour in Oakdale today?
Today the morning golden hour is 7:16 AM – 8:15 AM and the evening golden hour is 5:39 PM – 6:38 PM (local time). The live widget at the top updates automatically and lets you pick any date.
What time is sunset in Oakdale in October?
Around the 15th of October the sun sets at about 6:29 PM and blue hour ends around 6:58 PM.
When is the latest sunset in Oakdale?
Sunset is latest in late June — about 9:03 PM — and earliest in December, around 4:34 PM.
Where can I watch the sunset near Oakdale?
Good options nearby include Lake Phalen, White Bear Lake, Como Lake. Check each page's sunset azimuth to see whether the sun sets in view.
Can you see the Milky Way from Oakdale?
Not well from the city center (estimated Bortle 8). Drive to St. Croix State Park (116 km (72 mi)) for dark skies.
Can you see the northern lights in Oakdale?
Occasionally. Aurora needs roughly Kp 4.5 or higher to show on the northern horizon at this geomagnetic latitude (53°). Cameras pick it up before your eyes do.