Sunrise Time in Atlanta: What to Expect and How to Plan Your Day

If you’re trying to figure out the time of sunrise in Atlanta, you’re probably planning a morning workout on the BeltLine, an early flight from Hartsfield-Jackson, a sunrise photo at Piedmont Park, or just trying to reset your sleep schedule. Sunrise time in Atlanta changes throughout the year, but it follows a predictable pattern that’s easy to plan around once you know the basics.

Below is a clear guide to how sunrise works in Atlanta, Georgia, how it changes by season, and how to quickly estimate it for any time of year.

How Sunrise Time Works in Atlanta

Atlanta sits in the Eastern Time Zone and follows:

• Eastern Standard Time (EST) in fall and winter
• Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) in spring and summer (because of Daylight Saving Time)

Atlanta’s latitude (about 33.75° N) means:

• Days are longer in summer with early sunrises and late sunsets
• Days are shorter in winter with later sunrises and earlier sunsets

The exact sunrise time depends on:

• Date (time of year)
• Daylight Saving Time status
• Your precise location in the metro area (small differences between, say, downtown Atlanta, Sandy Springs, and College Park, but usually just a few minutes)

Sunrise Times in Atlanta by Season

The sun does not rise at the same time every day in Atlanta. Here’s how it typically shifts through the year.

Approximate Sunrise Times by Time of Year

These are typical ballpark times for Atlanta. Daily times can vary by several minutes, but this gives you a reliable planning range.

Use this as a quick planning guide if you don’t need the exact minute.

Daylight Saving Time and Sunrise in Atlanta

Atlanta observes Daylight Saving Time (DST), which shifts the clock twice a year and noticeably affects sunrise:

• ⏰ Second Sunday in March
  Clocks spring forward 1 hour (EST → EDT).
  – Sunrise appears about an hour later on the clock the next day.
  – If sunrise was 6:45 AM, it will be around 7:45 AM after the change.

• ⏰ First Sunday in November
  Clocks fall back 1 hour (EDT → EST).
  – Sunrise appears about an hour earlier on the clock.
  – If sunrise was around 7:55 AM before the change, it becomes about 6:55 AM.

This is why:

• Early spring mornings can suddenly feel darker again
• Early November mornings suddenly feel much brighter

If you’re catching MARTA, driving to an early shift downtown, or heading to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport for an early flight, pay extra attention to the time change dates so you’re not surprised by the light (or lack of it) in the morning.

Earliest and Latest Sunrise in Atlanta

If you’re curious about the extremes:

• Earliest sunrises in Atlanta typically occur in mid to late June

  • Around 6:20–6:30 AM
  • Long daylight, great for early runs on the Atlanta BeltLine or photo sessions at Kennesaw Mountain (metro area, but popular with Atlanta residents)

• Latest sunrises in Atlanta typically occur in late October to early November, just before the fall time change

  • Around 7:50–8:00 AM
  • Morning commutes on I-75, I-85, and the Downtown Connector can still be in the dark

How to Find Today’s Exact Sunrise Time in Atlanta

To get the precise sunrise time for today or a specific date in Atlanta, you can:

• Use a weather app on your phone and set the location to Atlanta, GA
• Check a built-in clock/weather widget on your smartphone
• Use a local TV weather forecast from Atlanta stations (like those serving downtown, Midtown, and surrounding neighborhoods)
• Ask a voice assistant on your device for “sunrise time in Atlanta, Georgia, on [date]”

These sources usually update for Daylight Saving Time automatically, so you don’t have to do any manual time conversion.

What Sunrise Time Means for Life in Atlanta

Commuting and Morning Routines

Knowing when the sun comes up in Atlanta helps you plan:

• School drop-offs and pickups in APS and nearby districts
• Downtown and Midtown commutes on major roads and MARTA
• Jogging or dog walks in places like Piedmont Park, Grant Park, or around neighborhood streets

In winter, sunrise after 7:30 AM means many kids and workers start their day in the dark. In summer, a sunrise around 6:25 AM gives you plenty of daylight for:

• Early walks on the BeltLine
• Morning rides on PATH trails
• Pre-work visits to local parks before the heat builds

Outdoor Activities and Photography

Atlanta has plenty of spots where timing sunrise matters:

• Piedmont Park – Skyline views as the sun rises behind or beside Midtown buildings
• Jackson Street Bridge – Iconic downtown skyline shots; sunrise angle changes with the seasons
• Stone Mountain Park (popular with Atlanta residents, just outside the city) – Sunrise hikes and views over the metro area
• Westside Reservoir Park – Wide horizons and reflective water views at sunrise

For photography and outdoor workouts, it can help to arrive 20–30 minutes before sunrise to catch first light (dawn) and set up safely.

How Sunrise Differs Across Metro Atlanta

Within the Atlanta metro area, the difference in sunrise time between neighborhoods is usually only a minute or two. For most daily planning:

• Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, West End, East Atlanta, and surrounding areas can all use the same listed sunrise time.
• Suburbs like Sandy Springs, Decatur, College Park, Marietta, and Duluth will be within a small margin of Atlanta’s sunrise time.

These differences are so minor that one sunrise time for “Atlanta, GA” works for nearly all local planning needs.

Quick Rules of Thumb for Sunrise in Atlanta

If you don’t want to look it up every time, these simple guidelines help you estimate:

• Winter (Dec–Feb)

  • Sunrise is usually between 7:20 AM and 7:45 AM
  • Cold, darker mornings; lights are often needed for early commutes and walks

• Spring (Mar–May)

  • After the March time change, sunrise gradually shifts from about 7:40 AM down to around 6:30 AM
  • Each week, sunrise gets a bit earlier

• Summer (Jun–Aug)

  • Expect sunrise roughly 6:20–6:50 AM
  • Long daylight; good for before-work outdoor plans in the city

• Fall (Sep–Nov)

  • Sunrise moves later, from around 7:00 AM up to about 7:50–8:00 AM before the time change
  • After the November time change, it jumps earlier again to around 6:50–7:00 AM

These ranges are usually accurate enough for planning exercise, commuting, or general daily routines without checking the exact minute.

Planning Around Sunrise in Specific Atlanta Contexts

Early Flights and Airport Travel

For morning flights out of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL):

• Check the sunrise time and remember that pre-dawn hours can be very dark, especially in winter.
• Allow extra travel time if you’re driving from farther suburbs with limited lighting or construction zones.

Schools and Work in the City

If you have children in Atlanta Public Schools or work in offices downtown or in Midtown:

• In late fall and winter, many school buses and commuters are on the road before sunrise.
• Reflective clothing, headlights, and awareness at crosswalks become more important when sunrise is after 7:30 AM.

Events and Recreation

Many local events and recreation choices are influenced by sunrise:

• Charity runs or races in and around Atlanta sometimes start near sunrise to avoid heat
• Fishing trips on nearby lakes (frequented by Atlanta residents) are often planned around dawn
• Morning fitness groups (boot camps, running clubs, cycling groups) often meet shortly before sunrise for safety and cooler temperatures

Knowing sunrise time helps you avoid showing up in full darkness or missing the early light that makes those experiences more enjoyable.

Simple Checklist: Using Sunrise Time in Atlanta

Here’s a quick way to make sunrise time practical in your day-to-day life:

• ✅ Check today’s sunrise time if:

  • You’re planning an early outdoor activity
  • You have an early commute or school drop-off in unfamiliar conditions
  • You’re photographing the skyline or parks at dawn

• ✅ Note the month and season:

  • Winter → later sunrise (around 7:30+ AM)
  • Summer → earlier sunrise (around 6:30 AM)

• ✅ Remember the time changes:

  • March → sunrise appears later on the clock
  • November → sunrise appears earlier on the clock

By keeping these patterns in mind, you can quickly estimate the time of sunrise in Atlanta and adjust your schedule, whether you live in the city, are visiting for a short trip, or are just getting to know how the daylight shifts across the year.