Sunrise to Sunset – Find the Best Time for a Scenic Drives in Phoenix

The best time for scenic drives in Phoenix is usually the hour after sunrise or the hour before sunset, when the light is soft, the desert colors deepen, and the heat eases. Which one wins depends on the season. From June through September, sunrise is the safer pick because mornings are cooler and monsoon storms tend to build later in the day. From late fall through spring, sunset drives are hard to beat, though in winter they often overlap with the evening rush.

This guide compares sunrise, midday, and sunset drives, then covers seasonal timing, traffic, glare, and safety. Whether you’re taking your own car or booking an exotic car rental Phoenix for a special evening, you’ll know when to leave and which route fits the light. Here is how to time it.

Sunrise, Midday, or Sunset: How Each Time of Day Compares

Each part of the day gives a Phoenix drive a different feel. The right choice comes down to what you want most: cooler air, empty roads, or the best color on the mountains.

Sunrise Drives

Early morning is the coolest part of a Phoenix day, which makes it the most comfortable window for a desert drive for much of the year. Weekend mornings are usually quiet on the roads, and the low sun lights up saguaros and rock faces from the side, which brings out texture.

The tradeoffs are timing and glare. In winter, sunrise comes late enough to run into weekday rush hour, and driving east into a rising sun is tiring on the eyes. Wildlife is also more active around dawn on roads outside the city.

Midday Drives

Midday light is flat and harsh, so the desert looks washed out and photos lose depth. In summer, it is also the hottest and least comfortable time to be in a car with the windows down or the top off.

Midday does make sense in winter, when the January normal high in Phoenix is under 70 degrees. It also works for longer road trips that need daylight in both directions. If you’d rather stay close to town, our guide to the best neighborhoods to drive in Phoenix covers short city routes that suit a relaxed daytime cruise.

Sunset Drives

Sunset brings the warmest, most colorful light of the day. Mountain ranges glow, the sky changes fast, and the evening air feels softer than the afternoon. For couples and anyone hoping to take photos, it is the most popular choice.

Sunset has more moving parts, though. Summer evenings stay hot, monsoon storms often arrive in the afternoon or evening, and you’ll be driving home in the dark. Some viewpoints also close their parking areas around sunset, so check hours before you go.

What “Golden Hour” Actually Means

Golden hour is a photography term rather than an official one. It usually describes the time when the sun is between about 6 degrees below and 6 degrees above the horizon, which lasts close to an hour at Phoenix’s latitude. The darker end of it overlaps with civil twilight, when the National Weather Service notes the horizon and landscape are still visible even after the sun has set.

That window passes quickly, so plan to be parked at your viewpoint before it starts. If photos are part of the plan, these luxury car photography tips cover how to use natural light and angles around golden hour.

How the Season Changes the Best Time to Drive

Phoenix has no single best time of day all year. Heat, storms, and day length shift the answer from season to season.

Summer (June to September)

Summer is the season where sunrise clearly wins. The July normal high in Phoenix is about 106 degrees, and even the normal low is about 84, so the coolest air of the day is still warm. Sunrise comes as early as 5:17 a.m. in June, which means leaving well before 5 a.m. to reach a viewpoint for first light.

The National Weather Service runs Arizona’s monsoon season from June 15 through September 30. Storms often build in the afternoon and evening, bringing wind, blowing dust, and flash flooding, which makes summer sunset drives harder to plan.

Fall (October and November)

Fall is when both ends of the day start working well. The October normal high drops to about 89 degrees, and sunsets move earlier each week. On October 20, 2026, the sun set in Phoenix at 5:48 p.m., so an after-work sunset drive becomes tight on weekdays.

Winter (December to February)

Winter flips the summer logic. Mornings can be chilly, with the January normal low around 46 degrees, while afternoons stay mild. Sunset comes as early as 5:20 p.m. in early December, and sunrise arrives as late as 7:33 a.m. in early January. That makes late afternoon into sunset the easiest window for most people. For seasonal route ideas, see our roundup of winter exotic car adventures in Arizona.

Spring (March to May)

Spring starts with comfortable days, around a 78-degree normal high in March, but warms quickly to about 94 degrees by May. Early spring suits any time of day. By late spring, sunrise and early evening are the better choices again.

One detail visitors often miss: Arizona stays on Mountain Standard Time all year. Phoenix sunrise and sunset times shift gradually with the seasons, without the one-hour jump that daylight saving time causes in most other states.

Plan Your Departure Around Phoenix Traffic

Phoenix rush hour matters more for scenic drives than most people expect. ADOT restricts HOV lanes from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, and those windows match the heaviest traffic.

Here is why that matters. In summer, sunrise and sunset both fall outside rush hour, so timing is easy. In late fall and winter, a 7:30 a.m. sunrise lands inside the morning commute, and a sunset between about 5:20 and 5:50 p.m. lands inside the evening one. On weekdays in those months, give yourself extra time to clear the city, or save the drive for a weekend.

For drives outside the metro area, work backward from sunset. Add your drive time, then build in at least 30 minutes for traffic, a fuel stop, and parking. Sedona, for example, is about two hours from Phoenix, so a weekday sunset there means leaving early in the afternoon.

Keep the Sun Behind You

Many Phoenix roads run straight east or west, so the low sun can sit directly in your line of sight at both ends of the day. That glare makes it harder to see brake lights, pedestrians, and signals, especially with a dusty windshield.

The simple fix is to plan your direction. Head west or north on morning drives, and east or north on evening drives. A route that ends facing a mountain lit by the sun behind you also gives the best view, since the light falls on the scenery instead of in your eyes. Keep sunglasses handy and clean the windshield inside and out before you leave.

Phoenix Scenic Routes and the Best Light for Each

Different routes suit different times of day. The table below matches a few well-known Phoenix scenic routes to their best light and the details to check first.

The South Mountain hours change the plan in summer. When sunset comes after 7 p.m. in the long days around midsummer, the parking areas close before the sun goes down, so sunrise is the better choice there.

For longer routes worth a full trip, our list of scenic drives across Arizona covers roads like Oak Creek Canyon and Salt River Canyon, with notes on timing and fuel.

Phoenix Sunrise and Sunset Times at a Glance

These 2026 reference points show how much the timing changes through the year. Times are Mountain Standard Time, and they shift a little each day, so check the exact time for your date before you go.

Day length in Phoenix ranges from about 9 hours and 56 minutes on December 21 to about 14 hours and 22 minutes on June 21. Temperatures change just as much:

Stay Safe on Dawn and Dusk Drives

Low light changes how you drive, especially on roads outside the city. Keep these points in mind before an early or late scenic drive.

• Headlights: Arizona law (A.R.S. 28-922) requires lighted lamps from sunset to sunrise and any time visibility is too low to clearly see people and vehicles.
• Wildlife: ADOT urges extra alertness at dusk and dawn, and advises braking firmly and staying in your lane rather than swerving for most animals.
• Twilight: the landscape stays visible for a short time after sunset, but contrast drops fast, so plan unfamiliar mountain roads for daylight.
• Monsoon weather: check the National Weather Service forecast and ADOT’s az511.gov before summer drives, and pull completely off the road if you meet a dust storm.
• Heat: carry extra water and keep your fuel tank well above a quarter, even on short summer drives.

Pick a Car That Fits the Time of Day

The time of day should shape the car you choose, especially for a convertible. Top-down driving is at its best on cool mornings and mild evenings from fall through spring. In summer, midday sun and heat make an open roof uncomfortable, so save the top-down stretch for the first hour after sunrise.

A convertible like the Ferrari 488 Spider suits a short sunset loop with a viewpoint stop, when the air is cooling and the light is at its best. Plan for the drive back in the dark as well, and confirm the headlights and climate controls work before you set out.

Low sports cars also need routes that match them. The Apache Trail is paved only as far as Tortilla Flat, and rental agreements often restrict unpaved roads and limit daily mileage, so read the terms before choosing a longer route. For more options built around open-air driving, see this list of luxury convertibles worth renting.

Timing Mistakes to Avoid

• Planning a July sunset without a forecast check: monsoon storms often hit in the afternoon or evening.
• Arriving at South Mountain after 7 p.m.: the parking and entrance areas close at that time.
• Choosing Sunday morning for Summit Road: the road closes to cars on Sunday mornings and all day on the fourth Sunday.
• Leaving too late for a distant sunset: Sedona is about two hours away before traffic and stops.
• Driving straight into the sun: plan your direction so the low sun stays behind you.
• Forgetting the winter rush overlap: a weekday winter sunset lands in the middle of the evening commute.

Conclusion

For most of the year, the best time for scenic drives in Phoenix is the hour after sunrise or the hour before sunset. Choose sunrise in summer for cooler air and fewer storms, and sunset from fall through spring for the warmest light. Check the exact sunrise or sunset for your date, plan around weekday rush hours, keep the sun behind you, and confirm park hours before you leave.

If you’d like a convertible or sports car for that drive, Premier Luxury Club offers luxury and exotic rentals across Phoenix and the surrounding area. Tell the team when and where you plan to drive, and they can help you choose a car that suits the route and the light.

FAQs

What time is sunset in Phoenix?

It depends on the date. In 2026, sunset ranges from about 5:20 p.m. in early December to about 7:42 p.m. in late June. Arizona does not observe daylight saving time, so the time changes gradually without a one-hour jump.

Is sunrise or sunset better for a scenic drive in Phoenix in summer?

Sunrise is usually better. Mornings are the coolest part of the day, traffic is lighter, and monsoon storms tend to build later. Summer sunsets can work too, but check the forecast first.

Can you drive up South Mountain for sunset?

Yes, when sunset comes before the park’s parking areas close at 7 p.m., which covers most of the year. Around midsummer, sunset comes later than that, so sunrise is the better option. Summit Road also closes to cars on Sunday mornings and all day on the fourth Sunday of each month.

What is the best month for scenic drives around Phoenix?

October through April is the most comfortable stretch for most people, based on normal highs from the mid 60s to the high 80s. The best month also depends on the route, since higher areas like Sedona and Flagstaff can get snow in winter.

Is it safe to drive desert roads near Phoenix after dark?

Paved highways are generally fine with care, but lighting is limited outside the city and wildlife is more active around dusk. Use your headlights, slow down, and save unfamiliar winding roads for daylight.