Idaho Time Zone

Idaho is a state in the United States’ northwestern region. ID is the postal abbreviation for Idaho in the United States. Idaho Time Zone provided service in two time zones. Idaho’s north is in the Pacific Time Zone, while its south is in the Mountain Time Zone. Boise, Twin Falls, and Pocatello are among the cities in the Mountain Standard Time Zone. 

Lewiston, Moscow, and Coeur D’Alene are all in the Pacific Standard Time Zone. During the summer, Idaho time zones observe Daylight Saving Time. The South observes Mountain Daylight Time, whereas the North observes Pacific Daylight Time.

History of Idaho Time Zone

Idaho’s time zone history is quite interesting due to its geographical and political considerations. Here is a brief overview:

Initial Adoption of Time Zones (1883): The concept of time zones was introduced in the United States in 1883 by the railroads. Before this, local solar time was used, which varied from town to town. The U.S. was divided into four time zones: Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific. Idaho, being located in the western part of the country, was primarily in the Mountain Time Zone.

Northern Idaho Alignment with Pacific Time Zone: Northern Idaho, particularly the Panhandle region, aligned itself with the Pacific Time Zone. This was due to the region’s close economic and transportation ties with the Pacific Northwest, especially Washington State. The division generally runs along the Salmon River, with the northern part of the state on Pacific Time and the southern part on Mountain Time.

Daylight Saving Time (DST) Adoption: Like most of the U.S., Idaho observes Daylight Saving Time, which starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. However, the implementation and adherence to DST have varied over the years, with some debates and legislative actions taken to modify or abolish it.

Ongoing Discussions and Legislative Actions: There have been ongoing discussions and legislative actions regarding Idaho’s time zone alignment and the observance of Daylight Saving Time. Some proposals have included shifting the entire state to a single time zone or opting out of DST.

Idaho’s time zone history reflects the state’s unique geographic position and its evolving economic and social connections with neighboring regions. The dual time zone status and the ongoing debates about DST are indicative of the complexities involved in managing time in a diverse and geographically varied state like Idaho.

What Time Zone in Idaho?

Idaho is separated into two different time zones. The ten counties and 25 percent of the state located above the Salmon River are in the Pacific Time zone and observe daylight savings, so two distinct clocks are depending on the season. 

• Pacific Standard Time (PST): – 8:00 UTC/GMT (behind)
• Pacific Daylight Time (PDT): – 7:00 UTC/GMT (behind)

The majority of Idaho south of the Salmon River is in the Mountain Time Zone and observes daylight saving time, therefore two clocks differ depending on the season.

• Mountain Standard Time (MST): – 7:00 UTC/GMT (behind)
• Mountain Daylight Time (MDT): – 6:00 UTC/GMT (behind)

It can be difficult to cross state borders. Utah, Wyoming, and Montana are on Mountain Time, whereas Washington and Nevada are on Pacific Time. Depending on the location of your border crossing, you can enter a different time zone due to Idaho’s dual time zones.

Information About Idaho Time Zone 

Idaho is in the Pacific Time Zone, so the time is Pacific Standard Time (PST) during standard time and Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) during daylight saving time.

Time Zones Currently Being Used in Idaho

• Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)
• Mountain Daylight Time (MDT)

Schedule a Phone Call from Arizona to Idaho

If you live in Arizona and want to call a buddy in Idaho, consider calling them between the hours of 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM. Because Idaho (ID) is one hour ahead of Arizona (AZ), this will be between 7 AM and 11 PM their time. If you’re available at any time but need to reach someone at work in Idaho, try between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM your time. During normal business hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. is the optimum time to contact them.

Is Idaho in PST or MST?

Idaho is divided between two time zones. The Pacific Time Zone (PST) and the Mountain Time Zone (MST).

Pacific Time Zone: The northern part of Idaho, particularly the Panhandle region, which includes cities like Coeur d’Alene, Sandpoint, and Lewiston, follows Pacific Standard Time (PST).

Mountain Time Zone: The rest of the state, including major cities like Boise, Idaho Falls, and Twin Falls, is in the Mountain Standard Time (MST) zone.

This division is primarily due to the economic and transport links Northern Idaho has with the Pacific Northwest, particularly with states like Washington. The rest of Idaho, being more centrally located than the rest of the Mountain states, aligns with Mountain Time.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does Idaho have 2 time zones?

Idaho is separated into two time zones: the north follows Pacific Time (UTC 8 h) and the south follows Mountain Time (UTC 7 h).

Is Idaho 2 hours behind New York?

Idaho is two hours behind New York in time. To open and share the event time page, click any time in the table below.

Why is Idaho different time zones?

The boundary is easily distinguished since it essentially follows the line that separates Washington and Oregon. Idaho counties east of Washington follow Pacific Time, whereas Idaho counties east of Oregon use Mountain Time. The rest of the state is covered by the Mountain Time Zone (UTC 07:00, DST UTC 06:00).

Does Idaho have a time change?

Montana passed and signed legislation in May 2021 to keep the state on daylight saving time all year if Congress or the United States Department of Transportation approves. Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, or Wyoming must also implement full-year daylight saving time first.

What GMT zone is Idaho in?

The Mountain Time Zone, which is 7 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), is used in the southern part of Idaho (except in the Panhandle and Clearwater Regions). The Panhandle and Clearwater regions of Idaho are in the Pacific Time Zone, which is 8 hours behind GMT.

Conclusion 

In summary, Idaho is mostly in the Pacific Time Zone and observes Daylight Saving Time. However, exceptions exist, such as the panhandle region of Idaho that follows Mountain Time. If you plan to visit Idaho or live in the state, make sure to check the local time zone and DST rules to avoid any confusion regarding time differences.

Additionally, keep in mind that some tribal lands may have their own unique time zones, so it’s always best to double-check before making plans. Understanding the time zone in which you are located will help ensure that you arrive at appointments on time and don’t miss out on planned events due to confusion regarding time differences.