New Mexico Time Zone

New Mexico Time Zone is in the Mountain Time Zone and follows daylight saving time. New Mexico is one hour ahead of Pacific Time and two hours behind Eastern Time during daylight saving time. Throughout the year, the state does not observe any other time zone adjustments. This is critical to remember while traveling across the state or having virtual encounters with folks in New Mexico.

It’s also worth mentioning that several Native American reserves in the state do not observe daylight saving time and instead adhere to a steady standard time all year. As a result, it’s critical to double-check the precise area you’re visiting or doing business with to minimize confusion about the correct time zone.

What Time Zone in New Mexico?

New Mexico is located in the Mountain Time Zone. There are no exceptions to the fact that all counties and cities in the state share the same time zone. Because New Mexico observes daylight savings time, there are two separate clocks depending on the time of year.

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

The states of Colorado, Arizona, and Utah are all in the same time zone. When crossing the border with Oklahoma or the eastern border with Texas, however, you will enter the Central Time zone (only the southern Texas counties of El Paso and Hudspeth observe Mountain time). 

Details About New Mexico Time Zone

CountryUnited States
CapitalSanta Fe
StatesNew Mexico
Time Zone NameMountain Time Zone
Time Zone AbbreviationMDT
Time ObservedMountain Daylight Time
Time OffsetUTC -6
Longitude34.9727° N
Latitude105.0324° W

Daylight Savings Time (DST) in New Mexico

New Mexico adheres to daylight saving time, following the guidelines stated in the Uniform Time Act of 1966. This practice involves transitioning between Mountain Standard Time (MST) and Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) during specific periods.

Daylight saving time in New Mexico commences on the second Sunday of March and concludes on the first Sunday of November. In March, the clocks are moved forward from 02:00 am to 03:00 am, resulting in the loss of one hour of sleep during the night. Conversely, in November, the clocks are set back from 03:00 am to 02:00 am, providing an additional hour of sleep. To remember this sequence, people often say that clocks “spring forward and fall back.”

Overall, daylight saving time lasts for 34 weeks in New Mexico, encompassing approximately 65% of the year.

Schedule a Phone Call from New Mexico to Colorado

Since New Mexico (NM) and Colorado (CO) share the same time zone, you can conveniently call someone during your regular business hours, and it will be the corresponding time in Colorado as well. When setting up a call, be mindful of any Daylight Savings Time adjustments.

If you are in New Mexico and want to reach a friend in Colorado, you can do so anytime between 7:00 AM and 11:00 PM in your time zone. This will match the time between 7:00 AM and 11:00 PM in Colorado since they are in sync.

For contacting someone working in Colorado and having flexibility with your availability, consider reaching out between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM in your time zone. This aligns with the optimal period of 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, corresponding to the regular business hours in Colorado.

New MexicoColorado
9:00 AM9:00 AM
10:00 AM 10:00 AM 
11:00 AM11:00 AM
12:00 PM12:00 PM
1:00 PM1:00 PM
2:00 PM2:00 PM
3:00 PM3:00 PM
4:00 PM4:00 PM
5:00 PM5:00 PM

Conclusion

Overall, understanding the time zone in New Mexico is vital for anyone traveling or doing business in the state. With its location in the Mountain Time Zone and observance of daylight saving time, it’s essential to keep track of the time difference with other regions.

Additionally, being aware of any exceptions such as Native American reservations that do not follow daylight saving time can prevent confusion and ensure punctuality. By keeping these details in mind, travelers and business people can make the most out of their time in New Mexico.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What time zone is New Mexico in? 

During standard time, New Mexico is largely in the Mountain Time Zone (MST). During daylight saving time, however, it changes to Mountain Daylight Time (MDT).

Does New Mexico have 2 time zones?

5 countries Mountain and Central Time Zones Mountain time is largely used in the southwestern and Rocky Mountain states, from Arizona and New Mexico through Montana.

Is New Mexico 2 hours behind New York?

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

Is New Mexico in PST or EST?

In the United States of America (USA), New Mexico is in the Mountain Time Zone. Mountain Standard Time (MST) in the United States is 7 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT-7).

Does New Mexico observe daylight saving time? 

New Mexico does, in fact, observe daylight saving time. In the spring, the state transitions from Mountain Standard Time (MST) to Mountain Daylight Time (MDT), usually on the second Sunday of March. In the autumn, it returns to MST on the first Sunday of November.

How many hours behind is New Mexico from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)? 

During standard time, New Mexico is seven hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC-7). It is eight hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC-6) during daylight saving time.

Does the entire state of New Mexico follow the same time zone? 

Yes, New Mexico as a whole is in the same time zone. It adheres to the Mountain Time Zone, which encompasses Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, and Roswell.

Is New Mexico in the same time zone as neighboring states? 

Yes, New Mexico is in the Mountain Time Zone, along with Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and parts of Arizona, Utah, and Idaho.

Are there any exceptions within New Mexico regarding the time zone? 

There are no exceptions to the time zone within New Mexico. The Mountain Time Zone is consistently observed throughout the state.

When do clocks change in New Mexico for daylight saving time? 

On the second Sunday in March, clocks in New Mexico traditionally advance one hour to begin daylight saving time. On the first Sunday of November, they set their clocks back one hour to return to standard time.