Time in Arizona

Arizona is a state that spans two time zones. The state is divided by the Colorado River, which runs through the middle of the state. The eastern part of the state is in the Eastern timezone for Arizona, while the western part of the state is in the Pacific Time Zone. When is it in Arizona? The state of Arizona spans two time zones, so it is important to know which time zone you are in. The eastern part of the state is in the Eastern Time

Arizona is a beautiful state in the southwest of the United States. The state is known for its natural beauty and its many sunsets. It is also known as the Grand Canyon State. Arizona is also the sixth-largest state in the country.

Arizona is home to the Grand Canyon National Park, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and over a mile deep.  It’s 3:15 pm on a Wednesday in Arizona. If you’re in Connecticut, it’s 12:15 pm; in Tennessee, it’s 11:15 am. In Arizona, it’s 3:15 p.m.

History of the Arizona Time Zone

The history of time zones in Arizona is fascinating due to the state’s unique approach to daylight saving time (DST). Here’s an overview:

Pre-Standard Time Zones

Before the standardization of time zones, timekeeping was a local matter, with towns setting their clocks based on the position of the sun or a well-regulated local clock. This system was chaotic for scheduling, particularly for railways.

Adoption of Standard Time Zones

In 1883, railway companies in the United States and Canada established standard time zones to streamline scheduling. The U.S. Congress formally adopted this system in 1918 with the Standard Time Act, which also incorporated daylight saving time.

Arizona and Daylight Saving Time

Arizona, situated in the Mountain Time Zone, initially participated in daylight saving time along with the rest of the country. However, due to Arizona’s hot climate, there was strong resistance to DST. The additional hour of daylight in the evening led to hotter temperatures when people were most active, which was particularly uncomfortable and costly in terms of air conditioning.

Exemption from DST

In 1968, Arizona was granted a federal exemption from daylight saving time, meaning the state would not advance clocks in the spring to begin DST. The Navajo Nation, which spans parts of Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico, decided to continue observing DST to maintain uniformity across its territory, despite the exemption.

Anomaly of the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Reservation

The Navajo Nation observes daylight saving time, making it an anomaly within Arizona. Conversely, the Hopi Reservation, which is surrounded by the Navajo Nation, does not observe DST, aligning with the rest of Arizona. This creates a unique situation where a short drive through these areas can involve multiple time changes.

Current Situation

As of my last update in April 2023, Arizona does not observe daylight saving time, except for the Navajo Nation. This means that for most of the state, the time zone is effectively Mountain Standard Time year-round. When the rest of the Mountain Time Zone moves their clocks forward for DST, Arizona is effectively on the same time as Pacific Daylight Time.

Legislative Attempts

There have been occasional legislative attempts to change Arizona’s approach to DST, either to adopt it statewide or to put the decision to a public vote. However, as of my last update, none of these efforts have been successful.

What Time Zone in Arizona?

Arizona is located in the Mountain Time Zone and follows Mountain Standard Time (MST) year-round. Unlike most U.S. states, Arizona does not observe Daylight Saving Time (DST), meaning residents do not change their clocks in spring or fall.

Because of this unusual system, Arizona shares the same time as neighboring Mountain states during winter but matches California and Pacific Time during summer.

This unique time setup often confuses travelers, remote workers, tourists, and businesses scheduling meetings across different states. In this complete guide, you’ll learn how Arizona time works, why the state avoids daylight saving time, and how Arizona compares to other U.S. time zones.

Arizona Time Zone Quick Answer

Topic Details
Standard Time Zone Mountain Standard Time (MST)
UTC Offset UTC -7
Daylight Saving Time Not observed
Summer Time Match Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)
Winter Time Match Mountain Time states
Major Cities Phoenix, Tucson, Scottsdale
Exception Navajo Nation observes DST

What Time Zone Does Arizona Use?

Arizona officially uses Mountain Standard Time (MST) throughout the entire year.

Mountain Standard Time is:

  • 7 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC-7)
  • Part of the Mountain Time Zone in North America
  • Shared with states like Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico during winter

Unlike most states in the Mountain Time Zone, Arizona does not switch to Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) during summer.

This means:

  • Arizona clocks never move forward
  • Arizona clocks never move backward
  • Time stays consistent all year

Cities using MST year-round include:

  • Phoenix
  • Tucson
  • Scottsdale
  • Mesa
  • Flagstaff

Does Arizona have 2 time zones?

Yes, Arizona can be said to have two effective time zones.

The state is situated in the Mountain Standard Time (MST) zone. The majority of Arizona does not adhere to daylight saving time (DST). In contrast, the Navajo Nation in the northeast of the state observes DST. As a result, they switch to Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) from March to November, in line with DST.

Between November and March, during the non-DST months, the entire state of Arizona operates on Mountain Standard Time. However, with the onset of DST, the Navajo Nation moves one hour ahead of the rest of Arizona. This practice is due to the Navajo Nation’s territory extending into Utah and New Mexico, where DST is observed.

Does Arizona Observe Daylight Saving Time?

No, most of Arizona does not observe Daylight Saving Time (DST).

While most U.S. states change clocks twice per year:

  • “Spring forward” in March
  • “Fall back” in November

Arizona keeps the same time throughout the year.

This makes Arizona one of the few places in the United States that avoids daylight saving time entirely.

However, there is one important exception:

  • The Navajo Nation observes DST

We’ll explain this later in the article.

Why Doesn’t Arizona Change Clocks?

Arizona stopped observing daylight saving time in 1968 due to its extremely hot desert climate.

Main Reasons Arizona Avoids DST

1. Extreme Summer Heat

Arizona summers are among the hottest in the United States.

In cities like Phoenix:

  • Temperatures often exceed 110°F (43°C)
  • Evening heat can remain intense after sunset

State officials believed longer daylight evenings would:

  • Increase air-conditioning use
  • Raise electricity demand
  • Keep outdoor temperatures hotter later into the night

2. Energy Savings

Supporters of standard time argued that avoiding DST could reduce energy consumption.

By keeping sunsets earlier during summer:

  • Residents return indoors sooner
  • Cooling demand may decrease
  • Electricity usage may become more manageable

3. Consistent Scheduling

Arizona residents also preferred:

  • Stable time throughout the year
  • No clock adjustments
  • Fewer scheduling mistakes

Today, Arizona’s fixed time system remains popular among many residents.

What is the Difference Between Standard Time and Daylight Saving Time?

Standard time is the time that is set by the government and daylight saving time is the time that is set by the government and moved one hour ahead during the summer.  The United States participates in daylight saving time.  The sun rises later in the summer and the sun rises earlier in the summer. To make it easier to go to work and come home from work the government moves the clock ahead one hour. 

The world has organized time zones, or time zones that are fifteen degrees apart or thirty minutes. If a person wishes to know what time it is when it is dark at home, and it is light at work they can look at a clock at work. It will show the local time, which is an hour later than the home time. The person then can add or subtract an hour to get the right time at the home or business. There are 24 hours in a day, so the answer is easy to calculate.

How Many Time Zones Are in the United States?

There are six time zones in the United States. They are Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific, Alaska, and Hawaii. The Eastern time zone is the most populous, and it covers the eastern part of the country. The Central time zone covers the central part of the country and it’s the second-most populous. time zone.

The Mountain time zone (or the Mountain standard time zone) covers the western part of the country, as well as parts of the northeastern part. The Pacific and Alaska time zones cover smaller areas. Puerto Rico also has a time zone. 

Conclusion: There are 24 time zones in the world. Arizona is in the Mountain Standard Time Zone. There are 11 time zones in the United States. For more information, visit RSLOnline.

Why does the Navajo Nation Follow Daylight-saving Time?

Although the Navajo Reservation near the Four Corners region does not have an official time zone, it has chosen to adhere to daylight-saving time like the rest of the country. (except the rest of Arizona and the state of Hawaii). The reservation area is large (over 27,400 square miles) and because parts of it reach into neighboring states that do observe daylight saving time, the decision was made in 1968 to stick to the time change.

What is even more interesting is that there are two different Native American reservations situated inside the Navajo Nation; The Hopi reservation is surrounded by the Navajo reservation, and they do not follow daylight-saving time. Sounds interesting, right? You can also read more like this here.

This means if you were to drive from one side of the Navajo reservation, through the Hopi reservation, and back into Navajo land within a 100-mile span, you would change time zones several times!

The Navajo Nation is a beautiful and sacred place where you can find the world-famous Monument Valley and the looming mountain formation known as Shiprock. There are also many charming small towns full of hospitable people.

Why does Arizona not follow Daylight Saving Time?

A bill was put forth in Arizona to keep the state’s clocks on the same time year-round. The argument for observing daylight-saving time is that it gives workers more light in the evenings and less light in the mornings through spring and summer.

Arizona’s legislature decided that since Arizona has more sunny days and daylight than other states, we don’t need an extra hour of sunlight in the hot summer months. Most Arizonans would agree; not having to change the clocks twice a year is a nice perk!

Most phones and cars can automatically change time zones, making road trips across state lines more convenient.

Is Arizona at the same time as California?

Arizona and California share the same time only part of the year:

During Standard Time: Arizona is in Mountain Standard Time (MST) and California is in Pacific Standard Time (PST), so Arizona is one hour ahead of California.

During Daylight Saving Time (DST): Most of Arizona does not observe DST and remains on MST, which is equivalent to Pacific Daylight Time (PDT). During this period, Arizona and California share the same time.

The exception is the Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona, which does observe DST. During DST, this area is not at the same time as California.

Arizona Time Compared to Other States

Arizona vs California Time

Winter

Arizona is:

  • 1 hour ahead of California

Summer

Arizona and California share the same time because:

  • California moves to Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)
  • Arizona stays on MST

Arizona vs New York Time

Winter

Arizona is:

  • 2 hours behind New York

Summer

Arizona becomes:

  • 3 hours behind New York

This happens because New York observes DST while Arizona does not.

Arizona vs Texas Time

Texas has multiple time zones, but most major Texas cities use Central Time.

Winter

Arizona is:

  • 1 hour behind Texas

Summer

Arizona remains:

  • 2 hours behind Texas

Arizona vs Colorado Time

Winter

Arizona and Colorado share the same time.

Summer

Colorado moves to MDT while Arizona stays on MST.

As a result:

  • Arizona becomes 1 hour behind Colorado during the summer.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What time zone is Phoenix, Arizona?

Phoenix uses Mountain Standard Time (MST) year-round.

Does Arizona use PST or MST?

Arizona officially uses MST, not Pacific Standard Time (PST).

Does Arizona ever change clocks?

Most of Arizona does not change clocks.

Why is Arizona different from other states?

Arizona avoids daylight saving time mainly because of its desert climate and energy concerns.

Is Arizona always on Mountain Time?

Yes, Arizona stays on Mountain Standard Time all year.

Does Scottsdale observe daylight saving time?

No. Scottsdale follows the same time system as Phoenix and most of Arizona.

Is Las Vegas the same time as Arizona?

Only during the summer.

In winter, Las Vegas is 1 hour behind Arizona

In summer, both locations share the same time

Does the Grand Canyon use DST?

Most Grand Canyon areas follow Arizona’s standard system.

However, areas inside the Navajo Nation may observe DST.

Final Thoughts

Arizona has one of the most unique time systems in the United States.

The state remains on Mountain Standard Time (MST) year-round and does not observe Daylight Saving Time, except within the Navajo Nation.

Because Arizona never changes clocks:

  • It matches the Mountain states during winter
  • It matches the Pacific states during the summer

Understanding how Arizona time works can help travelers, businesses, remote workers, and tourists avoid scheduling confusion throughout the year.

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