Time in Arizona
| Time in Arizona | |
|---|---|
| Time zone | |
 Mountain Time Zone | |
| UTC offset | |
| MST | UTC−07:00 |
| MDT | UTC−06:00 |
| Current time | |
| 17:53, 3 August 2026 MST [refresh] 18:53, 3 August 2026 MDT [refresh] | |
| Observance of DST | |
| DST is observed in some of this time zone. | |
Time in Arizona, as in all U.S. states, is regulated by the United States Department of Transportation[1] as well as by state and tribal law.
Most of Arizona is in the Mountain Time Zone and observes Mountain Time.[2] Since 1968, most of the state—except the Navajo Nation—does not observe daylight saving time and remains on Mountain Standard Time (MST) all year. This results in most of Arizona having the same time as neighboring California each year from March to November, when locations in the Pacific Time Zone observe daylight saving time. From November to March, clocks across the state match those in neighboring Utah and New Mexico.
Daylight saving time
[edit]
Unlike most of the United States, Arizona does not observe daylight saving time (DST), with the exception of the Navajo Nation. The Hopi Reservation, although entirely surrounded by the Navajo Nation, also does not observe DST.[2] As a result, traveling east on Arizona State Route 264 from Tuba City during DST involves six time zone changes in less than 100 miles (160 km).
Background
[edit]Daylight savings time became official when the Uniform Time Act became law in 1966. However, states were allowed to opt out, which Arizona did.[3] On March 21, 1968, the Arizona legislature passed the final version of SB 1, placing Arizona on Mountain Standard Time year-round.[4][5] The bill had been working its way through the legislature since January of that year, and was sponsored by state Senators Tenney, Goetze, Porter, Halacy, Garfield, Campbell, Lewis, Gregovich, Giss, Crowley, and Holsclaw. It passed the Senate 25–3–2, and afterwards the bill was passed by the House 49–1–10. It was approved by Governor Jack Williams the same day.[5]
Reasoning
[edit]Arizona’s hot desert climate is widely cited as the primary reason the state remains on standard time year-round, as daylight saving time would delay outdoor activities until later in the evening to avoid the day’s heat.[6] And although daylight saving time was intended to conserve energy, it proved counterproductive in Arizona by increasing demand for air conditioning.[7][8]
Exception
[edit]The Navajo Nation, a semi-autonomous Native American territory, follows the DST schedule that most other states/territories of the United States follow. It lies in northeastern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico, and southeastern Utah and thus maintains the same time throughout tribal lands despite state borders.[9]
Example
[edit]When daylight saving is not active, the time in Phoenix and Albuquerque, New Mexico, is the same (Mountain Standard Time), and both are one hour ahead of Los Angeles, California (Pacific Standard Time).
When daylight saving is active, the time in Phoenix (Mountain Standard Time) and Los Angeles (Pacific Daylight Time) is the same, and both are one hour behind Albuquerque (Mountain Daylight Time).
As the Navajo Nation recognizes daylight saving time, the time there is always the same as in Albuquerque.[10]
| Time | California | Arizona | New Mexico | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | Phoenix | Navajo Nation | Albuquerque | ||
| Standard time (winter) | 1 p.m. PST | 2 p.m. MST | 2 p.m. MST | 2 p.m. MST | [11] |
| Daylight time (summer) | 2 p.m. PDT | 2 p.m. MST | 3 p.m. MDT | 3 p.m. MDT | [12] |
tz database
[edit]The tz database version 2026c contains two entries for Arizona:
| CC | Coordinates | TZ | Comments | UTC offset | UTC offset DST | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | +332654 | America | MST – AZ (most areas), Creston BC | −07:00 | ||
| US | +394421 | America | Mountain (most areas) | −07:00 | −06:00 | |
References
[edit]- ↑ "Uniform Time". US Department of Transportation. 13 February 2015. Archived from the original on 24 August 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) oversees the Nation's time zones and the uniform observance of Daylight Saving Time. The oversight of time zones was assigned to DOT because time standards are important for many modes of transportation.
- 1 2 "Time Zones in Arizona, United States". timeanddate.com. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
- ↑ "The 2 states that don't do daylight saving and how they got rid of time changes for good - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. 2026-03-06. Retrieved 2026-08-02.
- ↑ 1968 Session Laws, State of Arizona, Twenty-eighth Legislature, Second Regular Session. Secretary of State of Arizona. p. 629.
- 1 2 Journal of the Senate, Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Arizona, Second Regular Session, 1968. Phoenix, Arizona: Arizona-Messenger Printing Co. p. 740.
- ↑ Smith, Jordan (2026-02-26). "Why Arizona and Hawaii Don't Observe Daylight Saving Time". HISTORY. Retrieved 2026-08-02.
- ↑ "Why Arizona opts out of daylight saving time | ASU News". news.asu.edu. Retrieved 2026-08-02.
- ↑ "Why Doesn't Arizona Observe Daylight Saving Time? | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2026-08-02.
- ↑ "No DST in Most of Arizona". Time and Date.
- ↑ Robinson, KiMi. "What time is it in Phoenix? Here's a guide to Arizona's time zones". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2026-08-02.
- ↑ "The World Clock Meeting Planner for March 1, 2019". timeanddate.com. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
- ↑ "The World Clock Meeting Planner for April 1, 2019". timeanddate.com. Retrieved March 9, 2019.