US Time Zones: Complete Guide to All 9 Time Zones in 2026

The United States officially recognizes 9 time zones across all states and territories, spanning from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific islands. The continental US uses 4 main zones (Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific), while additional zones include Alaska, Hawaii-Aleutian, Atlantic, Samoa, and Chamorro. Understanding time zones is essential for coordinating business meetings, scheduling phone calls, planning travel, and managing communication across different regions.

Most of the country observes Daylight Saving Time, with notable exceptions including Arizona, Hawaii, and most US territories.

Key Takeaways:

• The US has 9 official time zones by federal law (11 if including uninhabited territories like Baker Island and Howland Island)
• The continental US spans 4 time zones with a 3-hour difference from the East Coast to the West Coast
• DST begins March 8, 2026, at 2:00 AM (spring forward) and ends November 1, 2026, at 2:00 AM (fall back)
• Arizona, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands do not observe DST
• The Department of Transportation has regulated time zone boundaries since 1967 under the Uniform Time Act
• Thirteen states are split between two different time zones, creating unique scheduling challenges for residents and businesses

Quick Reference: All US Time Zones

The Four Main US Time Zones

Eastern Time Zone (ET)

The Eastern Time Zone covers 18 states stretching from Maine in the northeast to Florida in the southeast, making it the most populous time zone in the United States. Nearly 50% of the American population lives in this zone, which includes major metropolitan areas and centers of commerce.

Major Cities and Economic Centers

New York City serves as the global financial capital, housing Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange. Washington DC, the nation’s capital, operates on Eastern Time for all federal government activities. Other significant cities include Miami, Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia, Charlotte, Detroit, and Pittsburgh. The concentration of Fortune 500 companies, media headquarters, and government institutions makes Eastern Time the reference point for many national broadcasts and business operations.

Time Zone Characteristics

Eastern Standard Time operates at UTC-5 during the winter months, while Eastern Daylight Time shifts to UTC-4 during the summer. The zone spans from the Atlantic coast westward through the Great Lakes region, covering diverse geographic and economic landscapes from coastal cities to industrial heartlands.

Business and Cultural Significance

Stock market hours (9:30 AM to 4:00 PM ET) set the rhythm for global financial markets. Evening news broadcasts typically air at times optimized for Eastern Time audiences. Major sporting events often schedule start times with Eastern Time viewers in mind, recognizing the zone’s population density and media market size.

Central Time Zone (CT)

The Central Time Zone encompasses 15 states across the American Midwest and South, serving as the geographic and temporal center of the continental United States. This zone bridges the Eastern business centers with Western markets, playing a crucial role in national logistics and commerce.

Geographic Coverage and Major Cities

Chicago stands as the largest city in this zone, serving as a major transportation hub and home to the Chicago Board of Trade. Houston, the fourth-largest US city, anchors the zone’s southern reach as an energy industry capital. Dallas, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Kansas City, New Orleans, and San Antonio represent other significant population centers. The zone covers the Great Plains agricultural region, major manufacturing centers, and critical transportation corridors.

Agricultural and Industrial Importance

This zone encompasses America’s agricultural heartland, where farming operations coordinate planting and harvest schedules. Manufacturing facilities throughout the region operate on Central Time, with many serving as distribution points that bridge coastal markets. The zone’s central geographic position makes it ideal for companies managing operations across multiple time zones.

Time Offset and Characteristics

Central Standard Time operates at UTC-6, while Central Daylight Time shifts to UTC-5. The zone sits one hour behind Eastern Time and one hour ahead of Mountain Time, creating natural business hour overlaps with both coasts.

Mountain Time Zone (MT)

The Mountain Time Zone covers 8 states across the Rocky Mountain region, characterized by lower population density but significant natural resources and growing tech hubs. This zone presents unique time considerations due to Arizona’s DST exception.

Regional Coverage and Key Cities

Denver serves as the largest metropolitan area and a regional hub for energy, telecommunications, and aerospace industries. Phoenix, despite being in the Mountain zone geographically, operates differently due to Arizona’s refusal to observe DST. Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, Boise, and Colorado Springs represent other important urban centers. The zone’s terrain ranges from desert landscapes to mountain ranges, creating distinct regional subcultures.

Arizona’s Unique Approach

Most of Arizona stays on Mountain Standard Time year-round (UTC-7), never shifting to MDT. This means during the summer months, Arizona operates on the same time as Pacific Daylight Time. The Navajo Nation, which extends into Arizona from neighboring states, does observe DST to maintain consistency with its lands in Utah and New Mexico.

Economic Characteristics

The zone hosts growing tech sectors in cities like Denver and Salt Lake City, retirement communities in Arizona, tourism industries centered on national parks, and resource extraction operations. The time difference from Eastern markets affects business scheduling but also provides extended trading hours for local financial operations.

Pacific Time Zone (PT)

The Pacific Time Zone covers 4 western states along the Pacific Coast, representing the final continental time zone before Alaska and Hawaii. This zone serves as home to the technology industry, entertainment sector, and major international trade gateways.

Major Metropolitan Areas

Los Angeles stands as the second-largest US city and the entertainment capital of the world, home to Hollywood film studios and television production. San Francisco and Silicon Valley house the world’s leading technology companies, including Apple, Google, Facebook (Meta), and countless startups. Seattle serves as the headquarters for Amazon, Microsoft, and Boeing. Portland, San Diego, Las Vegas, and Sacramento round out the zone’s major cities.

Technology and Entertainment Leadership

The concentration of tech giants in the Pacific Time Zone gives this region outsized influence over global digital culture and innovation. Entertainment production schedules on Pacific Time affect release timing for content consumed nationwide and internationally. The gaming industry, centered in California and Washington, operates predominantly on Pacific Time.

Time Zone Challenges

Being 3 hours behind Eastern Time creates scheduling challenges for business calls with East Coast partners. Pacific Time workers often start their days earlier to catch morning meetings with Eastern colleagues. However, the time difference also extends the business day, as Pacific markets remain open after East Coast operations close.

Alaska and Hawaii Time Zones

Alaska Time Zone

The Alaska State operates one hour behind Pacific Time across most of the state, creating unique scheduling considerations for residents communicating with the Lower 48 states. The zone covers the vast majority of Alaska’s landmass and population centers.

Coverage and Characteristics

Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau represent the state’s major population centers, all operating on Alaska Time. The zone observes Daylight Saving Time, shifting from Alaska Standard Time (AKST, UTC-9) to Alaska Daylight Time (AKDT, UTC-8) during the summer months. This puts Alaska 4 hours behind Eastern Time during winter and maintains that difference during summer.

Unique Challenges

Alaska’s northern latitude creates extreme daylight variations between summer and winter. During summer months, some parts of Alaska experience nearly 24 hours of daylight, while winter brings extended darkness. Despite these natural light patterns, the state maintains standard time change practices for consistency with US business operations.

Hawaii-Aleutian Time Zone

This zone represents the westernmost time zone under US jurisdiction, covering Hawaii and the Aleutian Islands extending from Alaska. The zone presents unique characteristics due to Hawaii’s decision not to observe Daylight Saving Time.

Hawaii’s Permanent Standard Time

Hawaii remains on Hawaii Standard Time (HST, UTC-10) throughout the entire year, never shifting clocks forward or backward. This decision stems from Hawaii’s proximity to the equator, where seasonal daylight variation is minimal. The consistent time simplifies scheduling and aligns with residents’ preferences for stable sunset times.

Aleutian Islands Exception

The Aleutian Islands of Alaska, despite being geographically closer to Hawaii than mainland Alaska, follow this time zone but do observe DST. During summer months, the Aleutians shift to Hawaii-Aleutian Daylight Time (HADT, UTC-9), creating a one-hour difference from Hawaii itself.

Scheduling Considerations

Hawaii’s distance from the mainland creates significant time differences for communication and business. During winter, Hawaii is 5 hours behind Eastern Time, 2 hours behind Pacific Time. During summer, when the mainland observes DST but Hawaii doesn’t, the differences increase to 6 hours behind Eastern and 3 hours behind Pacific.

US Territory Time Zones

Atlantic Time Zone

The Atlantic Time Zone serves Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, representing the easternmost time under US jurisdiction. These territories operate one hour ahead of Eastern Time, creating scheduling advantages for some international business connections.

Geographic Coverage

Puerto Rico, with approximately 3.2 million residents, represents the largest population center in this zone. The US Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, St. John, St. Croix) add smaller but economically significant populations. Both territories maintain strong cultural and economic ties to the Caribbean region, where Atlantic Time is common.

No Daylight Saving Time

These territories remain on Atlantic Standard Time (AST, UTC-4) year-round, never observing Daylight Saving Time. This decision aligns with most Caribbean nations and reflects the minimal seasonal daylight variation near the equator. During the winter months, Atlantic Time matches Eastern Daylight Time, creating temporary scheduling simplicity with mainland states.

Business Implications

The time zone positioning allows these territories to start business hours before the mainland East Coast, extending the potential business day when coordinating with Eastern Time operations. Financial services and customer support operations based in Puerto Rico can serve Eastern markets with earlier opening times.

Samoa Time Zone

American Samoa operates in the Samoa Time Zone, making it the last place under US jurisdiction to see each new calendar day. The territory’s position in the South Pacific creates unique temporal characteristics.

Geographic Isolation

American Samoa sits far south of Hawaii and west of the International Date Line, positioned among Pacific island nations. The territory uses Samoa Standard Time (SST, UTC-11) without observing Daylight Saving Time, maintaining consistency year-round.

Date Line Considerations

American Samoa is one hour ahead of Hawaii but one day behind the independent nation of Samoa, which lies on the western side of the International Date Line. This creates interesting situations for communication between these neighboring island groups, which share cultural and family connections despite being technically a day apart.

Chamorro Time Zone

Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands operate on Chamorro Standard Time, making them the first US territories to experience each new day. Located west of the International Date Line, these territories are ahead of the continental US by substantial margins.

Strategic Pacific Position

Guam serves as a critical US military installation and a hub for transpacific air travel. The island’s time zone (CHST, UTC+10) puts it 15 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time during the winter months. The Northern Mariana Islands, including Saipan, share this time zone.

No Daylight Saving Time

Like other US Pacific territories, Guam and the Marianas do not observe Daylight Saving Time. The consistent time simplifies military operations, aviation schedules, and business planning. The territory’s position relative to Asian markets provides scheduling advantages for regional business operations.

Understanding Daylight Saving Time in the US

DST Schedule for 2026

Daylight Saving Time in 2026 follows the standard US schedule established by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Most Americans will adjust their clocks twice during the year, a practice that continues to generate debate about its usefulness and impacts.

Spring Forward

DST begins on Sunday, March 8, 2026, at 2:00 AM local time. At this moment, clocks spring forward to 3:00 AM, meaning Americans lose one hour of sleep that night. The transition happens simultaneously across all time zones that observe DST, though the actual clock time differs. When it’s 2:00 AM EST, clocks jump to 3:00 AM EDT. The same happens at 2:00 AM in each subsequent time zone as the transition moves westward across the country.

Fall Back

DST ends on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 2:00 AM local time. Clocks fall back to 1:00 AM, giving Americans an extra hour that night. The transition marks the return to Standard Time, which remains in effect until the following March. This later transition date (compared to most of the 20th century) reflects the 2007 extension of DST aimed at energy conservation.

Practical Preparation

Most smartphones, computers, and internet-connected devices adjust automatically. However, car dashboards, microwave clocks, traditional alarm clocks, and watch collections require manual adjustment. Many Americans use the time change as a reminder to check smoke detector batteries and replace other household items needing regular maintenance.

Which States and Territories Don’t Observe DST

Several US jurisdictions have opted out of Daylight Saving Time, choosing to maintain consistent time year-round. Understanding these exceptions is crucial for anyone scheduling across different parts of the country.

Arizona (with exception)

Most of Arizona remains on Mountain Standard Time (MST, UTC-7) throughout the entire year. The state legislature opted out of DST in 1968, concluding that shifting evening daylight later provided no benefit in the desert climate where residents already cope with extreme heat. Many Arizonans preferred consistent sunset times and saw no energy-saving advantage from DST. However, the Navajo Nation, which extends from Arizona into Utah and New Mexico, does observe DST to maintain consistency across its entire territory.

Hawaii

Hawaii never observes Daylight Saving Time, staying on Hawaii Standard Time (HST, UTC-10) year-round. The state’s proximity to the equator means seasonal daylight variation is minimal, making the time shift unnecessary. Hawaiian residents value the consistent schedule, which simplifies daily routines and maintains stable sunset times for outdoor activities and cultural practices.

US Territories

Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands all abstain from Daylight Saving Time. These Pacific and Caribbean territories, located near or below the Tropic of Cancer, experience minimal seasonal daylight changes. The consistent time aligns better with local lifestyles and reduces confusion with neighboring countries that also don’t observe DST.

The Ongoing DST Debate

Daylight Saving Time remains one of the most discussed time-related policies in America. The twice-yearly clock changes affect everything from sleep patterns to economic productivity, generating strong opinions on both sides.

Arguments for Ending DST

Health researchers point to evidence of increased heart attacks, traffic accidents, and workplace injuries in the days following time changes. The disruption to circadian rhythms affects sleep quality and cognitive performance. Critics argue that modern LED lighting has eliminated any historical energy-saving benefits. Many prefer permanent Standard Time, which better aligns with natural human sleep cycles and provides morning sunlight during winter months.

Arguments for Permanent DST

Supporters of permanent Daylight Saving Time argue that extended evening daylight benefits retail businesses, restaurants, and recreation industries. Lighter evenings may encourage more physical activity and reduce evening crime. Some studies suggest that additional evening daylight could reduce traffic accidents when more drivers commute in daylight hours.

Legislative Status

The Sunshine Protection Act, which would establish permanent Daylight Saving Time nationwide, has been introduced in Congress multiple times but has not become law. Several states have passed legislation expressing intent to adopt permanent DST, but federal approval is required for implementation. Until Congress acts, the current twice-yearly time change continues under existing federal law administered by the Department of Transportation.

States Split Between Multiple Time Zones

Thirteen US states span two different time zones, creating unique challenges and opportunities for residents and businesses. These divisions typically follow county boundaries, though in some cases they cut through counties.

Eastern and Central Time States

Florida divides between Eastern Time (most of the state) and Central Time (the panhandle region west of the Apalachicola River). The division reflects the state’s east-west orientation and the panhandle’s cultural ties to Alabama and Central Time regions.

Tennessee splits between Eastern Time (the eastern third of the state, including Knoxville and Chattanooga) and Central Time (middle and western portions, including Nashville and Memphis). The division roughly follows geographic and cultural regions within the state.

Kentucky observes Eastern Time in the eastern and central portions (including Louisville and Lexington) and Central Time in the far western region near the Mississippi River. The Louisville metropolitan area straddles the time zone boundary.

Indiana primarily uses Eastern Time, but northwest counties (near Chicago) and southwest counties (near Evansville) observe Central Time. Indiana’s time zone history has been particularly complex, with the state only adopting statewide DST observance in 2006.

Michigan operates mostly on Eastern Time, but four Upper Peninsula counties (Gogebic, Iron, Dickinson, and Menominee) observe Central Time due to their economic and social connections to Wisconsin.

Central and Mountain Time States

Texas predominantly uses Central Time across its vast territory, but the El Paso area and Hudspeth County in far West Texas observe Mountain Time. El Paso’s proximity to New Mexico and its integration with the El Paso-Juarez border region influenced this division.

Kansas operates almost entirely on Central Time, but four counties in the western portion (Sherman, Wallace, Greeley, and Hamilton) observe Mountain Time, aligning with Colorado’s time zone.

Nebraska uses Central Time for most of the state, but the western panhandle counties observe Mountain Time, reflecting their connection to Wyoming and Mountain states.

North Dakota maintains Central Time for most areas, but the southwestern counties (Slope, Bowman, Adams, and part of Hettinger) use Mountain Time based on geographic and economic connections.

South Dakota divides along the Missouri River, with most of the state on Central Time and counties west of the river on Mountain Time. The division reflects the state’s geographic split between Great Plains and Mountain West regions.

Mountain and Pacific Time States

Oregon uses Pacific Time for most of its population centers along the I-5 corridor (Portland, Eugene, Salem), but Malheur County in the far eastern region observes Mountain Time due to its economic connections to Idaho.

Idaho splits between Pacific Time (northern Idaho, including Coeur d’Alene) and Mountain Time (southern Idaho, including Boise). The division roughly follows the line between the panhandle and the main body of the state.

Nevada operates entirely on Pacific Time despite most of the state being geographically aligned with the Mountain zone. This decision connects Nevada economically with California markets and was influenced by Las Vegas’s ties to Los Angeles.

Practical Uses and Scheduling Tips

Business Communication Across Time Zones

Coordinating meetings and calls across multiple US time zones requires careful planning and clear communication. Professional scheduling tools and best practices help minimize confusion and missed connections.

Finding Overlapping Business Hours

The core overlap period when all four continental time zones have standard business hours is relatively narrow. When it’s 12:00 PM (noon) Eastern Time, it’s 9:00 AM Pacific Time, creating a 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM ET window (9:00 AM to 12:00 PM PT) when all zones overlap. Many national companies schedule important meetings during these hours to maximize participation without requiring early morning or late afternoon attendance.

Scheduling Best Practices

Always specify the time zone when scheduling meetings, using abbreviations like ET, CT, MT, or PT. During transition periods around DST changes, include whether it’s Standard or Daylight (EST vs EDT) to eliminate ambiguity. Calendar invitations should automatically adjust to each recipient’s local time zone when sent through modern scheduling platforms.

Remote Work Considerations

With the growth of distributed teams and remote work, companies increasingly adopt flexible scheduling to accommodate team members across multiple zones. Some organizations establish “no meeting” blocks during early morning or late afternoon hours to respect time zone differences. Asynchronous communication tools become essential for teams spanning coast to coast.

Travel and Jet Lag Management

Crossing multiple time zones, even within the continental US, can disrupt sleep patterns and affect performance. Strategic planning helps minimize these effects.

Preparation Strategies

When traveling east (losing time), begin shifting your sleep schedule earlier by 30 minutes to one hour in the 2-3 days before departure. When traveling west (gaining time), shift later gradually. Upon arrival, immediately adopt the local schedule for meals and activities, even if you don’t feel hungry or tired at the appropriate local times.

Light Exposure Techniques

Natural sunlight is the most powerful tool for resetting your internal clock. When traveling east, seek morning light exposure to help you wake earlier. When traveling west, seek afternoon and evening light to help you stay up later. Avoiding bright light at inappropriate times (like late evening when traveling east) helps prevent your body from fighting the adjustment.

Business Travel Considerations

Schedule important meetings or presentations for times when your body naturally performs best based on your home time zone. If traveling from Pacific to Eastern Time, a 2:00 PM ET meeting feels like 11:00 AM PT to your body, likely a good performance window. Avoid scheduling critical tasks during what would be your normal sleep hours back home.

Broadcasting and Entertainment Scheduling

Television networks, sports leagues, and streaming services must navigate time zone differences when scheduling content releases and live events.

Live Television Broadcasts

Major networks typically schedule primetime programming from 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM in each time zone, broadcasting shows at different actual times across the country. Some live events, particularly news programs, air simultaneously at 8:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM CT, 6:00 PM MT, and 5:00 PM PT, reaching audiences at different stages of their evening routines.

Sports Scheduling Considerations

National sporting events often schedule start times with Eastern Time viewers in mind, recognizing the zone’s population density. A 7:00 PM ET game start time means West Coast viewers tune in at 4:00 PM PT, sometimes before work concludes. Weekend and playoff games receive more flexible scheduling to balance viewership across all zones.

Streaming Service Releases

Major streaming platforms typically release new content at 12:00 AM PT (3:00 AM ET), allowing nationwide simultaneous availability while avoiding the technical strain of a midnight Eastern Time release. This means East Coast viewers can access new episodes or films early Friday morning for content that “drops on Thursday night” in Pacific Time.

History of US Time Zones

Railroad Origins and Initial Adoption

Before standardized time zones, American cities and towns maintained their own local solar time, creating chaos for railroad scheduling and commerce. The transformation to a unified time system represents one of the most significant organizational achievements in US history.

Pre-1883 Confusion

In the early 1880s, more than 300 different local time standards existed across North America. Every city set its clocks based on local solar noon, when the sun reached its highest point. This meant that traveling just 50 miles could require adjusting your pocket watch. Railroad companies maintained their own time standards, publishing complex timetables that attempted to reconcile different local times.

November 18, 1883: The Day of Two Noons

Railroad companies, led by the American Railway Association, implemented a coordinated time zone system on November 18, 1883, creating four time zones across the continental United States. This date became known as “the day of two noons” in some cities, where clocks were reset during the middle of the day to align with the new standard. While the system had no legal authority, most communities quickly adopted railroad time because the benefits were immediately obvious.

Initial System Design

The four original zones roughly followed lines of longitude spaced 15 degrees apart, reflecting the Earth’s 24-hour rotation. Each zone encompassed approximately one hour of solar time difference. The boundaries were adjusted to follow state and county lines where practical, prioritizing administrative convenience over strict geographic precision.

Official Federal Establishment

While railroads implemented time zones in practice, federal law took longer to formalize the system. The government eventually recognized the need for official standards as America became more interconnected.

Standard Time Act of 1918

Congress passed the Standard Time Act in March 1918, legally establishing time zones and placing them under the Interstate Commerce Commission’s authority. The same legislation also introduced Daylight Saving Time as a wartime energy conservation measure during World War I. However, DST proved so unpopular that it was repealed less than two years later, though some cities continued observing it locally.

Early Federal Role

The Interstate Commerce Commission maintained authority over time zone boundaries, adjusting them occasionally based on petitions from communities and states. The boundaries evolved over decades as population patterns shifted and communities requested changes to align better with their economic connections.

Modern Regulation and Evolution

The regulatory framework for US time zones has continued to evolve, reflecting changing priorities and new scientific understanding of timekeeping.

Uniform Time Act of 1966

This landmark legislation transferred time zone authority to the Department of Transportation and established uniform standards for Daylight Saving Time observance. The law allowed states to opt out of DST but required them to exempt their entire territory, preventing patchwork observance within states. The Navajo Nation represents a unique exception, observing DST across its lands spanning multiple states.

Energy Policy Act of 2005

Congress extended Daylight Saving Time by four weeks, moving the spring start date earlier (from the first Sunday in April to the second Sunday in March) and the fall end date later (from the last Sunday in October to the first Sunday in November). Proponents argued this extension would save energy, though subsequent studies have questioned the actual savings achieved.

Current Legal Framework

U.S. Code Title 15, Chapter 6, Subchapter IX defines the legal time zones. The Department of Transportation maintains regulatory authority, though the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the US Naval Observatory handle the technical aspects of official timekeeping. NIST operates the official US time service at time.gov, providing synchronized time for computers, smartphones, and scientific instruments.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many time zones does the United States have?

The United States officially recognizes 9 time zones by federal law under U.S. Code Title 15. These include Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific, Alaska, Hawaii-Aleutian, Atlantic (Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands), Samoa (American Samoa), and Chamorro (Guam and Northern Mariana Islands). If you include the uninhabited territories of Baker Island and Howland Island, which operate on different UTC offsets, the total reaches 11 time zones. The continental United States uses only 4 of these zones.

Why doesn’t Arizona observe Daylight Saving Time?

Arizona opted out of Daylight Saving Time in 1968 under provisions of the Uniform Time Act, which allows states to exempt themselves from DST observance. The state concluded that extending evening daylight provided no benefit in the desert climate, where residents already cope with extreme summer heat. Energy savings from reduced air conditioning use during evening hours proved minimal or nonexistent. Many Arizonans preferred consistent sunset times throughout the year. The Navajo Nation within Arizona does observe DST to maintain consistency with its tribal lands in Utah and New Mexico.

What is the time difference between the East Coast and West Coast?

The East Coast (Eastern Time Zone) is 3 hours ahead of the West Coast (Pacific Time Zone). When it’s 12:00 PM noon in New York, it’s 9:00 AM in Los Angeles. This 3-hour difference remains constant throughout the year because both zones observe Daylight Saving Time on the same schedule. During the brief periods when DST transitions occur (the early morning hours of the change), there can be temporary confusion, but the standard 3-hour difference applies for all practical scheduling purposes.

When does Daylight Saving Time start and end in 2026?

DST begins on Sunday, March 8, 2026 at 2:00 AM local time, when clocks spring forward to 3:00 AM. Americans lose one hour of sleep that night as the country transitions to Daylight Time. DST ends on Sunday, November 1, 2026 at 2:00 AM local time, when clocks fall back to 1:00 AM, giving Americans an extra hour. These dates follow the federal schedule established by the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

Exceptions include Arizona (except Navajo Nation), Hawaii, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and Northern Mariana Islands, which do not observe DST.

Which states are split between two time zones?

Thirteen states span multiple time zones. Florida divides between Eastern and Central. Tennessee, Kentucky, and Michigan split between Eastern and Central. Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota divide between Central and Mountain. Oregon and Idaho split between Pacific and Mountain. Indiana primarily uses Eastern Time but has several counties on Central Time.

These divisions typically follow county boundaries and reflect geographic, economic, and cultural connections between regions. The time zone boundaries were established to minimize disruption to communities while respecting natural regional alignments.

Additional Resources

For official time zone information and current time standards, visit these authoritative sources:

• Department of Transportation Time Zone Information: Official regulatory authority for US time zones
• NIST Official US Time Service: time.gov provides synchronized time for the entire United States
• National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners: State-by-state time zone regulations
• World Time Buddy: Popular time zone converter for scheduling across multiple zones
• Individual State Pages: Explore detailed area code and time zone information for specific states
• Time Zone Boundary Maps: Official maps showing county-level time zone boundaries

Understanding US time zones helps you coordinate effectively across this vast country, whether you’re managing business operations, scheduling personal calls, planning travel, or simply staying connected with friends and family in different regions.