What time is it in Arizona?
Quick answer
Most of Arizona uses Mountain Standard Time (MST, UTC−7) all year and doesn’t change its clocks. That means Arizona matches Denver in winter and California in summer. The big exception is the Navajo Nation in the northeast, which does use daylight saving time.
Phoenix, Arizona (most of the state)
--:--
Why Arizona doesn’t change its clocks
Arizona tried daylight saving time in 1967 and dropped it the next year. In a desert where summer temperatures in Phoenix regularly pass 40°C (104°F), an extra hour of evening sun mostly meant more air conditioning, not more time outdoors. The state has stayed on standard time ever since.
How Arizona lines up with neighbors
| Season | Arizona matches | Arizona vs California |
|---|---|---|
| Winter (Nov–Mar) | Mountain Time (Denver, Salt Lake City) | 1 hour ahead |
| Summer (Mar–Nov) | Pacific Time (Los Angeles, Las Vegas) | Same time |
So if you drive from Phoenix to Las Vegas in July, your phone won’t change. Do it in January and you’ll gain an hour.
The Navajo Nation exception
The Navajo Nation, which covers a large area of northeastern Arizona and extends into Utah and New Mexico, does observe daylight saving time, to keep its communities on one clock across state lines.
Inside the Navajo Nation lies the Hopi Reservation, which doesn’t use daylight saving, following the rest of Arizona. In summer, driving across this region can mean changing time zones several times within an hour.
Hawaii is the only other US state that skips daylight saving time. Here’s what time it is in Hawaii.
Still curious?
Jump to a random question from the archive.