This guide explains Nashville’s time zone—plus everything you should know about its history, music legacy, and why the city matters both in culture and in clocks.

Tip: I recommend booking the hotel before you go. Even if your trip is low season, local events and festivals can surprise you with high room rates! If you are still working on your travel dates, book a refundable hotel room.

Table of Contents

Nashville Overview

Nashville is the capital of Tennessee and its largest city, with a population of around 660,000 people. It sits along the Cumberland River and enjoys a humid subtropical climate with hot summers and mild winters.

The city is famous as “Music City”, globally recognized for its influence on country music. It’s the second largest music production hub in the U.S. after New York and home to the legendary Grand Ole Opry, Country Music Hall of Fame, and countless studios.

Founded in 1779 and named after Revolutionary War General Francis Nash, Nashville has deep historical roots. It was the first Southern state capital captured by Union forces during the Civil War, and today it's a hub for banking, education, healthcare, and publishing.

What Time Zone Is Nashville In?

The state of Tennessee is split between two time zones:

  • Western and central Tennessee, including Nashville, are in the Central Time Zone (CT).
  • The eastern portion of the state observes Eastern Time (ET).

Nashville, located in the middle of the state, follows Central Time year-round.

Time Zone Basics & History

Before the late 19th century, U.S. cities kept local solar time. Noon was based on the sun’s position, so clocks varied widely between towns—an issue that became clear with the rise of trains and telegraphs.

  • In November 1883, the United States adopted four major time zones: Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific.
  • Tennessee was divided between the Central and Eastern zones based on geography.
  • Nashville was officially placed in the Central Time Zone.
  • The Uniform Time Act of 1966 made standardized time zones and daylight saving time federal law.

Central Time Zone Explained

The Central Time Zone operates on two versions:

Type of Time UTC Offset
Central Standard Time (CST) UTC -6
Central Daylight Time (CDT) UTC -5

CST is used in winter months, while CDT is used during Daylight Saving Time in spring and summer.

Daylight Saving Time in Nashville

Nashville observes Daylight Saving Time (DST) like most of the U.S.

  • Begins: Second Sunday of March
  • Ends: First Sunday of November
  • During DST, clocks shift from CST to CDT.

This practice was established by the Uniform Time Act and updated by the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

Where Else Uses Central Time?

The Central Time Zone covers:

  • Entirely: Tennessee (except eastern edge), Illinois, Texas, Iowa, Wisconsin, Alabama, and several more states.
  • Partially: North Dakota, South Dakota, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, and Kansas.
  • Internationally:
    • Most of Mexico
    • Parts of Canada
    • Several Central American countries
    • The Caribbean region

If you're traveling, collaborating, or broadcasting across these areas, you'll likely share Nashville’s time zone.

Plan Your Trip