Arizona is one of the few U.S. states that does not observe daylight saving time. This guide walks you through the reasons, history, exceptions, and practical implications of Arizona's unique timekeeping system.

Table of Contents

Arizona's Opt-Out History

  • Arizona has not observed daylight saving time since 1968.
  • That year, the Arizona State Legislature voted not to join the Uniform Time Act.
  • The act would have pushed sunsets an hour later—undesirable in Arizona’s extremely hot climate.
  • Earlier sunsets allow residents relief from triple-digit temperatures during summer evenings.

Standard Time Practices

  • Time Zone: Mountain Standard Time (MST)
  • Offset: UTC-7 year-round
  • Unlike most states, Arizona does not “spring forward” or “fall back.”
  • Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, Glendale, Flagstaff, and Scottsdale all follow MST.

Note: Many confuse Arizona for switching to Pacific Time, but it simply shares the same UTC-7 offset as states like California during daylight saving time. It does not change zones.

How Time Differences Affect Arizona

Arizona’s decision creates seasonal shifts in how it aligns with other states:

  • November to March: Arizona is aligned with Mountain Time states like Colorado and Utah.
  • March to November: Arizona shares the same time as Pacific Time states like California and Nevada.

Examples

  • In summer: Arizona is:
    • Same time as California
    • 1 hour behind Denver
    • 2 hours behind Chicago
    • 3 hours behind New York
  • In winter: Arizona is:
    • Same time as Denver
    • 1 hour ahead of California
    • 2 hours behind New York

Exceptions & Notable Details

  • Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona does observe daylight saving time.
  • This creates a unique case where two different time systems are observed in one state.
  • Cable TV in Arizona usually follows Pacific Time schedules, affecting programming hours.
  • Travelers and ticket buyers must double-check time zones when booking transport or events.

Fun Facts & Tips

  • Arizona's lawmakers made history by almost unanimously rejecting DST in 1968.
  • Some people refer to it as "daylight savings time," but the correct term is “daylight saving time”.
  • More than 70 countries worldwide observe DST, but Arizona and Hawaii do not.
  • Arizona’s refusal to adopt DST ensures residents don’t work longer during the hottest part of the day.
  • Studies have shown that DST may negatively impact health, including increased heart attack risk from sleep loss.
  • Despite numerous attempts—24 legislative bills—DST has not been reinstated in Arizona.

Tip: When in doubt, use a world clock or time converter to compare Arizona’s MST to other time zones, especially between March and November.

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