Travel in the Southwest can be tricky if you are needing to be somewhere at a specific time. Why? Because several bordering states are in different time zones and some don’t observe Daylight Savings Time.
When I visit Laughlin, Nevada it can be tricky as my phone doesn’t always switch to the right time when crossing from Arizona to Nevada and vice versa (same for Utah).
Below are the time zones for the Southwest.
Southwest Time Zones
Arizona Time Zone
Arizona is in the Mountain Time Zone and does not observe daylight saving time except for the Navajo Nation. The Navajo Nation does observe daylight saving time.
Mountain Standard Time – is abbreviated as MST
Mountain Daylight Time – is abbreviated as MDT
Arizona is GMT/UTC – 7h during Standard Time Year
Navajo Nation is GMT/UTC – 6h during Daylight Saving Time
Click here to view our articles on What to do in Arizona.
California Time Zone
California shares its time zone and DST schedule with bordering states Oregon and Nevada. Meanwhile, most of Arizona, which also shares a border with California, is on Mountain Standard Time (MST) all year. California does utilize Daylight Saving Time.
Pacific Standard Time – is abbreviated as PST
Pacific Daylight Time – is abbreviated as PDT
California is GMT/UTC – 8h during Standard Time
California is GMT/UTC – 7h during Daylight Saving Time
Colorado Time Zone
Colorado is officially in the Mountain Time Zone. Colorado does utilize Daylight Saving Time.
Mountain Standard Time – is abbreviated as MST
Mountain Daylight Time – is abbreviated as MDT
Colorado is GMT/UTC – 7h during Standard Time
Colorado is GMT/UTC – 6h during Daylight Saving Time
Nevada Time Zone
Nevada is officially in the Pacific Time Zone. Nevada does utilize Daylight Saving Time.
Pacific Standard Time – is abbreviated as PST
Pacific Daylight Time – is abbreviated as PDT
Nevada is GMT/UTC – 8h during Standard Time
Nevada is GMT/UTC – 7h during Daylight Saving Time
Exceptions: The city of West Wendover officially observes the Mountain Time Zone. The four communities of Jackpot, Owyhee, Mountain City, and Jarbidge near the Idaho border are officially in the Pacific Time Zone but unofficially observe the Mountain Time Zone.
Click here to view our articles on What to do in Nevada.
New Mexico Time Zone
New Mexico is officially in the Mountain Time Zone. New Mexico does utilize Daylight Saving Time.
Mountain Standard Time – is abbreviated as MST
Mountain Daylight Time – is abbreviated as MDT
New Mexico is GMT/UTC – 7h during Standard Time
New Mexico is GMT/UTC – 6h during Daylight Saving Time
Utah Time Zone
Utah is officially in the Mountain Time Zone. Utah does utilize Daylight Saving Time.
Mountain Standard Time – is abbreviated as MST
Mountain Daylight Time – is abbreviated as MDT
Utah is GMT/UTC – 7h during Standard Time
Utah is GMT/UTC – 6h during Daylight Saving Time
View our article on What to do in Utah.
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