If you just Googled current time in Richmond VA, you’re probably either late for a meeting at the James Center or trying to figure out if it’s too early to call your cousin who lives over in the Fan District. Right now, it is Sunday morning, January 18, 2026.
The clock says 7:39 AM.
The sun is just barely starting to peak over the horizon (official sunrise was about 15 minutes ago at 7:22 AM). If you look out a window toward the James River, you’ll see that cold, grey winter light hitting the water. It’s chilly out there—somewhere in the high 20s or low 30s.
The Time Zone Reality
Richmond sits firmly in the Eastern Standard Time (EST) zone. We’re five hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC-5).
Kinda simple, right?
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Well, it is until you start thinking about the geography. Virginia is a wide state. Because Richmond is tucked toward the eastern side, we get the sun significantly earlier than folks out in Bristol or the Cumberland Gap. In fact, if you were standing on the beach at Chincoteague right now, the sun would have hit your face nearly ten minutes ago compared to here in the city.
Time is a weirdly fluid thing in the South.
What’s Happening in RVA Right Now?
Since it’s a Sunday morning in January, the city is in that quiet, "post-Saturday night" lull.
- Volley by the James: Over at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, the halls are already buzzing. It’s the middle of the "Stay and Play" volleyball tournament for MLK weekend.
- The Brunch Rush: Give it about two hours. By 10:00 AM, the line for Carytown’s best biscuits will be out the door.
- Museum Morning: The Poe Museum is prepping for their "Edge of Seventeen" birthday bash later, and the Richmond Symphony is getting ready for their afternoon performance of An African American Requiem at the Carpenter Theatre.
When Do the Clocks Change?
Don’t worry about your car clock just yet. We are currently in "Standard Time," which honestly feels like the "real" time to most of us.
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We won’t be "springing forward" until Sunday, March 8, 2026. At 2:00 AM that morning, we’ll magically lose an hour of sleep and transition into Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).
Why do we even do this?
Historically, it was all about the railroads. Before 1883, every town in Virginia basically set its own time based on when the sun was directly overhead. Imagine trying to coordinate a train schedule when Richmond, Petersburg, and Charlottesville all had different "noons." It was chaos.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) actually oversees our time zones today because, believe it or not, timekeeping is still legally tied to "the convenience of commerce" and transportation.
January 18 Weather & Light
It’s the heart of winter.
Today, the day length is roughly 9 hours and 55 minutes.
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The sun will set at 5:17 PM.
If you're planning an evening out at the Richmond Raceway for the train and toy show, just know that the "Blue Hour" (that pretty twilight period) starts around 4:50 PM. It gets dark fast this time of year.
Quick Tips for Navigating RVA Time:
- Traffic is a Time-Sucker: If you’re traveling during the week, the "Richmond Hour" is real. I-95 and I-64 can turn a 10-minute trip into 40 minutes between 7:30 AM and 9:00 AM.
- Check the Tides: If you're heading down to the James River Park System for a morning walk, the high tide was at 3:08 AM. The water is receding now, heading toward a low tide around 9:21 AM.
- The "8-Minute Rule": If you’re coordinating with someone in Virginia Beach, remember they see the sun about 8 minutes before you do. It matters if you’re a photographer or an early-bird hiker.
Honesty time: most of us just rely on our iPhones to flip the numbers automatically. But knowing that we’re currently in that quiet stretch of EST before the March madness of Daylight Saving hits helps you plan those winter errands a bit better.
Next Steps for You
- Sync your calendar: If you have meetings with the West Coast today, remember they are 3 hours behind you (it's only 4:39 AM in LA).
- Check the weather: Since it's currently 7:39 AM and freezing, grab a heavy coat before heading to the 17th Street Market.
- Plan for March 8: Mark your calendar now so the "Spring Forward" shift doesn't catch you off guard in a few weeks.