You'd think a state's time would be a simple thing to pin down. But Texas isn't exactly known for being "simple." If you are trying to figure out the local time in texas right now, you might get two different answers depending on where you're standing.
Most of the state—we're talking Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio—runs on Central Time. But then there’s El Paso.
If you drive far enough west, the sun just doesn’t line up with the rest of the Lone Star State. Eventually, you hit a line where the clocks jump back an hour. It’s one of those quirks that makes traveling across the 268,000 square miles of Texas feel like a cross-continental expedition.
The Great Divide: Central vs. Mountain Time
Texas actually straddles two distinct time zones. Most of us live in the Central Time Zone, which is $UTC-6$ during the winter (Standard Time) and $UTC-5$ in the summer (Daylight Saving).
But out in the far west, El Paso and Hudspeth counties—plus a tiny corner of Culberson County—operate on Mountain Time.
Why? Basically, El Paso is geographically much closer to Albuquerque and Phoenix than it is to Austin. In fact, El Paso is closer to the Pacific Ocean than it is to the eastern border of Texas. Because of that, they stay in sync with their neighbors in New Mexico.
- Central Time (CT): Covers about 98% of the state’s landmass.
- Mountain Time (MT): Only observed in the western tip.
- The "Panhandle" Fact: Historically, the Panhandle actually flirted with Mountain Time for a couple of years back in the 1920s, but they eventually realized it was a headache for cattle shipping and switched back.
Is Daylight Saving Time Ever Going Away?
Honestly, every year we hear the same rumors. "This is the last time we're changing the clocks!"
In 2025, Governor Greg Abbott actually signed House Bill 1393. This law was designed to create what people are calling "Texas Time"—basically keeping us on Daylight Saving Time year-round. No more "falling back" or "springing forward."
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There is a catch, though. A big one.
Texas can’t just decide to do this on its own. Under the Uniform Time Act of 1966, states can choose to stay on Standard Time all year (like Arizona), but they aren't allowed to stay on Daylight Saving Time year-round without a thumbs-up from the U.S. Congress. So, while the Texas law is on the books, it’s currently sitting in a "trigger" state.
Until Congress passes something like the Sunshine Protection Act, we’re still stuck moving those clocks twice a year. For 2026, you should expect to set your clocks forward on March 8th and back on November 1st.
The Border Town Confusion
If you're near the border, it gets even weirder. El Paso's sister city, Ciudad Juárez, used to be on Central Time. This created a nightmare for people commuting across the bridge for work. You’d leave home at 8:00 AM and arrive at work at 9:00 AM, even though it only took you 10 minutes to cross.
A few years ago, Juárez finally shifted to Mountain Time to match El Paso. It was a move for sanity more than anything else.
How the Sun Actually Works in Texas
Since Texas is so wide, "noon" in Beaumont feels a lot different than "noon" in Amarillo.
In the eastern parts of the state, the sun rises and sets significantly earlier. By the time the sun is setting in Orange, Texas, folks in El Paso still have over an hour of bright daylight left.
This longitudinal stretch is why the state is so divided on the DST debate. West Texans often prefer the extra evening light because, without it, their winter sunsets would happen way too early in the afternoon. Meanwhile, parents in East Texas worry about their kids waiting for the school bus in pitch-black darkness if we stayed on DST year-round.
Practical Tips for Managing Texas Time
If you're doing business or traveling across the state, here's how to keep your head on straight:
1. The "El Paso Rule"
Always assume someone in El Paso is one hour behind you if you are in Dallas or Houston. If you schedule a 9 AM meeting in Austin, your El Paso colleague is probably still finishing their first cup of coffee at 8 AM.
2. Watch Your Phone GPS
If you're driving west on I-10, your phone will usually update automatically once you pass the Hudspeth County line. However, if you're in a dead zone, your clock might stay "wrong" for twenty miles. It’s better to check a physical map or a roadside sign to see where the zone officially flips.
3. Flight Schedules
If you’re flying from Houston (HOU) to El Paso (ELP), pay attention to the arrival time. It might look like a very short flight on paper because you "gain" an hour in the air. On the way back, it’ll feel like the longest flight of your life because you "lose" that hour.
What’s Next?
If you're planning a trip or setting up a call, the best move is to use a "Meeting Planner" tool that specifically allows you to toggle between CST and MST.
For now, keep an eye on the news regarding federal legislation. If Congress finally moves on the Sunshine Protection Act, "Texas Time" will finally become the reality, and we can all stop worrying about our oven clocks being wrong for six months of the year.
Check your current settings to ensure "Automatic Time Zone" is toggled on in your smartphone's "Date & Time" menu—this is the most reliable way to handle the El Paso/Dallas transition without thinking about it.