If you’re staring at your phone wondering what time is it in Phoenix AZ, you aren’t alone. Seriously. I’ve lived in the Southwest long enough to see even the smartest people get totally tripped up by Arizona's clocks. It’s early 2026, specifically Sunday, January 18, and right now, Phoenix is at 5:06 AM.
Most of the country is fast asleep. But in Phoenix, the sun is still a ways off from hitting the Camelback Mountain peaks. The city is currently on Mountain Standard Time (MST).
Why Arizona is the Rebel of Time Zones
Basically, Arizona doesn't do Daylight Saving Time. While almost every other state "springs forward" or "falls back," Phoenix just stays put. Honestly, it’s one of the best things about living here. You never have to deal with that groggy "lost hour" in March where everyone feels like a zombie.
But this independence makes things kinda weird for everyone else.
From November to March, Phoenix is on the same time as Denver and Salt Lake City. They’re all in the Mountain Time brotherhood. But once the rest of the country moves their clocks in March, Phoenix effectively "joins" California. We don't actually change our clocks, but because California moves forward, we end up having the exact same time as Los Angeles and Seattle for half the year.
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It’s confusing. I know.
The Navajo Nation Exception
Here is where it gets actually wild. If you drive north from Phoenix into the Navajo Nation, the time changes.
The Navajo Nation does observe Daylight Saving Time. But then, inside the Navajo Nation, there’s the Hopi Reservation. The Hopi don't observe it. So, if you’re driving through northeastern Arizona in the summer, you could literally change your watch four times in a couple of hours without ever crossing a state line. It’s a logistical nightmare for scheduling Zoom calls, let me tell you.
Why Phoenix Refuses to Change
Why do we do this? It’s the heat.
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Back in the late 60s, Arizona decided that having an extra hour of blazing desert sun in the evening during the summer was a terrible idea. If the sun stays out until 9:00 PM in July when it’s 115 degrees outside, your air conditioning bill isn't just high—it’s astronomical. By keeping the clocks where they are, the sun sets "earlier," giving the desert a chance to cool down (relatively speaking) at a decent hour.
State Senators like Marshall Humphrey pushed for this back in 1968, and it’s been the law of the land ever since.
Current Time Comparisons
Since it's 5:06 AM in Phoenix right now (January 18, 2026), here is how we stack up against the rest of the world:
- New York (EST): 7:06 AM. They’re two hours ahead of us right now.
- Chicago (CST): 6:06 AM. Just one hour ahead.
- Los Angeles (PST): 4:06 AM. One hour behind us.
- London (GMT): 12:06 PM. They're already starting lunch.
When March rolls around and the U.S. goes to Daylight Saving Time, these gaps change. Phoenix will then be three hours behind New York and the exact same time as Los Angeles.
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What You Need to Do If You're Traveling Here
If you're flying into Sky Harbor International Airport, your phone should update automatically. Most modern tech is pretty good at recognizing the "Arizona" time zone setting rather than just a generic "Mountain Time."
However, if you're booking a tour to the Grand Canyon or Antelope Canyon, double-check which land you're on. Many tour operators near Page, Arizona, operate on Navajo Time (Daylight Saving) because they cross back and forth.
Pro-tip: Set your world clock app specifically to "Phoenix" instead of "Mountain Time." If you select "Mountain Time," your phone might default to Denver's schedule, which will leave you an hour off for half the year.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your calendar settings: If you're scheduling a meeting with someone in Phoenix, ensure your calendar invite uses "America/Phoenix" as the time zone. This prevents the "spring forward" glitch.
- Verify tour times: If visiting the Navajo Nation or Upper/Lower Antelope Canyon between March and November, call the operator to confirm if they are on "Arizona Time" or "Navajo Time."
- Sync your thermostat: If you're a local, remember that while the clocks don't change, the sun's patterns do. Adjust your AC's "pre-cool" settings in March to account for the earlier sunrise.