Ever tried calling someone in Hermosillo and realized you’re an hour off? Or maybe you're sitting in a hotel in Nogales, staring at your phone, wondering why the time didn't "spring forward" like it did back home.
Basically, the answer to what time is it in Sonora Mexico is simpler than almost anywhere else in North America, but that simplicity is exactly what trips people up.
Right now, Sonora is on Mountain Standard Time (MST). It’s exactly the same time as Phoenix, Arizona.
The "No-Shift" Rule
Unlike the rest of Mexico—and most of the United States—Sonora does not play the daylight saving game. They haven't touched their clocks for over 25 years. Since 1998, to be exact.
While the world around them is frantically moving clock hands twice a year, Sonorans just keep on going.
What Time is it in Sonora Mexico Right Now Compared to You?
If you're trying to figure out the current time in Sonora, you have to look at your own clock first. Because Sonora stays put at UTC-7, your "time difference" with them changes even though their time doesn't.
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Honestly, it's a bit of a headache for travelers.
- If you’re in New York (EST): In the winter, you are 2 hours ahead of Sonora. In the summer, when you shift to EDT, you are 3 hours ahead.
- If you’re in Los Angeles (PST): During the winter, you’re 1 hour behind Sonora. During the summer (PDT), you are actually on the exact same time as Sonora.
- If you’re in Chicago (CST): Winter means you're 1 hour ahead. Summer (CDT) means you're 2 hours ahead.
The only place that really stays in sync is Arizona. They have a bit of a "handshake agreement" on time. Since Arizona (mostly) ignores daylight saving time too, the entire border region from Yuma down through the Sonoran Desert stays on the same schedule year-round.
The 1998 Divorce from Daylight Saving
Why did this happen? It wasn't just a random whim.
In the mid-90s, Mexico started pushing daylight saving time (horario de verano) to save energy. It worked okay for Mexico City, but for Sonora, it was a disaster.
Think about the heat.
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The Sonoran Desert is one of the hottest places on the planet. If you move the sun an hour "later" into the evening, you’re just forcing people to use their air conditioning for an extra hour of peak heat before the sun goes down. It didn't save energy; it cost money.
Plus, the economic ties between Sonora and Arizona are massive. We're talking billions of dollars in trade, produce, and cross-border families. Having the border towns of San Luis Río Colorado or Agua Prieta on a different time than their neighbors in Arizona was a logistical nightmare for truckers and workers.
By 1998, the state government basically said, "No thanks."
The 2022 National Change
In a weird twist of fate, the rest of Mexico eventually caught up to Sonora’s way of thinking. In October 2022, the Mexican government mostly abolished daylight saving time across the entire country.
But even then, Sonora is still its own thing.
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While most of Mexico shifted their "standard" time, Sonora just stayed on the same Mountain Standard Time they’ve been using for decades. They didn't have to change a thing because they were already living in the future (or the past, depending on how you look at it).
Travel Tips for the Sonoran Time Zone
If you're driving down to Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) or flying into Hermosillo, your smartphone should handle the switch automatically. Usually.
But "usually" is a dangerous word when you have a flight to catch.
- Check your manual settings: Sometimes, if your phone pings a tower near the border, it might get confused and pull time from a different zone. Set your "Time Zone" to "Hermosillo" rather than "Automatic" if you're staying near the border.
- The Navajo Nation Exception: If you are traveling from Sonora up through Arizona into the Navajo Nation, remember that the Navajo Nation does observe daylight saving. You will gain/lose an hour even though you haven't left the general "Arizona/Sonora" region.
- Business Hours: Most businesses in Sonora open a bit earlier to beat the midday sun. Don't be surprised to see people starting their day at 7:00 AM and taking a long break when the sun is at its peak.
Why This Matters for 2026 and Beyond
As we move through 2026, the global conversation about permanent time zones is getting louder. The U.S. has been debating the "Sunshine Protection Act" for years, which would make daylight saving permanent.
If that ever passes, Sonora will actually be out of sync with Arizona for the first time in forever, unless Arizona also makes a move.
For now, the safest bet is to remember that Sonora is the "Arizona of Mexico." It's steady. It's predictable.
Actionable Insight: If you are planning a meeting or a trip, don't ask Google "what time is it in Mexico." Mexico has four time zones. Always search specifically for what time is it in Sonora Mexico or "Current time in Hermosillo." If you're syncing up a call from the U.S. East Coast, just remember: it's -2 hours in the winter, -3 hours in the summer.