If you’re standing in Topeka or Wichita right now, you’re probably looking at a clock set to Central Standard Time (CST). But honestly, if you’re trying to figure out what time is it now in kansas while driving along the Colorado border, the answer gets a little weird.
Kansas is huge.
Most people think of it as one big, flat rectangle of wheat, but timewise, it’s actually a house divided. Most of the state follows the same rhythm as Chicago or Dallas. However, tucked away in the far western reaches, there are four specific counties—Sherman, Wallace, Greeley, and Hamilton—that decide to do their own thing. They run on Mountain Standard Time (MST).
The Great Kansas Time Split
So, here is the breakdown. If you are in Kansas City, Kansas, it is currently Central Standard Time. If you drive about six and a half hours west to the city of Goodland, you’ll suddenly find yourself one hour behind everyone else in the state.
It’s an odd sensation. You haven't left the state, yet your phone magically jumps back an hour.
Why? Because those four counties have deep economic and social ties to Colorado. It makes more sense for a farmer in Greeley County to be on the same schedule as a business in Denver than one in Kansas City.
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Current Time Check: January 2026
Right now, we are in the heart of winter.
As of Saturday, January 17, 2026, Kansas is observing Standard Time. This means:
- Most of Kansas (CST): UTC -6
- The "Western Four" (MST): UTC -7
If it is 3:30 PM in the state capital of Topeka, it is actually 2:30 PM in Goodland.
This isn't just a fun trivia fact; it matters if you're scheduling a business call or trying to catch a flight out of a regional airport. I once knew a guy who missed a wedding rehearsal because he didn't realize Wallace County lived in a different "world" than the rest of the sunflower state.
What’s Happening with Daylight Saving?
We’ve all heard the rumors about Kansas ditching the "spring forward, fall back" routine.
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In early 2025, there was a lot of noise about Senate Bill 1. The goal? To basically stop the clock-switching madness. The bill suggested that Kansas would stay on permanent Daylight Saving Time, but only if the federal government allowed it and if neighboring Missouri played along.
For now, that hasn't changed the reality on the ground.
In 2026, you still need to mark your calendar for Sunday, March 8. At 2:00 AM, clocks across the state will "spring forward" one hour. Central Standard Time (CST) becomes Central Daylight Time (CDT), and Mountain Standard Time (MST) becomes Mountain Daylight Time (MDT).
We’ll stay that way until November 1, 2026, when we all collectively lose an hour of evening sunlight again.
Why what time is it now in kansas is a tricky question for travelers
If you are driving Interstate 70, you are going to hit the time wall.
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Most of the drive is a straight shot through the Central Time Zone. But as you pass through Colby and head toward Goodland, keep an eye on your dashboard. Somewhere between those two towns, you cross the invisible line.
Interestingly, there’s one county that stays "stubborn." Cheyenne County, which is the very top-left corner of the state, borders Colorado and Nebraska but stays on Central Time. This creates a "time peninsula" where you can be surrounded by Mountain Time on three sides but still be an hour ahead.
It’s confusing.
Quick Reference for Time Zones in Kansas
| Region | Time Zone | Offset (Winter) |
|---|---|---|
| Wichita, Topeka, KC, Lawrence | Central Standard Time (CST) | UTC -6 |
| Goodland, Sharon Springs, Tribune | Mountain Standard Time (MST) | UTC -7 |
| Dodge City, Garden City, Hays | Central Standard Time (CST) | UTC -6 |
Actionable Insights for Your Next Trip
If you’re planning to visit or do business in the Sunflower State, keep these three things in mind:
- Check the County: If your destination is west of Highway 83, double-check if it’s one of the "Mountain Four."
- Sync Your Devices: Most smartphones update automatically via cell towers, but if you’re using a traditional watch, don't forget to flip it back when heading west.
- The "Missouri Rule": Because Kansas City sits on the border of two states, the time is always the same on both sides of the state line. You don't have to worry about the time changing just because you crossed from KCK to KCMO.
For the most accurate, second-by-second update, you can always rely on your phone's GPS-linked clock, but knowing why the time is changing helps you avoid those "why am I an hour early?" moments.