Texas is huge. You know that, I know that, and your car’s odometer definitely knows that. But the sheer scale of the place creates a weird problem when you're trying to figure out what time is on Texas now.
Honestly, most people assume the whole state moves as one. It doesn't. While you're grabbing a breakfast taco in Austin at 8:00 AM, someone out in El Paso is still hitting the snooze button because it’s only 7:00 AM for them.
The Great Texas Time Divide
Texas is one of only thirteen states in the U.S. that split themselves across two different time zones. It’s not a 50/50 split, though. It’s more like a 99/1 split.
Most of the state—from the piney woods of East Texas to the high plains of the Panhandle—sits comfortably in the Central Time Zone. If you are in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, or even Amarillo, you are on Central Time.
But then there’s the far west.
El Paso and Hudspeth counties march to the beat of a different drum. They use Mountain Time. This isn't just a quirk of geography; it’s a practical necessity. El Paso is actually closer to San Diego, California, than it is to Beaumont, Texas. Being on Mountain Time keeps them in sync with their neighbors in New Mexico and Chihuahua, Mexico.
Current Status as of January 2026
Right now, since it is mid-January, Texas is observing Standard Time.
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- Central Standard Time (CST): This is UTC-6. Most of the state is here.
- Mountain Standard Time (MST): This is UTC-7. Only the far western tip is here.
If you are looking at a clock in Houston and it says 10:00 AM, the clock in El Paso says 9:00 AM. It’s a simple one-hour difference, but it’s enough to mess up your conference calls if you aren't careful.
Why the "What Time is on Texas Now" Question Gets Tricky
Daylight Saving Time (DST) is the real kicker. Every year, we go through this dance of "springing forward" and "falling back."
In 2026, the clocks are scheduled to change on Sunday, March 8. At 2:00 AM, we will jump forward one hour.
This shifts the state into:
- Central Daylight Time (CDT): UTC-5.
- Mountain Daylight Time (MDT): UTC-6.
Notice something interesting? When El Paso is on Mountain Daylight Time, it’s actually at the same offset as Dallas is during the winter. It’s a constant game of musical chairs with the sun.
The Legislative Battle to Stop the Clock
Texans are kinda tired of changing their clocks. You might have heard rumors that Texas was going to "fix" the time and stay on one setting forever.
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There has been a lot of movement in the Texas Legislature recently. For instance, House Bill 1422 and the more recent HB 1393 in the 89th Legislative Session have tried to make Daylight Saving Time permanent. The idea is simple: stop the switching.
The problem? Federal law.
Under the Uniform Time Act of 1966, states can opt out of Daylight Saving Time and stay on Standard Time year-round (like Arizona and Hawaii do). However, they are not allowed to stay on Daylight Saving Time year-round without a literal act of Congress.
So, even though Texas lawmakers have voted overwhelmingly to keep the "extra" evening sun, they are basically stuck in a waiting room until the federal government passes the Sunshine Protection Act. Until then, we keep flipping the switches.
Travel Tips for Crossing the Line
If you are driving West on I-10, you’ll hit the time zone line roughly when you enter Hudspeth County.
It’s a strange feeling. Your phone might update automatically, or it might get confused by a nearby cell tower in a different zone. I've had my phone jump back and forth three times in twenty minutes while driving near the border.
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Pro-tip: If you have an appointment in El Paso but you’re coming from Midland, always double-check your arrival time. You essentially "gain" an hour going west, which is great for a long road trip—until you head back east and "lose" that hour on the return leg.
Major Cities and Their Zones
To keep it simple, here is a quick breakdown of where the major hubs fall:
Central Time Cities (The Vast Majority)
- Houston
- Dallas / Fort Worth
- Austin
- San Antonio
- Corpus Christi
- Lubbock
- Laredo
- Amarillo
Mountain Time Cities (The West Tip)
- El Paso
- Sierra Blanca
- Dell City
- Fort Bliss
Actionable Steps for Staying on Time
If you're managing a business or planning a trip across the Lone Star State, don't just "wing it."
- Set Manual Secondary Clocks: if you work with teams in El Paso and Austin, add both cities to your world clock app on your phone. It prevents those awkward "I thought you meant my 9:00 AM" moments.
- Check the Date: Remember that the 2026 time change happens on March 8. If you are traveling around that weekend, expect a bit of grogginess.
- Trust the GPS, but Verify: Most modern GPS units handle the transition well, but if you’re using a paper map or an older car's built-in nav, you need to be aware of the Hudspeth County line.
- Watch the Sun: If you’re camping in Big Bend or the Guadalupe Mountains, remember that the "Mountain Time" area starts just west of the park in some spots, though the park itself generally aligns with the western schedule.
The bottom line is that what time is on Texas now depends entirely on which side of the Pecos River you're standing on. Most of us are in the same boat, but those folks out west are living an hour in the past—or maybe they're just an hour ahead of the rest of us in spirit. Regardless, keep an eye on the calendar for March 8, 2026, because that's when the next big shift happens for everyone.