You're driving across the high desert, humming a classic rock tune, and suddenly you realize your phone and your dashboard clock aren't speaking the same language. It's a classic Arizona moment. If you've ever tried to coordinate a lunch meeting or a hotel check-in while navigating the stretch between Flagstaff and the New Mexico border, you know that time in Winslow AZ can feel like a moving target.
Honestly, it’s not just you.
Arizona is famous for its refusal to play along with Daylight Saving Time (DST). While the rest of the country is busy "springing forward" or "falling back," most of the Grand Canyon State stays stubbornly put on Mountain Standard Time (MST). But Winslow sits in a particularly tricky spot geographically. Because it is surrounded by land that does observe the time change, your GPS might have a minor existential crisis as you roll into town.
The Weird Geography of Arizona Time
Basically, the state is a giant exception to the federal rule, but then there are exceptions inside that exception.
The Navajo Nation, which covers a massive chunk of northeastern Arizona, does observe Daylight Saving Time. They do this to stay in sync with their tribal lands in New Mexico and Utah. However, the Hopi Reservation—which is entirely surrounded by the Navajo Nation—does not observe it. They stay on Arizona time.
Winslow sits just outside the Navajo Nation boundary.
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This means if you drive just a few miles north or east of the city limits during the summer months, you are suddenly an hour ahead. Then, if you keep driving into Hopi land, you're back an hour. It is a chronological zigzag that has frustrated more than a few road trippers looking for that famous corner.
What Time in Winslow AZ Means for Your Visit
Most people come here for one thing: Standin' on the Corner Park.
You’ve seen the photos. The bronze statue, the flatbed Ford, the mural of the girl looking back. It’s a pilgrimage for Eagles fans. But if you’re planning to visit the local shops or grab a meal at the Turquoise Room inside the historic La Posada Hotel, the local time matters.
Why the "Standin' on the Corner" Legend is Kinda Wrong
Here is a bit of trivia that most tourists miss while they're busy taking selfies. Jackson Browne, who started writing "Take It Easy," actually got the inspiration for that lyric in Flagstaff, not Winslow.
He was stranded at a Der Weinerschnitzel (now the Dog Haus) in Flagstaff when a girl in a Toyota—not a Ford—cruised by. When he couldn't finish the song, his friend Glenn Frey stepped in. Frey thought "Winslow" sounded better than "Flagstaff" and changed the truck to a "flatbed Ford."
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The rest is rock and roll history.
Winslow, which was struggling after I-40 bypassed the town in 1979, leaned into the song to save its economy. It worked. Today, the town is a thriving hub of Route 66 nostalgia, but that nostalgia runs on Mountain Standard Time year-round.
Navigating the Seasons
If you’re visiting in the winter, between November and March, things are simple. Time in Winslow AZ is the same as it is in Denver or Salt Lake City. Everyone is on Mountain Standard Time (MST).
The confusion starts in the spring.
When the clocks change elsewhere in March, Arizona stays behind. From March to November, Winslow has the same time as Los Angeles (Pacific Daylight Time), but it is technically still on Mountain Standard Time.
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Practical Tips for Travelers:
- Trust the locals, not the towers: Cell phone towers on the edge of the Navajo Nation can occasionally "ping" your phone into the wrong time zone. If you have an important reservation, manually set your phone to "Phoenix" or "Arizona" time rather than "Set Automatically."
- La Posada is a time capsule: If you’re staying at the La Posada Hotel, remember it’s an active Amtrak station. Trains run on a very strict schedule, and they don’t care if your phone is confused about the Navajo Nation border.
- The Meteor Crater factor: Only 20 miles west of town is the world's best-preserved meteorite impact site. It's a private park with specific closing hours. If you’re coming from the east (like Gallup, NM) in the summer, you might arrive an hour later than you planned.
The Cultural Pulse of Winslow
Beyond the song, there is a deep sense of history here that moves at its own pace.
Winslow was once the most important town in Northern Arizona because of the Santa Fe Railway. When you walk through the Old Trails Museum or wander the gardens of La Posada, you realize that "time" here is measured more in decades and eras than in minutes.
The city is currently 4,850 feet above sea level. This elevation means the weather is a lot cooler than Phoenix, but the sun is incredibly intense. If you’re planning to explore Homolovi State Park to see the ancient Hopi ruins, the best "time" to go is early morning. By 2:00 PM in July, the high desert heat is no joke, clocking in at an average of 92°F.
Actionable Steps for Your Trip
To make sure your experience with time in Winslow AZ is seamless, do these three things:
- Hard-code your phone: Go into your settings and toggle off "Automatic Time Zone." Select "Phoenix" as your location to ensure you stay on Arizona time regardless of which cell tower you hit.
- Check the Navajo Calendar: If you plan on visiting Canyon de Chelly or Hubbell Trading Post (which are close enough for a day trip), remember they will be one hour ahead of Winslow from March to November.
- Book the Turquoise Room early: This is one of the best restaurants in the Southwest. Because it’s popular with both locals and travelers, their "time" fills up fast. Make a dinner reservation at least 48 hours in advance if you're visiting on a weekend.
Don't let the technicalities of time zones stress you out. The whole point of Winslow is to "take it easy." Whether you’re standing on the corner or watching the trains roll by the depot, the best way to enjoy this town is to put your watch in your pocket and just soak in the Route 66 vibe.