The time in the United States of America is regulated by 6 time zones, while if you also count the annexed states and the various properties scattered around the world, you get to as many as 9 time zones. There knowledge of the time zone and consequently the current time in that state it is a lot important on a trip to the USA, especially when the tour includes the crossing of various states.
Initially, each of the federal states had full autonomy in deciding which time zone to adopt, as well as the possible application of legal and solar time. Now is the Department of Transportation that decides the limits of the time zone in the various states and observance of summer time.
There are also some States that adopt 2 time zones such as: Florida, Texas, North Dakota, Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, Kentucky, South Dakota, Oregon, Indiana, Tennessee and Michigan. Therefore, when traveling or touring the United States it is very important inquire well in advance about the times adopted in the various areas.
Summer time in the USA
Most of the United States adopts daylight saving time, but its beginning and end do not coincide with that of the European states. In the US, daylight saving time starts from second Sunday of March and ends the first Sunday of November.
But there are some exceptions: Some states such as Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, the territories of Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands do not have daylight saving time. Arizona also does not adopt the oral bind except for the Navajo Nation area (Navajo Reservation).
Time zone in the United States
Let's see now what they are the 6 zones of the United States that adopt different time zones, what is the difference with the timetable in Spain and which States are part of it.
Eastern Standard Time (EST): New York, Washington, Florida, …
The time zone of the Eastern States is -5 hours compared to Greenwich Mean Time (UTC / GMT) and -6 hours compared to Spain. It includes approximately the Atlantic Coast States and the eastern two thirds of the Ohio Valley. The states that are part of this time zone are:
- Connecticut (CT)
- Delaware (DE)
- Florida (FL) (eastern and central area)
- Washington DC
- Georgia (GA)
- Indiana
- Kentucky (KY) (Oriental and Central Area)
- Maine (ME)
- Maryland (MD)
- Massachusetts (MA)
- Michigan (MI)
- New Hampshire (NH)
- New Jersey (NJ)
- New York (NY)
- North Carolina (NC)
- Ohio (OH)
- Pennsylvania (PA)
- Rhode Island (RI)
- South Carolina (SC)
- Tennessee (eastern)
- Vermont (VT)
- Virginia (VA)
- West Virginia (WV)
Central Standard Time (CST): Kansas, Louisiana, Illinois, …
The Central States time zone is -6 hours compared to Greenwich Mean Time (UTC / GMT) and -7 hours compared to Spain. It roughly includes the Gulf Coast, the Mississippi Valley and the Great Plains. The states that are part of this time zone are:
- Arkansas (AR)
- Florida (FL) (western area)
- Illinois (IL)
- Indiana (IN)
- Iowa (IA)
- Kansas (KS)
- Kentucky (KY) (Western Zone)
- Louisiana (LA)
- Minnesota (MN)
- Mississippi (MS)
- Missouri (MO)
- Nebraska (NE)
- North Dakota (ND)
- Oklahoma (OK)
- South Dakota (SD)
- Tennessee (TN) (central and western area)
- Texas (TX) (Central and Eastern Zone)
- Wisconsin (WI)
Mountain Standard Time (MST): Arizona, Texas, Utah, …
The time zone of the Mountainous States is -7 hours compared to Greenwich Mean Time (UTC / GMT) and -8 hours compared to Spain. It roughly includes the states that include the Rocky Mountains. The states that are part of this time zone are:
- Arizona (AZ)
- Colorado (CO)
- Idaho (ID) (meridional zone)
- Montana (MT)
- Nebraska (NE) (western area)
- New Mexico (NM)
- North Dakota (ND) (occidental zone)
- Oregon (OR) (Contea Malheur)
- South Dakota (SD) (occidental areas)
- Texas (TX)
- Utah (UT)
- Wyoming (WY)
Pacific Standard Time (PST): California, Nevada, …
The Pacific States time zone is -8 hours from Greenwich Mean Time (UTC / GMT) and -9 hours from Spain. It roughly includes the Pacific Coast states, plus Nevada. The states that are part of this time zone are:
- California (CA)
- Idaho (ID) (northern area)
- Nevada (NV)
- Oregon (OR) (except Malheur County)
- Washington (WA) (the State)
Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
The Alaska time zone is -9 hours from Greenwich Mean Time (UTC / GMT) and -10 hours from Spain. This time zone includes the continental part of the state of Alaska, the coldest area in the United States.
Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time (HST)
The time zone of the pacific states at -10 hours from UTC / GMT and -11 from Spain. The area takes its name from the two areas that are part of it: Hawaii and the Aleutian part of Alaska.
