Last Sunday, as the United States switched to Daylight Saving Time, Arizona remained on Mountain Standard Time. The state does not observe the time change, citing its hot climate and the benefit of maintaining earlier sunsets and cooler evenings, according to AZCentral.
Most of Arizona follows Mountain Standard Time year-round and does not observe Daylight Saving Time. However, the Navajo Nation, which extends into Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico, follows Daylight Saving Time to maintain consistency across its territory. While most of the U.S. adjusted their clocks from 2 a.m. to the elusive 3 a.m., Arizona's time remained unchanged, affecting how the state aligns with other regions, as reported by AZCentral.
Arizona does not observe Daylight Saving Time, keeping the same time year-round. A 1969 Arizona Republic editorial cited the late sunsets under Daylight Saving Time, stating, "[Data] clearly show that we must wait until about 9 p.m. DST to start any night-time activity such as drive-in movies, moonlight rides, convincing little children it’s bedtime, etc." The decision helps avoid extended daylight hours and higher cooling costs. While it sometimes creates scheduling challenges with other states that adjust their clocks, Arizona remains on standard time throughout the year, as stated by ABC15.
