You're standing on the corner of Scottsdale Road and Camelback, looking at your phone. It says one thing. Your car dashboard says another. Your brain, still foggy from that flight from Chicago, says something else entirely. If you're wondering what scottsdale time right now actually is, you aren't alone. It’s a mess.
Honestly, Arizona is a bit of a rebel when it comes to the clock. While the rest of the country is busy "springing forward" and "falling back," Scottsdale just stays put. It’s 2026, and we are still doing this dance.
The No-DST Rule: Why Scottsdale is Different
Basically, Scottsdale (and almost all of Arizona) does not observe Daylight Saving Time. Since 1968, the state has opted out. Why? Because when it’s 115 degrees outside in July, the very last thing anyone wants is more sunlight in the evening. We want the sun to go away so we can finally sit on a patio without melting.
This means the scottsdale time right now depends entirely on what the rest of the world is doing.
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- In the Winter (November to March): Scottsdale is on Mountain Standard Time (MST). We match up with Denver and Salt Lake City.
- In the Summer (March to November): The rest of the country moves their clocks. We don't. This effectively puts us on the same time as Los Angeles and Las Vegas (Pacific Time).
It’s like we’re time travelers who never actually move. If you are calling your grandma in New York in the summer, we are three hours behind. In the winter, we are only two hours behind. It’s a nightmare for scheduling Zoom calls.
What Time Is It in Scottsdale Right Now?
As of today, Tuesday, January 13, 2026, Scottsdale is currently observing Mountain Standard Time (MST).
Since it’s January, we are currently "in sync" with the Mountain Time Zone. If you are in Denver, you're on our time. If you’re in New York, you’re two hours ahead of us. If you’re in Los Angeles, you’re one hour behind us.
Current Quick Facts for January 13, 2026:
- Time Zone: MST (UTC-7)
- Sunrise: Roughly 7:32 AM
- Sunset: Around 5:40 PM
- Current Season: High Season (The "Sweet Spot")
The weather right now is actually why people pay the big bucks to be here. We’re looking at highs in the low 70s and lows in the 40s. It’s "light jacket" weather for locals and "shorts and flip-flops" weather for the tourists visiting from Minnesota.
The Navajo Nation Quirk
Just to make things more confusing, because why not? The Navajo Nation, which covers a huge chunk of Northeastern Arizona, does observe Daylight Saving Time.
If you drive from Scottsdale up to the Page or Window Rock area in the summer, you will literally lose an hour just by crossing a tribal boundary. Then, if you drive into the Hopi Reservation (which is inside the Navajo Nation), you go back an hour because they don't follow DST. You can change your watch three times in a two-hour drive.
Luckily, Scottsdale is nowhere near that border, so you don't have to worry about it unless you're heading out on a Grand Canyon road trip.
Making the Most of Scottsdale Time Right Now
Since it is mid-January, Scottsdale is in the middle of its most chaotic and exciting month. If you are here right now, you’ve landed in the "Super Bowl" of Arizona lifestyle.
The Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction is about to kick off at WestWorld (Jan 16-25). You’ll see Ferraris and vintage Shelbys driving down the 101 like they’re Honda Civics.
Western Week starts soon (Jan 24), which is when Old Town leans hard into its "West’s Most Western Town" branding. You’ll see the Hashknife Pony Express ride into town on January 30th. It’s actually pretty cool—they deliver real mail via horseback all the way from Holbrook.
If you’re looking for something to do tonight, January 13th, the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts is hosting Keyboard Conversations with Jeffrey Siegel. It’s a Chopin-focused night if you’re into classical stuff.
Things to Keep in Mind
If you’re trying to schedule your life around scottsdale time right now, keep these nuances in mind:
- Don't Trust Your Oven: If there was a power flicker, your microwave or oven is probably wrong. Arizona clocks are notoriously unreliable because we never have that "reset" moment twice a year.
- Golf Tee Times: In January, frost delays are a real thing. Even if the sun is up, the grass might be frozen. Your 7:00 AM tee time might actually be 8:30 AM.
- Dinner Reservations: Scottsdale is packed right now. If you think you can walk into The Mission or Olive & Ivy at 7:00 PM on a Tuesday without a reservation, you're going to be eating at a taco bell.
Actionable Steps for Your Stay
- Check Your Phone Settings: Ensure your "Time Zone" is set to "Phoenix" or "Arizona," not just "Mountain Time." If it's set to Mountain Time, it might automatically shift you to Daylight Time in March when you should stay put.
- Plan for Early Sunsets: Since it's January, it gets dark before 6:00 PM. If you're planning to hike Camelback Mountain or Pinnacle Peak, start before 3:00 PM so you aren't stuck on a rock in the dark.
- Book Your Barrett-Jackson Tickets: If you're here for the cars, buy your tickets online now. The gate prices are always higher and the lines are a beast.
- Watch the Weather: While it’s 73°F during the day, it drops to 45°F the second the sun goes down. Dress in layers or you’ll end up buying an overpriced Scottsdale sweatshirt at a gift shop.
The bottom line is that Scottsdale time is consistent, even if it's confusing for everyone else. We don't change for the world; the world changes around us.