In the United States, while most states adjust their clocks twice a year to better align with daylight savings hours, some states and territories have opted not to follow this practice. These exceptions remain on standard time year-round, avoiding the biannual clock changes experienced by most of the country.
Although daylight saving time (DST) is widely adopted, practical and geographical factors have led certain states and territories to opt out. Whether due to minimal variation in daylight hours or unique climate conditions, these areas have found little to no benefit in observing daylight saving time.
States That Do Not Follow Daylight Saving Time
Hawaii
Hawaii, known for its tropical climate and geographic isolation, does not observe daylight saving time. Due to its proximity to the equator, the variation in daylight hours throughout the year is minimal, making clock adjustments unnecessary.
Arizona (Except The Navajo Nation)
Arizona has opted out of daylight saving time largely due to its extremely hot climate. By not moving the clocks forward or backward, Arizona reduces exposure to the hottest part of the day, leading to lower energy consumption for air conditioning. However, the Navajo Nation, which spans parts of Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico, does observe daylight saving time, in contrast to the rest of the state.
U.S. Territories That Do Not Change Their Clocks
Puerto Rico
As a Caribbean territory, Puerto Rico’s proximity to the equator means it experiences little variation in daylight hours throughout the year. For this reason, Puerto Rico does not observe daylight saving time.
Guam
This U.S. territory in the Pacific also remains on standard time year-round. Like other island territories, Guam experiences minimal daylight variation, making clock changes unnecessary.
American Samoa
Located in the South Pacific, American Samoa follows a similar pattern to Guam and Puerto Rico, staying on standard time year-round.
U.S. Virgin Islands
Situated in the Caribbean, the U.S. Virgin Islands also do not observe daylight saving time, due to the minimal change in daylight hours throughout the year.
This shift away from daylight saving time highlights how certain states and territories prioritize energy efficiency and local climate conditions to enhance quality of life for their residents.