The Only 2 States That Don’t Observe Daylight Saving Time

There are two U.S. states that don't do daylight savings. Here's why!

On March 10, the clocks will spring forward one hour at 2 a.m., marking the start of daylight saving time. Sadly, this means we’ll lose one hour of sleep during the transition … but we’ll get that hour back when DST ends on Nov. 3.

The practice, observed since 1918 and also known as daylight time, sparks a significant amount of controversy, as some wonder if the clock-resetting process should still be in effect. In fact, there are two U.S. states that don’t do daylight savings, which you’ll learn more about in detail below.

Get Reader’s Digest’s Read Up newsletter for more holiday insights, humor, cleaning, travel, tech and fun facts all week long.

What states don’t do daylight saving time?

paper sun on a blue backgroundLiia Galimzianova/getty images

There are two states that don’t do daylight savings: Hawaii and Arizona. The United States officially adopted daylight saving time (yes, saving, not “savings”) as part of the Uniform Time Act of 1966. Before that, it was launched, repealed and resurrected during World War I and World War II, and states were even allowed to come up with their own versions of the practice. In fact, Iowa once had 23 different pairs of start and end dates throughout the state! This new law brought much-needed order to the country’s clocks, but it didn’t require all states to comply. And so Hawaii and Arizona eventually opted out, making them the only two states that don’t do daylight savings.

Why did Hawaii opt out of daylight saving time?

Hawaii abandoned the law in 1967 because, well, it just didn’t make sense. One of the benefits of daylight saving time is that there’s more daylight in the evening. But in Hawaii, the sun rises and sets at about the same time every day, Time reports.

Why did Arizona opt out of daylight saving time?

Weather thermometer on yellow background. Climate control. Top viewVladimir Sukhachev/Getty Images

Arizona followed suit in 1968 because it also gets a lot of daylight year-round. Not setting clocks forward also ensures that there are lower temperatures during waking hours. However, the Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona does observe daylight saving time so it can have a uniform time with parts of Navajo territory in Utah and New Mexico.

A few U.S. territories also refrain from observing daylight saving time: the commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Marina Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa and Guam.

Are we getting rid of daylight saving time in 2024?

Some states have drafted bills to adopt daylight saving time year-round or end the practice altogether—and in early March 2023, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida reintroduced the Sunshine Protection Act, which, if signed into law, would make daylight saving time permanent in the United States. That would mean no more changing the clocks twice a year. The bill was passed in the Senate in 2022, but the House didn’t vote on it. So for now, DST is still a March observance for most of the country.

Why trust us

At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experience where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing, and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies 

Sources:

Claire Nowak
Claire is a writer, editor and digital strategist with more than 10 years of experience reporting on facts, trivia and quotes. Her natural curiosity lends itself to stories on history, trivia and "Did you know?" curiosities, and her work has appeared in Taste of Home, The Family Handyman, The Healthy and iHeart Media. A former editor at Reader's Digest and proud Marquette University grad, she lives in Milwaukee with her fiancé and their corgi and enjoys binge-listening to true-crime podcasts.