Current time in Fargo, ND
Central Time UTC−6 · IANA zone America/Chicago
Time zone details
| Time zone | Central Time (CT) |
|---|---|
| Standard time | CST, UTC−6 (early Nov – mid Mar) |
| Daylight time | CDT, UTC−5 (mid Mar – early Nov) |
| DST clock change | Forward 1 h, 2nd Sunday of March · Back 1 h, 1st Sunday of November |
| Sunrise today | — |
| Sunset today | — |
| Day length | — |
| Coordinates | 46.88° N, 96.79° W |
Time difference from Fargo
| City | Local time now |
|---|---|
| New York | +1 h |
| Denver | −1 h |
| Phoenix | −1 / −2 h |
| Los Angeles | −2 h |
| Anchorage | −3 h |
| Honolulu | −4 / −5 h |
Fargo's clock is shared across the Central Time Zone, including Minneapolis, Chicago, and Dallas.
About time in Fargo
Fargo is the seat of Cass County on the Red River of the North, directly opposite Moorhead, Minnesota; both banks keep Central Time, so the two-state metro area runs on a single clock.
The city began in 1871 where the Northern Pacific Railway crossed the Red River and takes its name from William G. Fargo of Wells Fargo & Company. Railroad-era lines still divide the state's time today: southwestern North Dakota, beyond the Missouri River, observes Mountain Time, an hour behind Fargo.
At nearly 47° N, Fargo has one of the widest daylight swings on Central Time — close to 16 hours of daylight around June 21, but only about 8 and a half hours in late December.
Time in cities near Fargo
| City | Distance | Local time now |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis, MN | 214 mi | Central Time |
| St. Paul, MN | 222 mi | Central Time |
| Sioux Falls, SD | 230 mi | Central Time |
| Omaha, NE | 391 mi | Central Time |
| Des Moines, IA | 398 mi | Central Time |
| Lincoln, NE | 419 mi | Central Time |
| Madison, WI | 446 mi | Central Time |
| Green Bay, WI | 454 mi | Central Time |
More places: all North Dakota cities · Central Time Zone · every US city
Frequently asked questions
What time zone is Fargo in?
Fargo is in the Central Time Zone (CT): CST (UTC−6) in winter, CDT (UTC−5) in summer. Only the southwestern part of North Dakota uses Mountain Time; Fargo, in the east, is firmly Central.
What is the time difference between Fargo and New York?
Fargo is 1 hour behind New York in every season, because the two cities observe daylight saving time on identical dates. 5:00 PM in New York is 4:00 PM in Fargo.
Does Fargo change clocks for daylight saving time?
Yes. Fargo sets clocks forward at 2:00 AM on the second Sunday of March and back at 2:00 AM on the first Sunday of November. The 2026 dates are March 8 and November 1.