Current time in Knoxville, TN
Eastern Time UTC−5 · IANA zone America/New_York
Time zone details
| Time zone | Eastern Time (ET) |
|---|---|
| Standard time | EST, UTC−5 (early Nov – mid Mar) |
| Daylight time | EDT, UTC−4 (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 | 35.96° N, 83.92° W |
Time difference from Knoxville
| City | Local time now |
|---|---|
| Chicago | −1 h |
| Denver | −2 h |
| Phoenix | −2 / −3 h |
| Los Angeles | −3 h |
| Anchorage | −4 h |
| Honolulu | −5 / −6 h |
Knoxville matches Atlanta and the rest of the Eastern Time Zone, but Nashville and Memphis in its own state are an hour behind.
About time in Knoxville
Knoxville, seat of Knox County, anchors the Eastern Time portion of Tennessee — one of the few states divided almost evenly between two zones, with Middle and West Tennessee on Central.
The boundary crosses the state along the Cumberland Plateau: westbound drivers on I-40 gain an hour entering Cumberland County near Crossville, and near Chattanooga the line drops south through Marion County at Nickajack to meet the Georgia border.
Knoxville's westerly spot in the zone gives it June sunsets close to 8:55 PM EDT, while December days still last about 9 hours 45 minutes at its 36° N latitude.
Time in cities near Knoxville
| City | Distance | Local time now |
|---|---|---|
| Lexington, KY | 147 mi | Eastern Time |
| Atlanta, GA | 155 mi | Eastern Time |
| Nashville, TN | 160 mi | Central Time |
| Huntsville, AL | 173 mi | Central Time |
| Charlotte, NC | 180 mi | Eastern Time |
| Louisville, KY | 188 mi | Eastern Time |
| Augusta, GA | 203 mi | Eastern Time |
| Charleston, WV | 208 mi | Eastern Time |
More places: all Tennessee cities · Eastern Time Zone · every US city
Frequently asked questions
What time zone is Knoxville in?
Knoxville is on Eastern Time (EST, UTC−5 in winter; EDT, UTC−4 in summer). Tennessee is split: East Tennessee including Knoxville and Chattanooga uses ET, while Nashville and Memphis use Central Time.
What is the time difference between Knoxville and Nashville?
Knoxville is one hour ahead of Nashville all year. The zone boundary crosses Tennessee along the Cumberland Plateau, roughly between Rockwood and Crossville on I-40.
Does Knoxville observe daylight saving time?
Yes. Knoxville advances clocks at 2:00 AM on the second Sunday of March and sets them back at 2:00 AM on the first Sunday of November — in 2026, March 8 and November 1. Full dates on the DST page.