Current time in North Dakota
Central Time UTC−6 · two zones: CT & MT
North Dakota's time zones
North Dakota is split. Most of the state — Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot, and Williston — observes Central Time (CST, UTC−6), while the sparsely settled southwestern corner, roughly the counties south and west of the Missouri River, keeps Mountain Time (MST, UTC−7).
In practice that means Dickinson and Medora run an hour behind Bismarck even though Dickinson sits barely 100 miles west on I-94. Both parts of the state follow the national daylight saving calendar, so the gap across the Missouri River line stays at exactly one hour all year.
| Standard time | CST, UTC−6 (southwest corner: MST, UTC−7) |
|---|---|
| Daylight time | CDT, UTC−5 (southwest corner: MDT, UTC−6) |
| IANA zone | America/Chicago |
| vs New York | +1 h |
| vs Denver | −1 h |
| vs Los Angeles | −2 h |
Time in North Dakota cities
Fargo's page combines a live clock with today's sunrise, sunset, and DST dates.
Frequently asked questions
Which parts of North Dakota are on Mountain Time?
The sparsely settled southwestern corner — roughly the counties south and west of the Missouri River, taking in Dickinson and Medora. Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot, and Williston are on Central Time.
How far behind New York is North Dakota?
The Central Time majority, including Fargo and Bismarck, is 1 hour behind New York; the Mountain Time southwest is 2 hours behind. Hourly chart: CST to EST.
Does North Dakota observe daylight saving time?
Yes, in both of its zones. Clocks move forward at 2:00 AM on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November — see the DST page.