Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 1, 2026, and most of the country will set its clocks back an hour.
Most of Arizona will not. The U.S. Department of Transportation, which oversees time zones, lists most of Arizona among the places that do not observe daylight saving time. Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff, and the rest of the state on standard time simply stay where they are.
For people who live here, that is an old and familiar quirk. For visitors, new seasonal residents, and Arizonans traveling out of state, it can add a layer of confusion to an already busy season on the road.
What actually changes for Arizona drivers
Because Arizona stays on Mountain Standard Time all year, the time difference between Arizona and other states shifts when they change their clocks.
After November 1, Arizona lines up with Mountain Time states like Colorado and New Mexico instead of with California. In practical terms:
- Visitors arriving from other states may find their phones, rental cars, and plans adjusting in ways they did not expect.
- Arizonans driving to California, Nevada, or other states will cross into a different time offset than they had during the summer.
- Travel within Arizona can involve a time change. The Navajo Nation, in the northeastern part of the state, does observe daylight saving time, so trips onto the Navajo Nation may involve a clock change during the months when daylight saving time is in effect.
None of this changes the roads. It changes the schedules people build around them, and schedules affect when people drive.
Darkness arrives earlier for travelers
In states that fall back, sunset will suddenly come an hour earlier by the clock. Many people who drive home from work in daylight in October will find themselves driving in the dark in November.
Arizona drivers do not get that sudden shift at home, but anyone traveling out of state for the holidays will run into it. And everywhere, the days keep getting shorter through December, which means more driving happens after dark.
That matters because darkness is one of the clearest risk factors for wrong-way crashes. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety's study of fatal wrong-way crashes on U.S. divided highways from 2014 through 2023 found elevated risk in darkness and at dawn and dusk. ADOT reports that three out of four wrong-way crashes happen between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Time confusion and fatigue
Time changes can throw off sleep and travel plans. A traveler who misreads a time difference may start a drive later than planned, arrive tired, or push to make up lost time.
Fatigue reduces the attention needed to read signs and notice warnings. On unfamiliar roads, where every interchange has to be read rather than recognized, that attention matters even more. The AAA Foundation study also found elevated wrong-way risk among drivers who lived far from where the crash occurred.
Practical steps for this week
Double-check times on travel plans. Flights, check-ins, and appointments involving other states may shift relative to Arizona time after November 1. Confirm them so you are not rushing.
Plan long drives to finish before dark. With shorter days, leaving earlier is one of the simplest ways to reduce nighttime driving on unfamiliar roads.
Brief visiting family. If relatives are arriving for the season, mention that Arizona does not change its clocks, and share the roads and interchanges that tend to confuse newcomers.
Know what a warning looks like. Red DO NOT ENTER or WRONG WAY signs facing you, or red reflectors on the pavement, mean stop. Pull to the edge, put on your hazard lights, stay buckled in the vehicle, and call 911.
Know the move-right rule. If you see headlights coming toward you on a divided highway, slow down, steer away to the right when it is clear, get to a safe place, and call 911.
A good reminder, wherever you set your clocks
The end of daylight saving time is a useful seasonal checkpoint even in a state that skips it. It is a good time to check headlights, clean windshields, and think about how much more of your driving will happen in the dark over the next few months.
NMWWD is a Phoenix-based nonprofit working to prevent wrong-way crashes. If you would like to help us reach visitors and residents this season, get involved or support our work.
Sources: U.S. Department of Transportation — Daylight Saving Time · Office of the President and Vice President of the Navajo Nation — Daylight saving time reminder · AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, Fatal Wrong-Way Crashes on Divided Highways, United States, 2014–2023 · Arizona Department of Transportation — Wrong-Way Drivers