Current time in South Dakota
World time board
South Dakota · United StatesUTC-05:00
12:31 AMFRI 02.10.2026
Now 12:31 AM|Live
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Work–
daydawn / dusknight
- Time zone
- America/Chicago
- UTC offset
- UTC-05:00
- Abbreviation
- CDT
- Daylight saving time
- Observed
- Next clock change
- November 1, 2026
- Country
- United States
- Also uses
- America/Denver — the western third of the state (west of the Missouri River)
South Dakota time difference
How far South Dakota is ahead of or behind the world's main business hubs right now. Daylight saving time is already applied where it is in effect.
| Compared with | Time difference | UTC offset |
|---|---|---|
| London | 6h aheadChanges with DST | UTC+01:00 |
| New York City | 1h ahead | UTC-04:00 |
| Los Angeles | 2h behind | UTC-07:00 |
| Tokyo | 14h aheadChanges with DST | UTC+09:00 |
| Dubai | 9h aheadChanges with DST | UTC+04:00 |
| Shanghai | 13h aheadChanges with DST | UTC+08:00 |
Clock changes in South Dakota
| Date | Local time | UTC offset |
|---|---|---|
| November 1, 2026 | 2:00 AM → 1:00 AM | UTC-05:00 → UTC-06:00 |
| March 14, 2027 | 2:00 AM → 3:00 AM | UTC-06:00 → UTC-05:00 |
Time zone history since 1970
Clocks have changed twice a year throughout the period since 1970.
Changes outside the seasonal pattern:
- January 6, 1974: UTC-06:00 → UTC-05:00
- October 27, 1974: UTC-05:00 → UTC-06:00
Source: IANA time zone database, version 2025b.
Worth knowing
South Dakota is divided roughly by the Missouri River. The eastern half, including Sioux Falls and the capital, Pierre, is on Central Time; the western half, including Rapid City, is on Mountain Time.
Sources: IANA tz database: northamerica · 49 CFR Part 71 (US time zone boundaries)
Frequently asked questions
- What time zone is South Dakota in?
- South Dakota uses the America/Chicago (CDT) time zone and is currently on UTC-05:00. Part of the state uses a different zone: America/Denver.
- Does South Dakota observe daylight saving time?
- Yes. The next clock change is on November 1, 2026; after it, UTC-06:00 applies.