Live Timezone
Your TimeLOCAL
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Detecting...
Eastern TimeET
1:40:06AM
UTC-4EDT
Central TimeCT
12:40:06AM
UTC-5CDT
Mountain TimeMT
11:40:06PM
UTC-6MDT
Pacific TimePT
10:40:06PM
UTC-7PDT
TNUS State Time GuideSplit State (Multiple Zones)

What time zone is Tennessee in?

Tennessee is divided into two time zones: Middle and West Tennessee (including Nashville and Memphis) are in Central Time, while East Tennessee (including Knoxville and Chattanooga) is in Eastern Time.

Current Local Time in Tennessee
12:40:06AM
CDTUTC-5• DST Active
⚡

Tennessee Time Zone Split: Exact County Boundaries

Tennessee is divided naturally by the Cumberland Plateau: East Tennessee is in Eastern Time, while Middle and West Tennessee are in Central Time.

Primary Zone: CENTRAL Time

Middle and West Tennessee (~70% of population including Nashville & Memphis)

  • Davidson (Nashville)
  • Shelby (Memphis)
  • Rutherford (Murfreesboro)
  • Williamson (Franklin)
Secondary Zone: EASTERN Time

East Tennessee (~30% of population including Knoxville & Chattanooga)

  • Knox (Knoxville)
  • Hamilton (Chattanooga)
  • Sullivan (Kingsport/Bristol)
  • Washington (Johnson City)

💡 Note: The boundary closely mirrors the traditional Grand Divisions of Tennessee.

Primary ZoneCentral TimeCST / CDT
UTC OffsetUTC-6Daylight: UTC-5
Capital CityNashvilleState Seat
Daylight SavingObservedMar – Nov

Major Cities & Metro Areas in Tennessee

NashvilleTN
CDT
MemphisTN
CDT
KnoxvilleTN
CDT
ChattanoogaTN
CDT
ClarksvilleTN
CDT

Neighboring States & Time Zones

Check if traveling into adjacent states involves a time zone shift.

KentuckyKY
Eastern TimeZone Shift
VirginiaVA
Eastern TimeZone Shift
North CarolinaNC
Eastern TimeZone Shift
GeorgiaGA
Eastern TimeZone Shift
AlabamaAL
Central TimeSame Zone
MississippiMS
Central TimeSame Zone
ArkansasAR
Central TimeSame Zone
MissouriMO
Central TimeSame Zone

Frequently Asked Questions About Tennessee Time Zone

Official answers regarding Tennessee local clocks, daylight saving rules, and split regions.

What time zone is Tennessee in?▼
Tennessee is divided into two time zones: Middle and West Tennessee (including Nashville and Memphis) are in Central Time, while East Tennessee (including Knoxville and Chattanooga) is in Eastern Time.
Does Tennessee observe Daylight Saving Time?▼
Yes, Tennessee observes Daylight Saving Time. Clocks advance one hour on the second Sunday of March and fall back one hour on the first Sunday of November.
Is Tennessee in one or two time zones?▼
Tennessee is split into two time zones. Middle and West Tennessee (including Nashville and Memphis) are in the Central Time Zone, while East Tennessee (including Knoxville and Chattanooga) is in the Eastern Time Zone.
What is the current time in Nashville, Tennessee?▼
The capital of Tennessee is Nashville, located in the Central Time (CST/CDT).