Current Time in North Dakota

Central Time (CST/CDT) · Fargo · Bismarck · UTC−6/−5

Current Time in North Dakota
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CT UTC-6 / MT UTC-72 Time ZonesPop. ~780K

North Dakota Time Facts

Primary Zone
Central Time (most of state)
SW Counties
Mountain Time (America/Denver)
UTC Offset (CT)
UTC-6 (standard) / UTC-5 (DST)
UTC Offset (MT)
UTC-7 (standard) / UTC-6 (DST)
Daylight Saving
Yes — both zones observe DST
Population
~780K (smallest Midwest state)

Bakken Oil Boom & Prairie Powerhouse

North Dakota's Bakken shale formation triggered one of America's biggest oil booms in the 2010s, transforming small towns like Williston almost overnight. The state became the 2nd-largest oil producer in the US, behind only Texas.

Beyond oil, North Dakota is an agricultural powerhouse — the #1 US producer of spring wheat, durum, sunflowers, dry beans, and honey. Theodore Roosevelt National Park in the Badlands preserves the rugged landscape that shaped the 26th president's conservation philosophy.

Fargo, the largest city, has emerged as a growing tech and startup hub with companies like Microsoft and Amazon establishing operations. Winters are among the coldest in the contiguous US, with temperatures regularly dropping below –20°F.

Major North Dakota Cities

Fargo
Pop. 125K
CT · Largest city, tech hub
Bismarck
Pop. 75K
CT · State capital, Missouri River
Grand Forks
Pop. 59K
CT · UND, aerospace research
Minot
Pop. 49K
CT · Air Force base, Magic City
Williston
Pop. 29K
MT · Bakken oil boom epicenter
Dickinson
Pop. 23K
MT · Gateway to TR National Park

Frequently Asked Questions

What time is it in North Dakota right now?
Most of North Dakota uses Central Time. Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot, and the majority of ND cities are on CST (UTC−6) in winter and CDT (UTC−5) during Daylight Saving Time. A small part of the southwest corner (Bowman and Slope Counties) uses Mountain Time (MST/MDT).
What time zone is Fargo, North Dakota in?
Fargo, the largest city in North Dakota, uses Central Time (America/Chicago). Fargo is on CST (UTC−6) during standard time and CDT (UTC−5) during Daylight Saving Time. Fargo is on the same time as Minneapolis, Chicago, and Kansas City.
What time zone is Bismarck, North Dakota in?
Bismarck, the capital of North Dakota, is also on Central Time (CST/CDT). Despite being geographically in the western part of the state, Bismarck follows the same Central Time zone as Fargo and most other ND cities.
Does North Dakota have two time zones?
Yes. The vast majority of North Dakota uses Central Time (CST/CDT). However, Bowman County and Slope County in the extreme southwest corner of the state use Mountain Time (MST/MDT), which is 1 hour behind the rest of the state.
Does North Dakota observe Daylight Saving Time?
Yes. North Dakota observes Daylight Saving Time. Clocks spring forward 1 hour on the second Sunday in March and fall back on the first Sunday in November. Central Time counties move from CST (UTC−6) to CDT (UTC−5); Mountain Time counties move from MST (UTC−7) to MDT (UTC−6).
What is the time difference between North Dakota and New York?
Most of North Dakota (Central Time) is always 1 hour behind New York (Eastern Time). When it is noon in New York, it is 11:00 AM in Fargo and Bismarck. Both observe DST on the same schedule, so the 1-hour difference is constant year-round.

Nearby States & Time Pages

Minnesota timeNebraska timeMontana timeChicago timeDenver timeTime in South DakotaNew York timeTime converter tool
Time zone data powered by the IANA Time Zone Database. North Dakota: America/Chicago (CST/CDT) for most; America/Denver (MST/MDT) for Bowman and Slope counties.