Current Time in Tennessee

Central Time (CST/CDT) · Nashville · East TN uses Eastern Time

Current Time in Tennessee
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CST · UTC-6 / EST · UTC-52 Time Zones

Tennessee Time Facts

Western TN
CT — Memphis, Nashville, Jackson
Eastern TN
ET — Knoxville, Chattanooga, Tri-Cities
DST Rule
2nd Sunday Mar → 1st Sunday Nov
TZ Boundary
Roughly along the Cumberland Plateau
Population
~7 million
Famous For
Nashville music, Memphis BBQ, Smoky Mountains

Music City to Memphis — Tennessee's Two-Clock State

Tennessee is split between CT (west and middle) and ET (east). Nashville (country music capital) and Memphis (blues/rock birthplace) are on CT, while Knoxville and Chattanooga are on ET. The boundary roughly follows the Cumberland Plateau.

Nashville is the fastest-growing major US city and the undisputed capital of country music. The Grand Ole Opry broadcasts live every weekend on CT. Nashville has also become a major healthcare, tech, and tourism hub — HCA Healthcare ($60B+) and AllianceBernstein are headquartered here.

Memphis is where Elvis Presley lived at Graceland, where B.B. King played on Beale Street, and where FedEx operates the world's largest cargo hub at Memphis International Airport. FedEx's overnight delivery guarantee is built around CT sorting times.

Major Tennessee Cities

Nashville
Pop. 690K
CT · Music City, healthcare, tech boom
Memphis
Pop. 630K
CT · Blues, BBQ, FedEx hub, Graceland
Knoxville
Pop. 190K
ET · UT campus, Smoky Mountains gateway
Chattanooga
Pop. 185K
ET · Gig City (1Gbps fiber), outdoors
Clarksville
Pop. 170K
CT · Fort Campbell, Nashville metro
Murfreesboro
Pop. 160K
CT · Geographic center of TN

Frequently Asked Questions

What time is it in Tennessee right now?
Tennessee spans two time zones. Most of the state — including Nashville, Memphis, Clarksville, and Chattanooga — uses Central Time (CST, UTC−6 in winter; CDT, UTC−5 in summer). East Tennessee — including Knoxville, Johnson City, and Kingsport — uses Eastern Time (EST, UTC−5 in winter; EDT, UTC−4 in summer). The live clock above shows Nashville (Central) time.
What time zone is Nashville in?
Nashville uses Central Time (CST/CDT). In winter, Nashville is on CST (UTC−6). During Daylight Saving Time (second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November), Nashville switches to CDT (UTC−5). Nashville is the state capital and home of country music, and its time zone is consistent with most of Tennessee.
What time zone is Knoxville in?
Knoxville uses Eastern Time (EST/EDT), not Central Time like Nashville. Knoxville is 1 hour ahead of Nashville and Memphis year-round. Johnson City, Kingsport, and most of the eastern tip of Tennessee also use Eastern Time. This split reflects Tennessee's geography bridging the central and eastern US.
Does Tennessee observe Daylight Saving Time?
Yes. Tennessee observes Daylight Saving Time. Clocks spring forward 1 hour on the second Sunday in March and fall back 1 hour on the first Sunday in November. Central Tennessee moves from CST (UTC−6) to CDT (UTC−5); East Tennessee moves from EST (UTC−5) to EDT (UTC−4).
What is the time difference between Tennessee and the UK?
Nashville (CST, UTC−6) is 6 hours behind London (GMT, UTC+0) in winter. During US DST, Nashville is on CDT (UTC−5), making it 5 hours behind London (GMT). When both regions observe DST simultaneously, Nashville (CDT) is 6 hours behind London (BST). Knoxville (EST) is always 1 hour ahead of Nashville.
What cities are in the Central Time zone in Tennessee?
The majority of Tennessee is in the Central Time zone, including Nashville (state capital), Memphis, Clarksville, Murfreesboro, Franklin, Jackson, Chattanooga, and most of Middle and West Tennessee. Only the easternmost counties bordering North Carolina and Virginia use Eastern Time.

Tennessee City Times & Converters

Nashville timeAtlanta timeChicago timeTime in GeorgiaTime in North CarolinaTime in VirginiaTime in IllinoisTime converter tool
Time zone data powered by the IANA Time Zone Database. Tennessee: America/Chicago (CST/CDT) for most of state; America/New_York (EST/EDT) for eastern counties.