Current time in Rhode Island
Eastern Time UTC−5 · one zone statewide
Rhode Island's time zone
The whole of Rhode Island keeps Eastern Time: EST (UTC−5) in winter and EDT (UTC−4) from the second Sunday of March to the first Sunday of November. As the smallest state — about 48 miles top to bottom — it could hardly be split, and its neighbors Connecticut and Massachusetts share the same zone.
Rhode Island lies near the eastern edge of the zone, so the sun runs early relative to the clock: in late June, Providence sunrises come a little after 5:10 AM, and in December the sun can set before 4:20 PM. Block Island and the rest of the state's coastal waters follow the same Eastern clock as the mainland.
| Standard time | EST, UTC−5 |
|---|---|
| Daylight time | EDT, UTC−4 |
| IANA zone | America/New_York |
| vs Chicago | −1 h |
| vs Denver | −2 h |
| vs Los Angeles | −3 h |
Time in Rhode Island cities
Every page below has a live clock plus sunrise, sunset, and DST details for that city.
Frequently asked questions
Is all of Rhode Island in the same time zone?
Yes — the entire state, Block Island included, is on Eastern Time.
What is the time difference between Rhode Island and Los Angeles?
Rhode Island runs 3 hours ahead of Los Angeles year-round: noon in Providence is 9:00 AM in LA. Full chart: EST to PST.
Does Rhode Island observe daylight saving time?
Yes. Clocks go forward at 2:00 AM on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November. Dates through 2030 are on the DST page.