Current time in South Dakota
Central Time UTC−6 · eastern half of the state
South Dakota's time zones
South Dakota is a two-zone state, divided roughly along the Missouri River. East of the river, including Sioux Falls and the capital Pierre, clocks follow Central Time — CST (UTC−6) in winter, CDT (UTC−5) in summer. West of it, Rapid City and the Black Hills run on Mountain Time, one hour behind.
The boundary tracks county lines near the river rather than the water itself, so a drive across the state on I-90 loses the hour between Murdo and Kadoka in the state's midsection. Sioux Falls at noon means 11:00 AM in Rapid City, a gap worth checking before calling across the state or timing a visit to Mount Rushmore, which sits on the Mountain side.
| Standard time | CST, UTC−6 (west: MST, UTC−7) |
|---|---|
| Daylight time | CDT, UTC−5 (west: MDT, UTC−6) |
| IANA zone | America/Chicago |
| vs New York | +1 h |
| vs Denver | −1 h |
| vs Los Angeles | −2 h |
Time in South Dakota cities
Every page below has a live clock plus sunrise, sunset, and DST details for that city.
Frequently asked questions
Is all of South Dakota in the same time zone?
No. The split runs roughly along the Missouri River: Sioux Falls and Pierre are on Central Time, while Rapid City and the Black Hills use Mountain Time, one hour behind.
What is the time difference between South Dakota and New York?
The Central east is 1 hour behind New York and the Mountain west is 2 hours behind, all year. Full chart: CST to EST.
Does South Dakota observe daylight saving time?
Yes, both halves do. Clocks change at 2:00 AM on the second Sunday of March and the first Sunday of November, so the internal one-hour gap is constant. Dates: DST page.