What Time is it in Orlando, Florida?

Orlando, Florida is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the United States. With its warm sunshine, beautiful beaches and world-famous attractions, it’s no wonder why people flock to the sun-filled area to enjoy a much-needed getaway or to see the sights. But, when you’re planning a visit or trying to coordinate a meeting while you’re in the area, or even just checking the time on your phone, it’s important to know—what time is it in Orlando, Florida?

The Time Zone of Florida

To answer this question, you’ll first need to understand the time zones in Florida. Florida follows the Eastern Standard Time zone for most of the state, including Orlando. This time zone means that Orlando operates under the same time as many other eastern states, like New York, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.

The Daylight Savings Time Difference

However, during certain months of the year, Orlando operates under Daylight Savings Time (DST). During this period, the time is moved an hour forward so that the daylight hours of the day are extended. To make things easier on residents and visitors, the same switchover period applies to the entire state of Florida—a definite perk compared to some other states that follow different time zones throughout their state.

To give you a better example of the time zone changes in Orlando, let’s take a look at the time zone switchover dates for 2020. In Orlando, Standard Time began on November 1, 2020, at 2:00 AM. From March 8, 2020, to November 1, 2020, the time in Orlando was Daylight Savings Time.

In Summary

The time in Orlando, Florida, is generally Eastern Standard Time unless Daylight Savings Time is in effect. Daylight Savings Time runs from March 8, 2020, to November 1, 2020. If you are wondering what time it is in Orlando, after confirming whether Daylight Savings Time is in effect, you can then check the time against the Eastern Standard Time zone.