If you've ever stood on the banks of the Colorado River in Laughlin, looked across at Bullhead City, and wondered why your phone just jumped forward an hour, you aren't alone. It’s a total trip. You’re literally standing on a temporal fault line. Laughlin is tucked into the far southern tip of Nevada, and while it shares the same water as its Arizona neighbor, it does not always share the same clock.
Honestly, the time in Laughlin Nevada is one of those things that sounds simple until you actually get there. People miss dinner reservations. They show up an hour early for concerts at the Laughlin Event Center. They get "river time" and "real time" mixed up. It’s a quirk of geography that defines the rhythm of this town.
The Pacific Time Reality
Laughlin officially sits in the Pacific Time Zone. This means for most of the year, it’s on the same page as Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Seattle. If you’re driving down from the Strip, you don’t need to touch your watch. You’re still in Nevada, and the rules of Nevada apply.
But here is where it gets kinda messy: the Arizona border.
Arizona—specifically Bullhead City, which is just a quick water taxi ride across the river—does not observe Daylight Saving Time. Nevada does. So, for about half the year, Laughlin and Bullhead City are perfectly synced. Then, the second Sunday in March hits. Nevada "springs forward," but Arizona stays put. Suddenly, crossing the river feels like traveling through a wormhole.
When the Clocks Actually Change in 2026
We are currently navigating the standard winter months. Right now, Laughlin is on Pacific Standard Time (PST).
If you are planning a trip for later this year, keep these dates on your radar. They are the only times the town’s pulse actually shifts:
- March 8, 2026: At 2:00 AM, Laughlin "springs forward" to Pacific Daylight Time (PDT).
- November 1, 2026: At 2:00 AM, the town "falls back" to Pacific Standard Time (PST).
During that window between March and November, Laughlin is one hour ahead of Bullhead City. If it’s 7:00 PM and you’re grabbing a drink at the Riverside Resort, it’s only 6:00 PM for the folks over at the casinos on the Arizona side (wait, there aren't any—that's why they all come to Laughlin).
The "River Time" Struggle for Boaters
Boaters have it the hardest. When you’re out on the Colorado River, your smartphone is constantly pinging towers in two different states. One second you're looking at 1:00 PM, the next your screen says 2:00 PM because your signal hopped across the water to an Arizona tower.
It’s annoying. Really annoying.
Most locals will tell you to just pick a side and stick to it. If you’re staying at the Aquarius or Harrah's, stay on Nevada time. Don't trust your "automatic" clock settings on your phone while you’re near the water. Set your time zone manually to "Los Angeles" or "Vancouver" to lock in that Pacific Time. It’ll save you a lot of headaches when you're trying to catch the last water taxi of the night.
Why Does This Matter for Travelers?
It's not just about knowing what time it is; it’s about logistics.
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- Event Schedules: If you’re seeing a show at the Rio Vista Outdoor Amphitheater, the start time is always Nevada time.
- Check-out Times: Hotels are strict. 11:00 AM means 11:00 AM Pacific Time. If your phone switched to Arizona time, you might think you have an extra hour, only to find a housekeeping knock at your door.
- Dining: Many of the best spots, like The Steakhouse at the Tropicana, fill up fast. If you’re coming over from the Arizona side for a 6:00 PM reservation during the summer, you better leave at 4:45 PM.
Is Nevada Ever Going to Stop Changing Clocks?
There’s been a lot of talk lately about "locking the clock." You might have seen headlines about Nevada Assembly Bill 81 (AB81). The idea was to keep Nevada on Pacific Standard Time year-round, which would have ended the back-and-forth forever.
Lawmakers debated it heavily in 2025. There was a lot of back-and-forth about how it would affect tourism and the relationship with California. For now, the bill hasn't changed the reality on the ground. We are still switching. It’s a classic case of "wait and see," but for the 2026 season, expect the status quo.
Surviving the Laughlin Time Jump
If you want to master the time in Laughlin Nevada, you need to think like a local.
Stop checking your phone every five minutes. The desert is meant for slowing down anyway. If you’re here for the river, the only "time" that really matters is sunset. The way the light hits the Black Mountains across the water around 5:00 PM in the winter is worth more than any digital readout.
Practical steps for your next visit:
- Lock your phone's time zone: Go into your settings, turn off "Set Automatically," and select Pacific Time. This prevents the "Arizona Jump."
- Trust the hotel clocks: The digital displays in the elevators and lobbies are the "source of truth."
- Add an hour of "buffer": If you are crossing the river for any reason during the summer months, always assume you are losing or gaining an hour and plan accordingly.
- Check the Water Taxi schedule: They run on Nevada time. If the last boat is at 11:00 PM, and your phone says 11:05 PM because it's on Arizona time, you might still have 55 minutes—or you might be walking the bridge. Check the pilot's watch if you're unsure.
Laughlin is a place where the Colorado River dictates the pace. Whether it's PST or PDT, the water keeps flowing at the same speed. Just make sure your watch is set to Nevada time before you put some money down on the craps table or head out for a sunset cruise.