Sacramento uses Pacific Time (PT) — UTC−8 in winter (PST) and UTC−7 in summer (PDT). As the capital of California, Sacramento is known for its Gold Rush history, Old Sacramento historic district, the California State Capitol, and its thriving farm-to-fork culinary scene.
Everything you need to know about Sacramento's time zone, UTC offset, and Daylight Saving Time schedule.
From the first Sunday of November to the second Sunday of March, Sacramento observes PST (UTC−8). This is the standard winter time used across the US West Coast.
From the second Sunday of March to the first Sunday of November, Sacramento advances to PDT (UTC−7) — clocks move forward 1 hour, giving longer summer evenings.
The official IANA time zone name for Sacramento is America/Los_Angeles. This identifier is used in programming, operating systems, and all modern calendar applications.
Spring forward: 9 March 2025 at 02:00 → 03:00
Fall back: 2 November 2025 at 02:00 → 01:00
Spring forward: 8 March 2026 at 02:00 → 03:00
Fall back: 1 November 2026 at 02:00 → 01:00
Sacramento has been the capital of California since 1854. The historic State Capitol building houses the state government and a museum of California history.
Sacramento is known as America's Farm-to-Fork Capital, thanks to its location in the fertile Sacramento Valley and its thriving culinary scene featuring local produce.
Sacramento is the capital of California, with a population of over 525,000 (metro area over 2.4 million). Located at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers, it is the political, cultural, and economic hub of the Sacramento Valley.
Sacramento's modern history began with the California Gold Rush of 1849. John Sutter's Fort, established in 1839, became the epicenter of gold discovery and westward expansion. The city's historic Old Sacramento district preserves the Gold Rush era with wooden boardwalks, historic buildings, the California State Railroad Museum, and the Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Museum. The Delta King, a historic riverboat, is permanently docked along the riverfront.
As the state capital, Sacramento is home to the California State Capitol, a stunning neoclassical building completed in 1874. Visitors can tour the Capitol, see the restored legislative chambers, and explore the surrounding Capitol Park, which features memorials, gardens, and over 1,000 trees.
Sacramento is known as America's Farm-to-Fork Capital. The city is surrounded by the fertile Sacramento Valley, which produces a huge variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and wine. The Sacramento Farmers Market (one of the largest in the country) and the annual Farm-to-Fork Festival celebrate the region's agricultural bounty. The city has a thriving culinary scene, with restaurants sourcing ingredients directly from local farms.
The city is a hub for government, healthcare, and education. Major employers include the State of California, UC Davis Health, Sutter Health, and Intel. California State University, Sacramento (Sac State) is the local university, known for its nursing, business, and engineering programs. The Crocker Art Museum, founded in 1885, is the longest continuously operating art museum in the West.
Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy the American River Parkway, a 32-mile bike and pedestrian trail along the American River, connecting to Folsom Lake. The Sacramento River offers boating and fishing, and nearby Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada are within a two-hour drive.
Sacramento International Airport (SMF) offers non-stop flights to over 30 destinations, including major hubs like Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle.
525,000+ (city) / 2.4M (metro). Capital of California.
Historic neoclassical capitol building, museum, and Capitol Park with memorials and gardens.
Historic district with wooden boardwalks, California State Railroad Museum, and Gold Rush-era buildings.
Thriving culinary scene using local produce, huge farmers market, and annual Farm-to-Fork Festival.
Mediterranean with hot, dry summers (avg. 34°C / 93°F in July), cool, wet winters (avg. 8°C / 46°F in January).
+1 (US country code). Area codes: 916. Currency: US Dollar (USD, $).
Current time in major cities compared to Sacramento. Times update live every second.
Note on DST transitions: The offsets shown above reflect the current live offset, which changes twice a year due to Daylight Saving Time. The US, EU, and other regions change their clocks on different dates, which means the difference between Sacramento and a European city can vary by 1 hour for a short period in spring and autumn. Always verify the exact time difference around DST transition dates for critical scheduling.
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Sacramento's Pacific Time zone shapes the rhythm of California's state government, the farm-to-fork movement, and the city's Gold Rush legacy. The Pacific Time Zone is home to over 50 million people across the US and Canada West Coast.
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Common questions about Sacramento's time zone, UTC offset, and Daylight Saving Time.