Time Difference: Scottsdale, AZ vs. New York, NY — 3 Hours (Standard Time)
Scottsdale, Arizona (MST) is 3 hours behind New York City (ET) during standard time.**
The Arizona Exception
- Arizona (except Navajo Nation) does NOT observe Daylight Saving Time.**
- Rest of U.S. (including NY) **springs forward** (EDT, UTC-4) and **falls back** (EST, UTC-5).
- Arizona **stays on MST (UTC-7) year-round**.
Resulting Offsets
| Period | New York | Scottsdale | Difference |
|---|
| Early Nov – Mid Mar (Standard) | EST (UTC-5) | MST (UTC-7) | 3 hours |
| Mid Mar – Early Nov (Daylight) | EDT (UTC-4) | MST (UTC-7) | 3 hours |
Wait—same 3 hours year-round? Yes! Because NY shifts but AZ doesn't, the **offset remains 3 hours** (NY always ahead). *Example:* 12:00 PM NY = 9:00 AM Scottsdale, always.
Navajo Nation Exception
The **Navajo Nation** (spans AZ/UT/NM) **does observe DST**. During summer, it aligns with MDT (UTC-6)—only 2 hours behind NY. But Scottsdale proper is not on Navajo land.
Practical Tip
When scheduling across this zone: **"Arizona time = Eastern time minus 3 hours"** works every day of the year. No "spring forward/fall back" mental math needed.
Wanderlust World