Indiana Time Zone Map
Most of Indiana is in Eastern Time, but 12 counties use Central Time. See the map, county list, live clocks, UTC offsets, and daylight saving rules.
Simplified visual guide. Indiana officially has 12 Central Time counties and 80 Eastern Time counties according to Indiana state guidance.
What Time Zone Is Indiana In?
Indiana is split between Eastern Time and Central Time. Most of the state uses Eastern Time, including Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, South Bend, Bloomington, Lafayette, Muncie, Terre Haute, and Columbus. These areas use EST in winter and EDT during daylight saving time.
Twelve Indiana counties use Central Time instead. Six are in northwest Indiana near Chicago: Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton, Jasper, and Starke. Six are in southwest Indiana near the Illinois and Kentucky border: Gibson, Posey, Vanderburgh, Warrick, Spencer, and Perry. These counties use CST in winter and CDT during daylight saving time.
The practical rule is this: Indianapolis and most Indiana cities match New York time, while Gary and Evansville usually match Chicago time. When it is 9:00 AM in Indianapolis, it is 8:00 AM in Gary and Evansville. For official state guidance, see the Indiana Time Zone Information FAQ.
Indiana Counties and Cities by Time Zone
| Area | Counties / Region | Major Cities | UTC Offset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Time | 80 Indiana counties | Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, South Bend, Bloomington, Lafayette, Muncie | EST UTC-5 / EDT UTC-4 |
| Central Time - Northwest | Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton, Jasper, Starke | Gary, Hammond, Michigan City, Valparaiso, Rensselaer, Knox | CST UTC-6 / CDT UTC-5 |
| Central Time - Southwest | Gibson, Posey, Vanderburgh, Warrick, Spencer, Perry | Evansville, Mount Vernon, Boonville, Rockport, Tell City | CST UTC-6 / CDT UTC-5 |
Does Indiana Observe Daylight Saving Time?
Yes. Indiana observes daylight saving time. Eastern Indiana moves from EST (UTC-5) to EDT (UTC-4), while the Central Time counties move from CST (UTC-6) to CDT (UTC-5). The counties do not switch zones when daylight saving starts or ends; only the UTC offset changes.
This is important when scheduling meetings, broadcasts, school events, delivery windows, and travel across the state. A time written as "Indiana time" can be ambiguous unless the city or county is included. Indianapolis time and Gary time are often one hour apart, and Indianapolis time and Evansville time are often one hour apart.
Why Indiana Has Two Time Zones
Indiana has a complicated time zone history because the state sits between major Eastern Time and Central Time regions. Most of Indiana is economically and geographically aligned with the Eastern Time Zone. Northwest Indiana is closely tied to the Chicago area, so Central Time is more practical for commuting, business hours, schools, and local media schedules.
Southwest Indiana has a similar reason for Central Time. Counties around Evansville and Tell City connect strongly with nearby Central Time communities in Illinois and Kentucky. Keeping those counties on Central Time makes local coordination easier even though the majority of Indiana remains on Eastern Time.
Frequently Asked Questions - Indiana Time Zone Map
What time zone is Indianapolis in?
Indianapolis is in Eastern Time. It uses EST in winter and EDT during daylight saving time.
Is Gary, Indiana in Central Time?
Yes. Gary is in Lake County, one of the northwest Indiana counties that use Central Time.
Is Evansville, Indiana Eastern or Central Time?
Evansville is in Vanderburgh County, which uses Central Time.
Why does Indiana have two time zones?
Indiana has two time zones because northwest counties align with the Chicago region and southwest counties align with nearby Central Time communities, while most of the state aligns with Eastern Time.