What Time Is It In Chicago?

What is the current time in Chicago, Illinois

The current time in Chicago, Illinois is

4:56 PM

The date is March 28, 2024

Quick facts

  • Chicago is 5:00 behind GMT right now
  • Chicago's time zone is Central Time

What Time Zone is Chicago, Illinois In?

Chicago is in Central Time time zone, also sometimes abbreviated to CT. There are many cities and states in this time zone. This time zone consists of two "sub" time zones: CST and CDT. It is one or the other, depending on the time of year. In CT, clocks are typically moved forward and backwards anually (once forward and once backward every year).

Timezone Pacific Mountain Central Eastern
GMT Offset -7:00 -7:00 -5:00 -4:00
12-hour time 5:56 PM 4:56 PM 2:56 PM 2:56 PM
24-hour time 17:56 16:56 14:56 14:56
Military time 1756 1656 1456 1456

Seasons in Chicago

Spring

  • Average temperature: 50-70°F
  • Climate: Mild and rainy
  • Unique traditions and events: Chicago Beer Festival, Chicago Riverwalk Artisan Market
  • Average daylight: 12-14 hours

Summer

  • Average temperature: 70-85°F
  • Climate: Warm and humid
  • Unique traditions and events: Taste of Chicago, Lollapalooza Music Festival
  • Average daylight: 14-15 hours

Fall

  • Average temperature: 50-70°F
  • Climate: Cool and crisp
  • Unique traditions and events: Chicago Marathon, Chicago International Film Festival
  • Average daylight: 10-12 hours

Winter

  • Average temperature: 20-35°F
  • Climate: Cold and snowy
  • Unique traditions and events: Christkindlmarket, Chicago Polar Plunge
  • Average daylight: 8-9 hours

Chicago, located in the state of Illinois, is situated in the Central Time Zone is known for deep dish pizza, Chicgo dogs (it's like a garden on top of a hot dog), and your Chicago Cubs. It is 6 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC-6). The nearest timezone border is approximately 45 miles west of the city, which is the border between Central and Eastern Time Zones. The respective travel time to the nearest states, Indiana and Wisconsin, is approximately 1 hour and 2.5 hours, respectively. Traffic outside of Chicago can vary depending on the work week with neighboring cities including Evanston, Skokie, Oak Park, and Cicero. If someone were to drive from Chicago across America, it would take approximately 32 hours! Learn more about traveling to Chicago.

Destination Distance (miles) Time to Drive (hours) Timezone Change (hours)
Yosemite National Park 2,020 40.4 -2
White House in Washington D.C. 703 14.1 -1
Denali National Park 3,308 66.2 -4
Las Vegas Strip 1,746 34.9 -2
Citizens Bank Park 765 15.3 -1
Niagara Falls 532 10.6 -1
Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco 2,020 40.4 -2
Yellowstone 1,238 24.8 -1
Manhattan 790 15.8 -1
Grand Canyon 1,635 32.7 -2

Other times in the United States

The United States has four main time zones and six time zones including Alaska and Hawaii. Time can span between six hours and range from -5 UTC hours to -10 UTC, making time in Chicago change by a 6 hour time frame in the United States. Here are the most popular current times across the USA.

City State Timezone 12-hour time 24 hour time Military time
New York City New York Eastern Time 7:42 PM 19:42 1942
Philadelphia Pennsylvania Eastern Time 7:42 PM 19:42 1942
Boston Massachusetts Eastern Time 7:42 PM 19:42 1942
Chicago Illinois Central Time 6:42 PM 18:42 1842
Phoenix Arizona Mountain Time 5:42 PM 17:42 1742
Los Angeles California Pacific Time 4:42 PM 16:42 1642

Fast Facts About Chicago

What time zone is Chicago in?

Chicago is in the Central Time time zone

What is Chicago time compared to UTC?

UTC or Coordinated Universal Time is the global time standard, and Chicago is offset by -5:00.