diff --git a/python/ray/data/_internal/numpy_support.py b/python/ray/data/_internal/numpy_support.py
index fbb54de7555bd..9e6a7c305dfb7 100644
--- a/python/ray/data/_internal/numpy_support.py
+++ b/python/ray/data/_internal/numpy_support.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import collections
+from datetime import datetime
 from typing import Any, Dict, List, Union
 
 import numpy as np
@@ -40,6 +41,31 @@ def validate_numpy_batch(batch: Union[Dict[str, np.ndarray], Dict[str, list]]) -
         )
 
 
+def _detect_highest_datetime_precision(datetime_list: List[datetime]) -> str:
+    highest_precision = "D"
+
+    for dt in datetime_list:
+        if dt.microsecond != 0 and dt.microsecond % 1000 != 0:
+            highest_precision = "us"
+            break
+        elif dt.microsecond != 0 and dt.microsecond % 1000 == 0:
+            highest_precision = "ms"
+        elif dt.hour != 0 or dt.minute != 0 or dt.second != 0:
+            # pyarrow does not support h or m, use s for those cases too
+            highest_precision = "s"
+
+    return highest_precision
+
+
+def _convert_datetime_list_to_array(datetime_list: List[datetime]) -> np.ndarray:
+    precision = _detect_highest_datetime_precision(datetime_list)
+
+    return np.array(
+        [np.datetime64(dt, precision) for dt in datetime_list],
+        dtype=f"datetime64[{precision}]",
+    )
+
+
 def convert_udf_returns_to_numpy(udf_return_col: Any) -> Any:
     """Convert UDF columns (output of map_batches) to numpy, if possible.
 
@@ -64,6 +90,9 @@ def convert_udf_returns_to_numpy(udf_return_col: Any) -> Any:
             udf_return_col = np.expand_dims(udf_return_col[0], axis=0)
             return udf_return_col
 
+        if all(isinstance(elem, datetime) for elem in udf_return_col):
+            return _convert_datetime_list_to_array(udf_return_col)
+
         # Try to convert list values into an numpy array via
         # np.array(), so users don't need to manually cast.
         # NOTE: we don't cast generic iterables, since types like
diff --git a/python/ray/data/tests/test_numpy_support.py b/python/ray/data/tests/test_numpy_support.py
index 3bf29f60e05b9..c14038918c0af 100644
--- a/python/ray/data/tests/test_numpy_support.py
+++ b/python/ray/data/tests/test_numpy_support.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+from datetime import datetime
+
 import numpy as np
 import pytest
 import torch
@@ -46,6 +48,51 @@ def test_list_of_objects(ray_start_regular_shared):
     assert_structure_equals(output, np.array([1, 2, 3, UserObj()]))
 
 
+DATETIME_DAY_PRECISION = datetime(year=2024, month=1, day=1)
+DATETIME_HOUR_PRECISION = datetime(year=2024, month=1, day=1, hour=1)
+DATETIME_MIN_PRECISION = datetime(year=2024, month=1, day=1, minute=1)
+DATETIME_SEC_PRECISION = datetime(year=2024, month=1, day=1, second=1)
+DATETIME_MILLISEC_PRECISION = datetime(year=2024, month=1, day=1, microsecond=1000)
+DATETIME_MICROSEC_PRECISION = datetime(year=2024, month=1, day=1, microsecond=1)
+
+DATETIME64_DAY_PRECISION = np.datetime64("2024-01-01")
+DATETIME64_HOUR_PRECISION = np.datetime64("2024-01-01T01:00", "s")
+DATETIME64_MIN_PRECISION = np.datetime64("2024-01-01T00:01", "s")
+DATETIME64_SEC_PRECISION = np.datetime64("2024-01-01T00:00:01")
+DATETIME64_MILLISEC_PRECISION = np.datetime64("2024-01-01T00:00:00.001")
+DATETIME64_MICROSEC_PRECISION = np.datetime64("2024-01-01T00:00:00.000001")
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "data,expected_output",
+    [
+        ([DATETIME_DAY_PRECISION], np.array([DATETIME64_DAY_PRECISION])),
+        ([DATETIME_HOUR_PRECISION], np.array([DATETIME64_HOUR_PRECISION])),
+        ([DATETIME_MIN_PRECISION], np.array([DATETIME64_MIN_PRECISION])),
+        ([DATETIME_SEC_PRECISION], np.array([DATETIME64_SEC_PRECISION])),
+        ([DATETIME_MILLISEC_PRECISION], np.array([DATETIME64_MILLISEC_PRECISION])),
+        ([DATETIME_MICROSEC_PRECISION], np.array([DATETIME64_MICROSEC_PRECISION])),
+        (
+            [DATETIME_MICROSEC_PRECISION, DATETIME_MILLISEC_PRECISION],
+            np.array(
+                [DATETIME64_MICROSEC_PRECISION, DATETIME_MILLISEC_PRECISION],
+                dtype="datetime64[us]",
+            ),
+        ),
+        (
+            [DATETIME_SEC_PRECISION, DATETIME_MILLISEC_PRECISION],
+            np.array(
+                [DATETIME64_SEC_PRECISION, DATETIME_MILLISEC_PRECISION],
+                dtype="datetime64[ms]",
+            ),
+        ),
+    ],
+)
+def test_list_of_datetimes(data, expected_output, ray_start_regular_shared):
+    output = do_map_batches(data)
+    assert_structure_equals(output, expected_output)
+
+
 def test_array_like(ray_start_regular_shared):
     data = torch.Tensor([1, 2, 3])
     output = do_map_batches(data)