You’re cruising down the highway, the kids are half-asleep in the back after an early morning egg hunt, and that glowing orange light pops up on your dashboard. Low fuel. No big deal, right? You’ve got your membership card in the visor and there’s a warehouse just five miles away. You pull into the familiar concrete lot, expecting those signature red and blue pumps, but the entrance is blocked by giant orange cones. The station is dark.
It’s a ghost town. Honestly, it's a rite of passage for many members to learn this the hard way: Costco gas is closed on Easter Sunday.
While many grocery chains like Safeway or Kroger stay open with limited hours to sell last-minute hams, Costco sticks to a very old-school, rigid holiday schedule. They don't just close the warehouse doors; they shut down the entire operation, fuel pumps included.
Is Costco Gas Open Easter Sunday? The Short Answer
If you are looking for a quick "yes" or "no" while sitting at a red light, here it is: No, Costco gas stations are not open on Easter Sunday. In 2026, Easter Sunday falls on April 5. On that day, every single Costco warehouse and fuel center in the United States will be shuttered. This isn't a "your mileage may vary" situation where the store in the next town over might be open. It is a corporate-wide mandate. The pumps don't take your card if there isn't staff on-site to monitor the sensors and safety shut-offs.
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Why the Pumps Go Dark
A lot of people think gas pumps are fully automated and should just work 24/7. It makes sense, right? You slide the card, you pump the gas, the machine does the rest. But Costco’s business model is a bit different. They pride themselves on having attendants available to assist with the pumps and ensure safety.
Because the gas station is physically tied to the warehouse's power and security systems, when the warehouse employees get the day off, the gas station follows suit. Costco is one of the few massive retailers that still closes for seven major holidays every year. They do this to give their employees a guaranteed day with their families. It’s a policy that wins them a lot of "Best Place to Work" awards, even if it leaves you with an empty tank on a Sunday afternoon.
The Seven Days Costco Always Closes
- New Year’s Day
- Easter Sunday
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day (July 4th)
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
What About Easter Monday?
The good news is that the "holiday" at Costco is strictly a one-day affair. If you can wait until the morning of Easter Monday, you’ll be fine. Most Costco gas stations open as early as 6:00 AM on weekdays. They tend to be extra busy the day after a holiday closure, so expect a bit of a line if you’re heading in before work.
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People often get confused because many government offices and banks observe Easter Monday. Costco does not. It is back to business as usual the second the sun comes up on Monday morning.
Planning Your Fuel Strategy
If you know you’re heading out for a long drive to visit relatives, do yourself a favor and fill up on Good Friday or Saturday.
Saturday is notoriously the worst day to visit a Costco gas station. Everyone has the same idea. If you can sneak away on Thursday evening or early Friday morning, you’ll save yourself twenty minutes of idling in a queue that wraps around the tire center.
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What if you’re already on the road?
If you’re reading this and you’re already out of luck, you'll need a backup. Most standard gas stations like Shell, Chevron, or Speedway stay open on Easter. You won’t get that sweet, sweet member discount—sometimes as much as 30 cents a gallon cheaper—but you won't be stranded on the side of the road.
Keep in mind that some other "club" stores have different rules. While Sam’s Club usually follows a similar closure pattern to Costco, they have been known to vary their fuel hours by location in some years. Always check their specific app before betting your engine's life on it.
The Logic Behind the Shutdown
There’s a common misconception that "only the store is closed, the pumps are pay-at-the-pump." While that might be true at some local mom-and-pop shops, Costco’s fuel centers are deeply integrated into the warehouse infrastructure.
Technicians and attendants are required to be on-site to handle spills, system errors, or the inevitable person who tries to fill a trash can with gasoline (it happens more than you'd think). Without a crew in the warehouse to back them up, the gas station just isn't allowed to run. It's a safety and liability thing.
Actionable Next Steps
Since you now know that Costco gas is closed on Easter Sunday, here is how to handle your holiday weekend without a headache:
- Check the App: If you are unsure about your specific local warehouse, the Costco app has a "Warehouse Locator" that lists exact holiday hours for both the store and the gas station.
- Top Off Early: Make it a rule to fill your tank no later than Saturday afternoon. Avoid the Sunday morning panic.
- Identify a Backup: Know where the nearest 24-hour QuikTrip or Wawa is along your route. You'll pay a premium, but it beats calling a tow truck on a holiday.
- Download GasBuddy: If you're forced to skip Costco, use an app like GasBuddy to find the next cheapest option nearby so you aren't paying "convenience" prices at a station right off the freeway exit.