You’re cruising down the highway, the SUV is packed with three coolers, two bags of charcoal, and a pack of hot dogs that could feed a small army. Then you see it. The little orange light on your dashboard starts glowing. It's the "low fuel" warning, and you realize you forgot to fill up before hitting the road for the long weekend. Your first thought? "No big deal, I’ll just pull into the Costco gas station nearby."
Stop right there.
If it is Monday, May 25, 2026, you are likely out of luck. Most people assume that because gas is an "essential" or because other gas stations like Shell or Exxon stay open 24/7, Costco will be right there with them. It won't.
Is Costco gas open Memorial Day?
The short, blunt answer is no. Costco gas stations are closed on Memorial Day. This isn't a "maybe" or a "check your local store" kind of situation for the vast majority of members in the United States. Costco is one of the few massive retailers that still treats its holiday closures like a hard line in the sand. When the warehouse closes, the pumps go dark too.
It catches people off guard every single year. You see them on Reddit or Twitter, posting photos of themselves sitting in a completely empty, silent Costco parking lot, staring at the yellow tape or the "Closed" sign on the pump screen. It’s a ghost town. Honestly, it’s a bit eerie seeing a place that is usually a chaotic hive of $5 rotisserie chickens and massive carts suddenly become a paved wasteland.
Why Costco shuts down when everyone else stays open
It seems counterintuitive from a business perspective. Memorial Day is one of the biggest travel weekends of the year. People are burning through fuel like crazy. Why would a company walk away from millions of dollars in gas sales?
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It basically comes down to their corporate DNA. Costco identifies seven "Big" holidays where they shut down completely to give their employees a break. These are:
- New Year’s Day
- Easter Sunday
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day (July 4th)
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
They don't do "reduced hours" for these. They don't do "skeleton crews." They just lock the doors. While competitors like Walmart or Target might stay open to catch the holiday shoppers, Costco uses these days as a perk for their staff. It’s part of why they have such high employee retention.
The "Gas Station vs. Warehouse" confusion
There is a common misconception that the gas station operates on a different schedule than the main warehouse. On a normal Tuesday, that’s true! Usually, the gas station opens way earlier (around 6:00 AM) and closes later than the front doors of the store.
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Because of that daily discrepancy, members often think the gas station is its own entity that stays open on holidays. It’s not. The fuel islands require staff to monitor for safety, spills, and to help with membership card issues. If the warehouse staff is home grilling burgers, the gas station staff is too.
What about Costco in Canada or the UK?
If you're reading this from north of the border, the rules change. In Canada, Memorial Day isn't a thing (they have Victoria Day earlier in May). Canadian Costcos are generally open on the US Memorial Day.
Always check the local holiday calendar if you're traveling internationally. But for the 600+ locations in the US, the "closed" sign is a universal reality.
Planning your holiday weekend fuel run
If you want that Kirkland Signature fuel price, you have to be strategic. The Friday and Saturday before Memorial Day are, quite frankly, a nightmare. Everyone has the same idea. You’ll be waiting 20 minutes in a line that snakes around the tire center just to save ten cents a gallon.
The "sweet spot" is usually Sunday morning right when the pumps open at 6:00 AM. Most people are still sleeping off their pre-holiday festivities. You can slide in, tap your fob, and be out before the crowds realize the sun is up.
Where to go when Costco is closed
If you’re already on the road and realized too late that is Costco gas open Memorial Day was a "no," don't panic. You have options, though they might hurt your wallet a little more:
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- Sam’s Club: Sometimes they have limited holiday hours, but they often stay open when Costco closes.
- Wawa or Buc-ee's: These travel centers never sleep.
- Standard stations: Shell, Chevron, and BP will be open, but expect to pay a premium for the convenience.
The hidden benefit of the closure
There is a tiny silver lining to the Costco gas station being closed. If you need to do a "dry run" for a driving test or you want to teach your teenager how to park a large vehicle, the Costco parking lot on Memorial Day is the best classroom in America. It’s 20 acres of empty asphalt.
But for fuel? No luck.
Actionable steps for Memorial Day 2026
To avoid getting stranded or paying "street prices" for gas, follow this checklist:
- Fill up by Saturday: Sunday is risky because the lines get long and the "out of stock" horror stories occasionally happen during high-demand weekends.
- Download the Costco App: Use the "Warehouse Locator" feature. It explicitly lists "Holiday Closures" for your specific home store.
- Check the "Top Tier" alternatives: if you can’t get Kirkland gas, look for other Top Tier certified brands (like Mobil or QuikTrip) to ensure you’re still getting high-quality detergents in your tank.
- Top off early: Don't wait until the light comes on. If you're at half a tank on Friday, just fill it. The peace of mind is worth the five minutes.
The bottom line is that Costco stays consistent. They value their employees' time over the holiday weekend revenue. While it’s annoying for us as members when we're low on fuel, it's one of those quirks that makes the brand what it is. Mark your calendar for May 25, 2026, and get your gas on the 23rd.