You’re in the middle of mashing ten pounds of potatoes when you realize the pantry is bone dry on crispy fried onions. It’s a classic holiday disaster. Your first instinct is probably to grab your keys and sprint to the nearest supercenter. But if you're asking is the walmart open on thanksgiving, you might want to put those keys back on the counter.
Honestly, the days of racing through Walmart aisles while your turkey is in the oven are mostly over.
The Short Answer: Is the Walmart Open on Thanksgiving?
No. For the last several years, including the most recent 2025 season, Walmart has kept its doors tightly locked on Thanksgiving Day. If you’re looking ahead to 2026, the story is almost certainly going to be the same. Every single one of the 4,600+ locations across the United States now shuts down for the entire 24-hour period of the holiday.
This isn't just a random scheduling fluke. It’s a massive corporate shift.
Back in the day—we're talking pre-2020—Walmart was the undisputed king of Thanksgiving Day "doorbusters." People would literally skip their family dinners to stand in line for a $200 TV at 6:00 PM on a Thursday. But things changed. The pandemic hit, the world shifted, and Walmart’s leadership decided that giving their 1.6 million associates a day off was actually better for business (and optics) than squeezing out a few extra hours of turkey-day sales.
Why the Change Stuck
John Furner, the CEO of Walmart U.S., has been pretty vocal about this. He’s gone on record multiple times saying that Thanksgiving is a "special day" and that employees deserve to be home. But let’s be real: it’s also about logistics. By closing on Thursday, Walmart can better prep their staff and their shelves for the absolute chaos that is Black Friday.
If you're a Walmart+ member, you've probably noticed that the deals actually start online days or even weeks before the holiday anyway. There’s less pressure to have the physical store open when half the country is shopping from their phones while reclining in a recliner.
What About Sam’s Club and Other Services?
If you’re a member of the Walmart-owned warehouse club, don't expect a different result. Sam’s Club follows the exact same playbook. They are closed on Thanksgiving Day, period.
🔗 Read more: 200 English Pounds to Euros: What You Need to Know Before Trading Your Cash
- Walmart Pharmacies: Closed. If you need a prescription filled, you better get it done by Wednesday night.
- Auto Care Centers: Also closed. Don't plan on getting an oil change while the bird is roasting.
- Vision Centers: Locked up tight.
- Online Shopping: This is the only "part" of Walmart that stays open. You can still fill your digital cart, but don't expect a delivery driver to show up at your house until at least Friday or Saturday.
When Does Walmart Reopen?
The "closed" sign doesn't stay up for long. Most Walmart locations across the country swing their doors back open at 6:00 AM on Black Friday.
That’s the moment the holiday season officially kicks into high gear. While some stores used to stay open 24 hours, most locations now stick to a 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM schedule, even during the peak shopping weekends. It’s always smart to double-check your local store's specific hours via the Walmart app, because urban locations sometimes vary slightly from the rural ones.
Last-Minute Survival: Where to Go Instead
So, Walmart is a no-go. You still need those fried onions. What now?
You aren't totally out of luck, but your options are definitely thinning out as more retailers follow Walmart’s lead. Target, Costco, and Aldi are also famously closed on Thanksgiving. However, you might find some luck at:
- Local Grocery Chains: Stores like Meijer, H-E-B, or Kroger often stay open for limited morning hours (usually closing around 2:00 PM or 4:00 PM).
- Drugstores: CVS and Walgreens are usually your best bet for emergency ingredients or medicine, though the pharmacy counters themselves might have weird hours.
- Convenience Stores: 7-Eleven and Wawa are almost always open, though their selection of "holiday dinner essentials" is... limited, to say the least.
Planning Your 2026 Holiday Run
Since we know is the walmart open on thanksgiving is a hard "no," the best strategy is the "Wednesday Blitz."
Wednesday before Thanksgiving is historically one of the busiest shopping days of the entire year. It’s a madhouse. If you can, try to get your shopping done on the Monday or Tuesday before. Walmart typically stocks up heavily on perishables—cranberries, heavy cream, stuffing mix—early in the week. By Wednesday night, the shelves usually look like a scene from a disaster movie.
If you find yourself needing something on the big day, check the "Store Finder" on the websites of smaller, local grocers. They are the last holdouts in the Thanksgiving closure trend.
Summary of Actionable Steps
Stop wondering and start prepping. Since the store won't be there for you on Thursday, here is how to handle the gap:
- Audit your pantry by Tuesday night: Check for the "forgotten" items like butter, chicken broth, and foil.
- Download the Walmart App: Check your local store's specific Black Friday opening time, as some might deviate from the 6:00 AM standard.
- Place your pickup order early: If you want to pick up groceries on Wednesday, book your time slot at least 48 hours in advance. Those slots fill up faster than you’d think.
- Check the Pharmacy: If you have recurring meds, ensure they are picked up by Wednesday afternoon to avoid a holiday gap.
Walmart has essentially drawn a line in the sand. They’ve traded the Thursday evening rush for a more rested workforce and a more organized Black Friday. It might be a minor inconvenience for the last-minute shopper, but for the people wearing the blue vests, it’s a much-needed break. Plan accordingly, and you won't be the one staring at a locked sliding glass door on Thursday afternoon.