You're standing in the kitchen. The turkey is prepped, the stuffing is in the oven, and suddenly you realize—you forgot the cranberry sauce. Or maybe the heavy cream. It happens to the best of us. Naturally, your first thought is to grab your keys and sprint to the nearest supercenter.
But if you’re wondering what time does Walmart open on Thanksgiving, I’ve got some news that might throw a wrench in your plans.
Honestly, the answer isn't what it used to be five or six years ago. There was a time when Thanksgiving night was the literal kickoff for the holiday shopping frenzy. You'd finish your pie, wait in a freezing parking lot, and rush the doors at 6:00 PM. Those days are gone.
The Short Answer: It Doesn't
For the year 2025 (and likely every year moving forward), Walmart stores are closed on Thanksgiving Day.
Every single one. From the massive Supercenters in Texas to the smaller Neighborhood Markets in New York, the doors stay locked on Thursday, November 27.
Basically, the lights are off, and the associates are home. This isn't just a temporary "labor shortage" thing or a random whim. It’s a permanent shift in corporate culture that started back in 2020.
Why the sudden change?
It really comes down to the CEO, John Furner. He’s been pretty vocal about this. He decided that the people working the checkout belts and stocking the shelves deserve to actually eat a meal with their families instead of guarding a pallet of half-price air fryers.
The pandemic was the catalyst. Walmart saw how hard their "heroic" associates were working and decided to give them the day off as a thank you. People loved it. The employees loved it, and surprisingly, the customers didn't revolt. So, they kept it.
It’s a tradition now.
When can you actually shop?
If you’re desperate for those Black Friday deals or just need a gallon of milk, you have to play by the new rules of the holiday schedule.
- Wednesday, November 26: Stores are open regular hours. Most locations run from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM. This is your "last stands" day. If you don't have the turkey by 10:59 PM on Wednesday, you're out of luck at Walmart.
- Thursday, November 27 (Thanksgiving): Closed. Doors locked. Nothing doing.
- Friday, November 28 (Black Friday): This is the big reset. Walmart reopens at 6:00 AM local time. Some people think stores might open at midnight on Friday morning. They don't. That old-school midnight opening is mostly a thing of the past. You'll have to wait until the sun starts coming up at 6:00 AM to get inside.
The "Online Loophole"
Just because the physical sliding doors are locked doesn't mean the company stops making money. Far from it.
Walmart’s website and app are wide open on Thanksgiving. In fact, many of the "Black Friday" deals actually go live online days before the actual holiday. In 2025, we saw deals starting as early as November 25.
If you are a Walmart+ member, you usually get a five-hour head start on these digital deals. So, while everyone else is arguing about politics over mashed potatoes, you could be scoring a 75-inch TV from your phone.
Expert Tip: Don't rely on "Express Delivery" on Thanksgiving Day. Even if the app lets you build a cart, there are no drivers and no store pickers to fulfill it. Your order will just sit in limbo until Friday morning.
What most people get wrong about the closure
A lot of folks assume that because Walmart is closed, everything else must be too. Or they think the "Gas Stations" at Walmart will be open.
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Usually, if the store is closed, the attached fuel station is pay-at-the-pump only. No snacks, no bathrooms, no human help.
Also, don't confuse Walmart with your local pharmacy. While CVS or Walgreens might have limited hours on Thanksgiving, the Walmart Pharmacy follows the main store's schedule. If the store is closed, you aren't getting your prescription filled. Plan those refills at least three days in advance.
Real-world alternatives for the "forgotten ingredient"
Look, we've all been there. You're midway through a recipe and you're missing something critical. Since Walmart isn't an option, where do you go?
- Meijer or Kroger: Depending on where you live, these sometimes have limited morning hours (like closing at 2:00 PM), but many are following Walmart's lead and staying closed.
- Convenience Stores: 7-Eleven or Speedway are your best bets. You’ll pay $7 for a small bag of flour, but they're usually open 24/7.
- Local "Ethnic" Markets: Often, smaller independent grocery stores don't observe the same holiday closures as the big corporate giants.
- Whole Foods: They used to stay open for half-days, but check your local listings because they've been trending toward closures lately too.
Surviving the 6:00 AM Black Friday rush
If you are dead-set on being there when they reopen on Friday, you need a plan.
Walmart stores are generally less chaotic than they were in 2012, mostly because the deals are spread out over a whole month now. It’s not one single "Doorbuster" event anymore.
Still, 6:00 AM on Friday will be busy.
The best strategy? Use the Walmart App. It has a "Store Map" feature. It will literally show you where the pallets of discounted electronics are located so you aren't wandering around the garden center looking for a Nintendo Switch.
Actionable steps for your holiday weekend
Stop searching for opening times on the morning of the holiday. It’ll just stress you out.
Instead, do this:
Check your pantry today. Literally right now. Look for the "hidden" essentials: chicken broth, unsalted butter, disposable roasting pans, and heavy-duty aluminum foil.
If you realize you're missing something, get to Walmart by Wednesday night. If you miss that window, your next chance is Friday at 6:00 AM.
Make sure your Walmart+ membership is active if you want to shop from the couch on Thanksgiving Day. It’s the only way to "shop" Walmart while the actual buildings are dark.
Set an alarm for 5:30 AM on Friday if you want the in-store exclusives. Most stores won't have huge lines like the old days, but the high-demand tech items still disappear within the first hour.
Plan ahead, stay fed, and enjoy the day off—just like the Walmart employees are doing.