Major Retailers and Grocery Stores Open on Thanksgiving
Many large retailers and grocery chains open on Thanksgiving, with most starting at 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM on Thanksgiving Day and staying open overnight into Black Friday. Walmart typically opens at 5:00 PM on Thanksgiving and remains open through the night, while Target follows a similar 5:00 PM start time. Costco remains closed on Thanksgiving, and Amazon does not operate physical stores for this holiday, though its online platform continues 24/7 delivery and pickup services. For real-time 2024 store hours, check the official Thanksgiving hours pages of each retailer on Forbes.
Kroger, Albertsons, and Publix usually open at 7:00 AM on Thanksgiving morning, while Whole Foods opens at 8:00 AM. Dollar General, Dollar Tree, and Family Dollar open at 8:00 AM on Thanksgiving, with some locations staying open overnight. BJ's Wholesale Club opens at 6:00 AM on Thanksgiving, and Sam's Club opens at 7:00 AM. Home Depot and Lowe's open at 6:00 AM on Thanksgiving, with Home Depot locations often staying open until midnight. Use store locators on official websites to find exact hours for your specific ZIP code.
Restaurants and Food Services Open on Thanksgiving
Many national restaurant chains serve meals on Thanksgiving, with Applebee's, Chili's, and Olive Garden offering limited menus starting around 11:00 AM or 12:00 PM. Denny's, IHOP, and Waffle House typically open at their regular hours, and some locations serve breakfast all day. Starbucks opens at its standard time, while Dunkin' opens at 5:00 AM in most locations. For delivery, DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub report increased Thanksgiving orders, with many restaurants listed on their apps offering special holiday menus per Forbes.
Fast-food giants such as McDonald's, Burger King, and Taco Bell have select locations open on Thanksgiving, often with reduced hours starting around 10:00 AM or 11:00 AM. Pizza chains including Domino's, Pizza Hut, and Papa John's operate with normal or slightly modified hours, and many offer carryout and delivery. Cracker Barrel opens at 7:00 AM on Thanksgiving and serves its full menu. Local diners, bakeries, and independent restaurants vary widely; use apps like Yelp or Google Maps to filter for "open now" or "open on Thanksgiving" results near your address.
Other Services and Places Open on Thanksgiving
Gas stations such as Shell, BP, Exxon, and Chevron remain open 24/7, including Thanksgiving. Many convenience stores, including 7-Eleven and Wawa, stay open around the clock. Pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens often operate with reduced hours, and some locations open at 9:00 AM or 10:00 AM. Hospitals, urgent care centers, and emergency rooms remain open 24/7, and many veterinary clinics and emergency animal hospitals also stay open on Thanksgiving.
Airports generally remain operational on Thanksgiving, with TSA staffing levels increasing in advance of peak travel days. Amtrak and most regional rail services run on modified holiday schedules, and many bus carriers such as Greyhound operate reduced service. Public transit systems in major cities often run on Sunday or holiday schedules, and ride-share services like Uber and Lyft typically apply surge pricing during peak travel times. For the latest travel and service status, check the official websites of airlines, transit authorities, and the U.S. Department of Transportation on the U