What Stores Are Open on Christmas Day?

Finding out what stores are open on Christmas Day can become unexpectedly important when you run out of milk, need cold medicine, forget an ingredient for Christmas dinner, or discover that someone still needs batteries for a new gift. December 25 is one of the quietest shopping days of the year in the United States, with most major retailers choosing to close their doors for the holiday.

That does not mean every store is closed. Convenience stores, gas-station markets, pharmacies, and selected grocery stores are often the most reliable options for Christmas Day shopping. Some operate on their normal schedules, while others use reduced holiday hours that can be very different from their usual weekday opening times.

The biggest mistake shoppers make is assuming that every location within a national chain follows the same Christmas schedule. Holiday hours can vary according to the city, store format, franchise owner, shopping center, pharmacy department, and whether a location normally operates 24 hours. A store may be open while the pharmacy counter inside it remains closed.

For that reason, Christmas Day store lists should be treated as a starting point rather than a guarantee for your nearest location. Before driving anywhere on December 25, check the retailer’s store locator, mobile app, online business listing, or telephone information. A two-minute check can save you from making an unnecessary holiday trip.

Are Stores Open on Christmas Day?

Most major U.S. retailers are traditionally closed on Christmas Day, particularly department stores, warehouse clubs, big-box retailers, home-improvement chains, and large supermarkets. Christmas is one of the few remaining days when many national retailers shut their physical locations entirely rather than simply shortening operating hours.

Stores that do remain open tend to focus on immediate everyday needs. Pharmacies may provide access to medicine and health products, while convenience stores sell beverages, snacks, basic groceries, batteries, toiletries, and other last-minute essentials. Gas stations with attached convenience markets can also be useful when most nearby shopping centers are closed.

Some grocery chains occasionally keep selected stores open, particularly in large metropolitan areas or regions where individual locations have different holiday schedules. However, supermarket availability is much less predictable than convenience-store availability. Even chains that open certain branches may close many other locations on December 25.

Christmas Day hours can also change from one year to another. Companies sometimes adjust their holiday policies based on staffing, customer demand, regional requirements, and business decisions. If you are planning ahead for Christmas 2026, use recent patterns as guidance but confirm the exact schedule when retailers publish their December holiday hours.

What Stores Are Usually Open on Christmas Day?

Walgreens has historically been one of the most recognizable national options for Christmas Day essentials, although store and pharmacy schedules can differ. A customer might be able to enter the retail portion of a Walgreens location while prescription services operate reduced hours or are unavailable, making it important to check both sets of hours separately.

Many CVS locations have also operated on Christmas Day with modified schedules. The front retail store and pharmacy counter do not necessarily follow identical hours, so someone who specifically needs a prescription should verify pharmacy availability instead of assuming that an open CVS automatically means that its pharmacy department is operating.

Convenience chains such as 7-Eleven, Sheetz, Wawa, and some Circle K locations are often among the stronger possibilities for December 25 shopping. Many convenience stores normally operate extended or around-the-clock schedules, although individual locations can still change their hours because of staffing, franchise decisions, or regional circumstances.

Selected supermarkets belonging to chains such as Safeway or Albertsons have also opened in some markets during recent Christmas holidays, generally with modified schedules. Availability is highly location-dependent, however, so shoppers should never assume that every store under these brands will operate on Christmas Day.

Pharmacies Open on Christmas Day

Pharmacies are among the first places people search for when they unexpectedly need medicine on December 25. Walgreens and CVS are often the most useful national chains to check because many locations combine pharmacy services with general retail products, allowing customers to purchase medicine, toiletries, food, beverages, and basic household supplies.

However, an important distinction exists between store hours and pharmacy hours. The retail store might be operating while the prescription counter is closed or working a shorter schedule. This distinction matters particularly when you need prescription medication rather than an over-the-counter product available from the store’s regular shelves.

Twenty-four-hour pharmacy locations may offer better holiday availability, but even those should be checked before traveling. Holiday staffing requirements can affect individual departments, and online store locators usually provide more specific information than a general national Christmas opening-hours list.

If medication is important, avoid leaving refills until December 25 whenever possible. Checking prescriptions before the holiday can reduce unnecessary stress and help you identify any potential problem while normal pharmacy services are still widely available on the days leading up to Christmas.

Convenience Stores Open on Christmas Day

Convenience stores are often the most dependable answer when someone asks, “What is open on Christmas Day near me?” Chains such as 7-Eleven have many locations built around extended operating schedules, which makes them especially useful when conventional supermarkets and department stores are unavailable.

Depending on the location, convenience stores may stock milk, bread, eggs, packaged food, bottled drinks, coffee, ice, snacks, toiletries, basic medicine, charging cables, batteries, and other everyday necessities. Their selection will obviously be smaller than a full supermarket, but it may be enough to solve a last-minute Christmas problem.

Regional convenience chains can also be valuable. Sheetz and Wawa, for example, operate numerous locations that combine convenience retail with prepared food, fuel, drinks, and basic grocery products. Availability depends heavily on where you live because these chains have stronger footprints in particular parts of the United States.

Circle K and independently operated gas-station stores may provide additional options, but hours can vary significantly. Some convenience stores are operated by franchisees who have more influence over local schedules, making a local search especially important before assuming a nearby store will be open.

Grocery Stores Open on Christmas Day

Finding a full grocery store open on Christmas Day is considerably harder than finding a convenience store. Most large supermarket chains traditionally close on December 25, meaning shoppers should try to complete their main grocery purchases before Christmas Eve whenever possible.

In recent holiday schedules, selected Safeway and Albertsons locations have sometimes remained open with reduced operating hours. The key word is selected: one location may open while another nearby branch of the same company stays closed, depending on local scheduling and operational decisions.

Independent supermarkets, neighborhood grocery stores, ethnic markets, and smaller regional chains may also choose their own Christmas Day hours. In larger cities, these stores can sometimes provide more options than national grocery chains because their opening decisions are made locally rather than through a nationwide holiday policy.

If you need only a few ingredients, searching nearby convenience stores before traveling farther to a supermarket may save time. Milk, butter, eggs, bread, beverages, ice, snacks, and basic cooking ingredients are commonly easier to find than specialty foods or ingredients for a complicated Christmas meal.

Is Walgreens Open on Christmas Day?

Walgreens has been one of the national pharmacy chains commonly associated with Christmas Day availability. Recent holiday schedules have included open stores on December 25, making Walgreens a useful option for people who need health products, toiletries, snacks, beverages, personal-care items, or other essential purchases.

The pharmacy department requires more careful planning. Pharmacy schedules can differ from the hours of the main store, particularly during major holidays. Someone who needs a prescription should therefore check the specific pharmacy listing rather than relying on the general opening time displayed for the retail location.

Twenty-four-hour Walgreens stores can be especially useful for urgent everyday purchases, but local operating conditions still matter. Holiday schedules can change, which means searching the specific branch before leaving home remains the safest approach even when a national chain generally operates on Christmas.

If you are checking several days in advance, look at the retailer’s official store locator again closer to December 25. Christmas schedules are sometimes added to individual store pages only when the holiday approaches, giving shoppers more accurate information than an older general list found elsewhere online.

Is CVS Open on Christmas Day?

Many CVS stores have historically opened on Christmas Day, usually with location-dependent or reduced holiday schedules. This makes CVS another strong possibility for customers who need over-the-counter medication, first-aid supplies, toiletries, drinks, snacks, household products, or other essentials after most retailers have closed.

As with Walgreens, shoppers need to distinguish between the CVS retail store and the pharmacy counter. A location listed as open does not necessarily guarantee that prescription services will be available for the full retail schedule. Pharmacy departments may have shorter hours or may close at some locations.

People looking for medical services should also avoid assuming that every health service inside an open pharmacy building follows the same holiday timetable. Clinic, pharmacy, photo, and other services can have separate operating schedules even when customers can enter the main store.

The fastest approach is to search for the exact CVS location you intend to visit and review its December 25 hours. Calling can also be worthwhile when a prescription or health-related need is the main reason for the trip rather than a general retail purchase.

Is 7-Eleven Open on Christmas Day?

7-Eleven is often one of the better-known options for Christmas Day convenience shopping because many locations normally operate 24 hours a day. For someone who needs a drink, basic food item, coffee, snack, ice, or household essential, checking the nearest branch can therefore be worthwhile.

Not every 7-Eleven should automatically be treated as a 24-hour Christmas location. Individual branches can have different schedules, particularly when they are operated by franchisees or located inside another property with its own operating restrictions.

The biggest advantage of convenience stores on December 25 is accessibility rather than selection. You are unlikely to find everything available in a major supermarket, but a nearby store may have exactly the forgotten item needed to finish breakfast or Christmas dinner.

If your local 7-Eleven is unavailable, search nearby gas stations and other convenience chains. Stores designed around fuel, quick purchases, and extended operating schedules generally provide a better chance of finding an open business than traditional shopping centers.

Are Safeway and Albertsons Open on Christmas Day?

Safeway and Albertsons deserve attention because selected locations have operated on Christmas Day in recent years. Where stores do open, reduced schedules are common, so customers should not expect normal weekday or weekend operating hours.

Holiday availability is particularly dependent on the individual location. Some stores may be completely closed, while another branch several miles away may open for part of the day. Checking several nearby locations can therefore be useful when one store appears unavailable.

The pharmacy inside an open supermarket may also have a separate schedule. If you need prescription services, verify the pharmacy listing specifically rather than using the supermarket’s general opening hours as evidence that the pharmacy is working.

Because full supermarkets open on December 25 are relatively uncommon, buying important groceries before the holiday remains the better strategy. Christmas Day availability is most useful as a backup for forgotten essentials rather than something households should rely on for their entire holiday grocery shop.

What Major Stores Are Usually Closed on Christmas Day?

Walmart and Target are among the large retailers shoppers frequently search for on Christmas Day, but both have traditionally closed their U.S. stores on December 25. That means last-minute gifts, electronics, clothing, toys, and large grocery purchases should generally be completed before Christmas Day.

Warehouse clubs such as Costco and Sam’s Club have also traditionally treated Christmas as a closure day. Because these stores are common destinations for large grocery and household purchases, customers planning a Christmas gathering should make sure important bulk items are purchased well in advance.

Popular grocery chains including Aldi, Trader Joe’s, Publix, Whole Foods, and many Kroger-family stores have also commonly closed on Christmas Day. Exact policies can change over time, but relying on these supermarkets for December 25 shopping is generally not a good planning strategy.

Department stores, home-improvement stores, furniture retailers, and shopping-mall businesses are also much more likely to close than convenience stores. Christmas Day shopping therefore tends to focus on emergencies and necessities rather than traditional retail browsing.

Is Walmart Open on Christmas Day?

Walmart has traditionally closed its U.S. stores on December 25, giving employees Christmas Day away from normal store operations. Because Walmart carries groceries, medicine, gifts, electronics, toys, and household products, its closure can surprise shoppers who are accustomed to the chain’s extensive normal operating hours.

The safest strategy is to complete Walmart purchases by Christmas Eve, remembering that stores may also close earlier than usual on December 24. Waiting until late Christmas Eve can therefore be risky when you need an important gift or ingredient.

If you discover something missing on Christmas morning, look first at pharmacies, convenience stores, or local markets rather than traveling to Walmart without checking. Those categories of businesses offer a much better chance of Christmas Day availability.

Normal operations generally resume after the holiday, although opening times should still be verified locally. Anyone who can postpone a nonessential purchase until December 26 will usually have significantly more retail options available.

Is Target Open on Christmas Day?

Target has also traditionally closed its stores on Christmas Day. Shoppers looking for toys, clothing, electronics, beauty products, household goods, or groceries should therefore plan to finish Target errands before the December 25 holiday.

Christmas Eve can offer an additional shopping window, but reduced hours are common throughout the retail industry on December 24. Checking closing time is particularly important for anyone finishing last-minute Christmas shopping after work or later in the evening.

If the forgotten product is something basic such as batteries, pain relief, toiletries, snacks, or beverages, an open pharmacy or convenience store may offer a practical substitute. Specialty gifts and larger purchases are much harder to replace once major retailers close.

Planning ahead becomes especially helpful for families with children because toys and electronic accessories can easily require unexpected batteries, cables, or adapters. Checking these items before Christmas morning can prevent a holiday search for an open store.

Is Costco Open on Christmas Day?

Costco traditionally closes its warehouses on Christmas Day, making December 25 a poor time to rely on the warehouse club for food, beverages, household products, or last-minute supplies. Christmas shopping at Costco is better completed several days earlier when possible.

Large holiday gatherings make advance planning particularly important because many people use Costco for bulk food and party supplies. Forgetting one major item can be difficult to solve on Christmas Day because the smaller stores that remain open may not sell comparable quantities.

Gas station operating arrangements can sometimes differ from warehouse schedules, but customers should verify local information rather than assuming any Costco service will be available. Holiday closures may affect more than the retail warehouse itself.

If you regularly depend on warehouse clubs, make a simple Christmas checklist covering food, drinks, ice, paper products, batteries, medicine, and household essentials. Preparing these items in advance is usually much easier than searching for alternatives once the holiday begins.

Where Can You Buy Medicine on Christmas Day?

Pharmacy chains should generally be the first places to check when medicine is needed on Christmas Day. Walgreens and CVS frequently provide more holiday availability than traditional supermarkets, although individual stores and pharmacy counters can follow reduced or different schedules.

For common over-the-counter products such as pain relievers, cold remedies, bandages, antacids, or basic first-aid supplies, an open retail pharmacy or convenience store may be enough. Prescription medication is different because an operating pharmacy counter and pharmacist are required.

Do not wait until the last dose of an important prescription before checking holiday availability. Reviewing medication several days before Christmas provides time to contact your pharmacy or healthcare provider if a refill or other action is necessary.

For urgent medical situations, shopping for medicine should not replace appropriate medical care. Christmas opening hours can help with ordinary needs, but emergency or serious health problems require the appropriate medical services rather than searching multiple retail stores.

Where Can You Buy Groceries on Christmas Day?

Convenience stores are usually the easiest place to begin when only a few groceries are missing. Many locations carry basics such as milk, eggs, bread, butter, drinks, snacks, ice, frozen food, and packaged ingredients that can solve minor Christmas meal problems.

Selected supermarkets may provide a wider selection, but Christmas Day grocery openings vary significantly by location. Safeway, Albertsons, independent supermarkets, and some regional stores are worth checking when you need more than a convenience store can provide.

Local markets may sometimes be overlooked in national articles. Independent grocery stores, international supermarkets, and neighborhood shops make their own scheduling decisions and can occasionally remain open even when larger supermarket chains close.

Use a map or local search to check what is actually operating nearby instead of driving from one familiar national chain to another. On Christmas Day, the closest open independent store may be far more useful than searching for a major supermarket that follows a nationwide closure policy.

Where Can You Buy Last-Minute Christmas Gifts?

Finding traditional gifts is difficult on December 25 because most big-box retailers and shopping centers are closed. Pharmacies and convenience stores therefore become useful for simple last-minute presents such as candy, personal-care products, small toys, gift cards, flowers where available, or practical everyday items.

Digital gifts are another useful option when physical stores are unavailable. E-gift cards, subscriptions, digital books, streaming memberships, game credits, and online experiences can often be purchased electronically without depending on Christmas Day retail hours.

Restaurants, coffee shops, cinemas, entertainment venues, and other businesses that happen to operate locally may also offer digital or physical gift cards. Availability varies, so online purchasing is generally simpler when you need a gift immediately.

A thoughtful digital gift can be better than driving around looking for an open retailer with a limited product selection. Christmas Day closures make flexibility particularly valuable, and the recipient can often choose exactly what they want afterward.

How to Find Stores Open Near You on Christmas Day

Start with the retailer’s official store locator because it can provide location-specific information that a general article cannot. Search for your ZIP code or city and look specifically for December 25 hours rather than assuming the normal weekly schedule applies.

Next, check a maps application for recent holiday-hour information. Search phrases such as stores open Christmas Day near me, grocery stores open Christmas Day, pharmacy open Christmas Day, or 24-hour convenience store near me can narrow the options quickly.

Calling the store is worthwhile when the trip is important, particularly for prescriptions or items you cannot easily substitute. Automated phone systems sometimes provide current holiday schedules even when employees are busy or unavailable to answer directly.

Finally, check the time as well as whether the store is technically open. Reduced Christmas hours can mean a business operates for only part of the day, so finding an “open on Christmas” listing does not guarantee it will still be operating when you arrive.

What Should You Buy Before Christmas Day?

Start with the ingredients needed for Christmas meals, especially items that are difficult to replace at convenience stores. Fresh meat, specialty ingredients, produce, desserts, baking supplies, and dietary-specific foods should ideally be purchased before the final holiday rush.

Review household essentials next. Toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning products, trash bags, pet food, diapers, batteries, chargers, ice, coffee, and drinks are easy to overlook until you suddenly need them during the holiday.

Medicine deserves its own pre-Christmas check. Make sure regular prescriptions, children’s medicine, pain relievers, allergy products, and basic first-aid supplies are available before pharmacies begin using holiday schedules.

Finally, look at gifts that require accessories or setup. Batteries, charging cables, adapters, game downloads, tools, and assembly supplies can easily become the forgotten items that send people searching for an open store on Christmas morning.

Christmas Eve vs. Christmas Day Store Hours

Christmas Eve offers far more shopping options than Christmas Day, but normal store schedules should not be expected. Many retailers remain open on December 24 while closing several hours earlier than they would on an ordinary day.

This makes timing important for last-minute shoppers. A retailer that normally stays open until late evening may close in the afternoon or early evening on Christmas Eve, leaving customers with fewer options sooner than expected.

Christmas Day is different because many large retailers close completely. Convenience stores, pharmacies, gas stations, selected supermarkets, restaurants, and independently operated businesses become the primary places worth checking.

If you already know an essential purchase is necessary, Christmas Eve is usually the safer shopping day. Waiting until December 25 considerably reduces both the number of stores available and the variety of products you can expect to find.

Tips for Shopping on Christmas Day

Check store hours before leaving home, even when a national chain is commonly open on Christmas. Holiday schedules can differ between stores located only a few miles apart, and opening information may change from normal posted hours.

Have a backup store in mind. If your nearest pharmacy or convenience store is unexpectedly closed, knowing the next closest option can prevent a frustrating series of searches around town.

Be flexible about brands and package sizes. Stores operating on Christmas may have limited inventory, especially later in the day after other shoppers have purchased commonly forgotten essentials.

Most importantly, keep Christmas Day shopping focused on genuine needs. Planning food, medicine, household items, and gifts ahead of time reduces holiday stress and avoids unnecessary trips when employees at the stores that remain open are also working through Christmas.

What Stores Are Open on Christmas Day in 2026?

Final Christmas Day 2026 store hours are normally most useful once individual retailers publish their holiday schedules closer to December. Because Christmas Day falls on Friday, December 25, 2026, shoppers planning months ahead should avoid treating previous-year opening times as confirmed 2026 hours.

Recent patterns suggest convenience stores and pharmacies will again be among the strongest categories to check, while many major big-box retailers and grocery chains are likely to prioritize holiday closures. However, each retailer can change its policy, making current local information essential.

When December approaches, verify Walgreens, CVS, 7-Eleven, Sheetz, Wawa, Circle K, Safeway, Albertsons, and independent local stores if you need Christmas Day essentials. Check the individual branch rather than simply searching the company name.

The simplest approach is still to shop before December 25 whenever possible. Think of stores open on Christmas Day as emergency or last-minute options rather than guaranteed shopping destinations, and you can enjoy the holiday with much less stress.

Final Thoughts

So, what stores are open on Christmas Day? Your best options are generally pharmacies, convenience stores, gas-station markets, selected supermarkets, and independently operated neighborhood stores. Walgreens, CVS, 7-Eleven, Sheetz, Wawa, and selected Safeway or Albertsons locations are among the businesses worth checking first.

Meanwhile, shoppers should normally expect significantly fewer options from major retailers and supermarket chains. Walmart, Target, Costco, Sam’s Club, Aldi, Trader Joe’s, and many other familiar shopping destinations have traditionally treated Christmas Day as a store-closure holiday.

The most important point is that nationwide lists cannot guarantee local availability. Store hours, pharmacy hours, franchise schedules, regional policies, and annual company decisions can all affect whether a specific location opens on December 25.

Plan ahead whenever you can, but do not panic when something gets forgotten. Check local listings before leaving home, focus on convenience stores and pharmacies first, and you will have the best chance of finding Christmas Day essentials without spending the holiday driving from one closed store to another.

Frequently Asked Questions

What stores are usually open on Christmas Day?

Convenience stores and pharmacies are usually the strongest options. Many locations of chains such as 7-Eleven, CVS, Walgreens, Sheetz, and Wawa may operate, although local hours should always be verified.

Is Walmart open on Christmas Day?

Walmart has traditionally closed its U.S. stores on December 25. Shoppers should purchase groceries, gifts, medicine, and household supplies before Christmas Day and verify the latest schedule locally.

Are grocery stores open on Christmas Day?

Most major supermarkets close on Christmas, but selected Safeway, Albertsons, regional, or independent grocery stores may operate reduced hours. Availability can vary considerably by city and location.

Are CVS and Walgreens open on Christmas Day?

Many CVS locations and Walgreens stores have operated on Christmas Day, but holiday hours can vary. The pharmacy counter may also follow a different schedule from the main retail store.

Is 7-Eleven open on Christmas Day?

Many 7-Eleven locations traditionally operate on Christmas, including stores that normally run 24 hours. However, franchise and location-specific schedules can vary, so check your nearest branch before visiting.