Christmas Day has a way of sneaking up on even the most organized among us—usually right when you realize you’re out of coffee, batteries or that one baking ingredient you swore you bought.
If you’re planning a last-minute errand run on Thursday, December 25, 2025, know that, for most businesses, it’s still very much a lights-mostly-off holiday across the U.S. A few essentials-only stops are possible, but anything beyond convenience-store basics will likely have to wait until December 26.
When in doubt, check local hours or take the rare excuse to stay put, reheat leftovers and let the rest of the country take the day off too.
Banks, stock markets and financial services
If your Christmas plans include banking business, adjust expectations now. Most banks across the U.S. are closed on Christmas Day, following the Federal Reserve holiday calendar. That includes in-branch services and customer-facing operations, though ATMs remain available.
The Nasdaq and New York Stock Exchange are also closed for the holiday, with trading resuming on Friday, December 26.
Post office, courts and government offices
Christmas is a federal holiday, so government offices nationwide are closed. All federal, state and local government offices, including courts, are shut.
The U.S. Postal Service does not deliver mail on Christmas Day, and post offices are closed. UPS and FedEx follow suit, with no deliveries or pickups until the next business day.
Grocery stores and major retailers
This is where things get tricky and where calling ahead really matters. Most major grocery and big-box chains are closed nationwide on Christmas Day, including:
- Costco
- Walmart
- Target
- Trader Joe’s
- Whole Foods
- Aldi
- Kroger (and affiliated banners)
- Publix
- Sam’s Club
- Wegmans
That said, a small handful of national chains typically keep select locations open, often with reduced hours:
- CVS (many locations, pharmacy hours may vary)
- Walgreens (24-hour locations stay open, pharmacies may close early)
- Albertsons, Safeway, Vons (some locations open with limited hours)
- Convenience stores like 7-Eleven, Circle K, Sheetz, Speedway and Wawa
Restaurants and coffee stops
Several national restaurant chains usually operate on Christmas Day, though hours vary by location. Commonly open options include Starbucks, McDonald’s, IHOP, Waffle House, Dunkin’, Denny’s, Krispy Kreme and select fast-food chains. Many locations run shorter hours, so checking online before heading out is key.
Read more:
The best things to do in LA right now