Shoppers scrambling for last minute cookout supplies can breathe easy this weekend. Walmart will keep its doors open on Independence Day, running on the same schedule it follows every other day of the year, even as several other major retailers scale back or shut down entirely for the holiday. With the Fourth of July landing on a Saturday this year, plenty of people are trying to figure out exactly which stores will welcome them and which ones will leave the parking lot empty.
Walmart sticks to its usual schedule
Most Walmart locations will open at 6 in the morning and stay open until 11 at night on both July 3 and July 4, matching the retailer’s standard year round hours. The approach sets it apart from competitors like Costco, which closes its doors completely for the holiday. Shoppers heading into a Walmart location for grills, folding chairs or last minute decorations should not expect any surprises at the front entrance. Since Walmart is treating the holiday like any other business day, there is no need to rush before an early closing time or plan around a shortened window.
The one twist worth knowing
The schedule is not entirely without exceptions. Specific departments inside many stores, including the pharmacy, optical center and auto care section, may run on separate hours that differ from the main store. Someone planning to pick up a prescription or get a tire checked on the holiday should call ahead or check the store locator rather than assume every counter inside the building follows the same clock.
- Main store hours run 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Pharmacy and optical hours may vary by location
- Auto care center hours may vary by location
Deals designed for the long weekend
Beyond simply staying open, Walmart is leaning into the holiday with promotions built around backyard gatherings. The retailer has rolled out a cookout bundle aimed at feeding a group of eight for under 5 dollars per person, covering staples for grilling and sides without requiring a special trip to multiple stores. Additional markdowns cover patriotic apparel, sparklers, outdoor games and swim gear, positioning Walmart as a one stop option for anyone finishing up holiday prep at the last minute. The bundle pricing has become something of a yearly tradition, giving budget minded hosts a reason to plan their guest list around what the retailer has on shelves.
For those who would rather skip the parking lot altogether, the Walmart app and website remain available around the clock, offering another route to grab forgotten items without leaving the house. Online ordering functions the same way it does on any other day of the year, holiday or not, and delivery slots typically remain bookable even as the calendar flips to a federal holiday.
How Walmart compares to other retailers
The holiday hours landscape varies widely across the retail world this year. Target will also run its normal hours, opening at 8 in the morning and closing at 11 at night on both July 3 and July 4. Several other chains are adjusting their schedules rather than closing outright. Best Buy plans to open later and close earlier on the holiday itself, while stores including Michaels, Petco and Trader Joe’s are trimming evening hours rather than staying open until closing time as usual.
Costco remains the biggest exception among major retailers, choosing to close entirely rather than adjust hours, a policy the warehouse chain has followed for years around Independence Day. For shoppers who typically split errands between Walmart and Costco, that gap makes timing the holiday to do list a bit more important than usual.
With a federal holiday landing on a Saturday this year, most of the shifted activity actually shows up on the calendar itself rather than in store hours. Many companies observed adjusted operations on July 3 instead, but Walmart kept both days consistent, giving shoppers a predictable option regardless of which day they choose to run errands. Anyone weighing whether to trust the retailer with a last minute grocery run or a forgotten decoration list can plan around a schedule that will not shift between now and the holiday itself.
For anyone finishing up a shopping list before the fireworks start, Walmart remains one of the simplest stops to count on this holiday weekend, and that predictability alone may be reason enough to make it the first stop rather than the last resort.