July 4th 2026: Your Complete Guide to What's Open, What's Closed, and Where to Shop

July 4th 2026: Your Complete Guide to What's Open, What's Closed, and Where to Shop

**America's 250th birthday falls on a Saturday. Here's your ultimate last-minute guide to store hours, mail delivery, and holiday services for July 3-4, 2026.**

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## Introduction: The "Saturday Switch" That Changes Everything

Independence Day 2026 is no ordinary holiday. This year marks the **250th anniversary** of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence—America's semiquincentennial. And to make things interesting, July 4 falls on a Saturday.

That means the federal government is observing the holiday on **Friday, July 3**, creating a four-day weekend for many Americans and a confusing patchwork of hours for everyone else.

If you're hosting a barbecue, planning a road trip, or just trying to figure out whether you can grab a last-minute ingredient or return that online purchase, you've come to the right place. We've combed through the holiday schedules of major retailers, grocery chains, shipping carriers, banks, and government offices to bring you the definitive guide to what's open and closed on July 3-4, 2026.

**The short version:** Most stores are open. Most banks and government offices are closed. And Costco? They're taking the day off.

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## The Big Picture: July 3 vs. July 4

Because Independence Day falls on a Saturday this year, the holiday observance is split:

| Date | Status |

|------|--------|

| **Friday, July 3** | Federal holiday observed; stock markets closed; government offices closed; banks mostly open; most retailers open normal hours |

| **Saturday, July 4** | Actual Independence Day; USPS closed; banks closed; Costco closed; most retailers open (some with reduced hours) |

Here's the critical distinction: **Friday is the government's holiday, but Saturday is the real deal for most retailers.**

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## What's Open on July 3

### Retail and Grocery Stores

**Good news:** Most major retailers and grocery stores will be open during their regular hours on Friday, July 3.

| Store | July 3 Hours |

|-------|--------------|

| **Walmart** | Normal hours (typically 6 a.m. – 11 p.m.) |

| **Target** | Normal hours (typically 8 a.m. – 11 p.m.) |

| **Costco** | Normal hours |

| **Sam's Club** | Normal hours |

| **BJ's Wholesale Club** | Normal hours |

| **Home Depot** | Normal hours |

| **Kroger** | Normal hours |

| **Publix** | Normal hours |

| **Aldi** | Normal hours |

| **Trader Joe's** | Normal hours |

| **Whole Foods** | Normal hours |

### Banks and Financial Services

Most banks will remain open on July 3 and will observe the holiday on Saturday, July 4. The Federal Reserve is open on July 3, though the Board of Governors will close. As always, ATMs and online banking are available 24/7.

### Post Office and Mail Delivery

**Yes, the post office is open on July 3.** USPS locations will operate normally and mail delivery will occur as usual.

### UPS and FedEx

**Yes, UPS and FedEx will be open on July 3.** Both regular pickup and delivery services will operate. However, UPS Air and Ocean Freight Services will be unavailable on Friday. It's always a good idea to check with your local store for specific hours.

### Stock Market

**The stock market is closed on Friday, July 3.** Both the Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange will be closed in observance of Independence Day, which falls on a Saturday. The U.S. bond market will also be closed on July 3 and will close early at 2 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 2.

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## What's Open on July 4

### Retail Stores

Most national retailers will be open on Independence Day, though some may operate with reduced hours.

| Store | July 4 Hours |

|-------|--------------|

| **Walmart** | Normal hours (6 a.m. – 11 p.m.) |

| **Target** | Normal hours (8 a.m. – 11 p.m.) |

| **Sam's Club** | 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. (Plus members) / 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. (Club members) |

| **BJ's Wholesale Club** | 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. |

| **Home Depot** | Normal hours; some locations may close at 8 p.m. |

| **Belk** | 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. |

| **Best Buy** | 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. |

| **IKEA** | 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. |

| **JCPenney** | 10 a.m. (check local for closing) |

| **Marshalls / TJ Maxx / HomeGoods** | Close at 8 p.m. |

| **Michaels** | Close at 6 p.m. |

| **Petco** | Close at 7 p.m. |

| **Nordstrom** | Special holiday hours (check local) |

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## Grocery Stores on July 4

**The good news:** Most grocery stores are open on Independence Day. **The catch:** Many close early.

| Store | July 4 Hours |

|-------|--------------|

| **Walmart** | Normal hours |

| **Target** | Normal hours |

| **Kroger** | Normal hours; pharmacy/clinic hours may vary |

| **Publix** | Normal hours; pharmacies closed |

| **Winn-Dixie** | Normal hours |

| **Aldi** | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. |

| **Trader Joe's** | Close at 5 p.m. |

| **Whole Foods** | Reduced hours; most locations close at 6 p.m. |

| **Food Lion** | Open |

| **Stop & Shop** | Open |

| **Meijer** | Open |

| **ACME** | Open; pharmacies may be closed |

| **Gopuff** | Open 24/7 in select locations |

### The Notable Exception: Costco Is Closed

Costco is one of the few national retailers that will **not** be open on the Fourth of July. All U.S. warehouse locations will be closed on Saturday, July 4. Costco observes seven holidays each year, and Independence Day is one of them.

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## What's Closed on July 4

### Post Office and Mail Delivery

**No mail delivery on July 4.** The U.S. Postal Service will be closed on Saturday, July 4, with no regular mail delivery or retail service. Post offices will reopen and normal mail delivery will resume on Monday, July 6. Priority Mail Express is available every day of the year, including federal holidays.

### UPS and FedEx

UPS and FedEx will **not** have regular pickup or delivery services on July 4. UPS Store locations may be closed or have modified hours. FedEx Office hours will also be modified. However, UPS Express Critical will still be available.

### Banks

Most banks will be closed on Saturday, July 4. Since Independence Day falls on a Saturday, some banks may observe modified schedules on Friday, July 3, while others operate normal business hours. ATMs and online banking will remain available.

### Government Offices

Federal offices, courts, and many state and local government agencies will be closed on July 4. DMV locations, Social Security offices, and public libraries will also be closed. Most federal employees received a paid holiday on Friday, July 3, since the holiday falls on a Saturday.

### Stock Market

The stock market will be closed on Friday, July 3, and will reopen on Monday, July 6.

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## Restaurants and Fast Food

Most major restaurant chains, including McDonald's, Taco Bell, and Starbucks, will be open on July 4. Hours vary by location, so it's always a good idea to call ahead or check online before heading out.

Other restaurants open on July 4 include:

- Applebee's

- Burger King

- Chick-fil-A

- Domino's

- IHOP

- KFC

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## Pharmacies

Both CVS and Walgreens will be open on July 4, but pharmacy counters may have shortened hours. Other grocery store pharmacies, such as Kroger's and Publix's, may also have reduced hours or be closed.

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## The Human Element: What This Means for You

### For the Last-Minute Shopper

If you're hosting a barbecue and realized at 4 p.m. on July 4 that you're out of hamburger buns, you're in luck. Most grocery stores are open—but check the closing times. Trader Joe's closes at 5 p.m., Whole Foods at 6 p.m., and Aldi at 4 p.m.. Walmart and Target are your best bets for late-night runs, as they're open regular hours.

### For the Online Shopper

If you're expecting a package on July 4, **it's not coming.** USPS, UPS, and FedEx are all closed. Plan accordingly and check tracking information for updated delivery estimates.

### For the Weekend Traveler

With July 4 falling on a Saturday, many Americans are enjoying a four-day weekend. If you're traveling, plan ahead for gas station and rest stop availability—most are open, but hours may vary.

### The Human Emotions Behind the Holiday

- **The host**: You've been planning this barbecue for weeks. You're checking your list, making sure you have everything. The stores are open, but you know they'll be crowded.

- **The procrastinator**: You meant to shop earlier. Now you're rushing to the store, hoping they haven't closed early.

- **The delivery recipient**: You've been tracking a package all week. You were hoping it would arrive before the holiday. It didn't.

- **The retail worker**: You're working the holiday so others can celebrate. You're hoping for a quiet shift.

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## Quick Reference: Your One-Stop Guide

### Open on July 4

| Category | Stores |

|----------|--------|

| **Retail** | Walmart, Target, Sam's Club, BJ's, Home Depot, Best Buy, IKEA, JCPenney, Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Michaels, Petco, Belk, Macy's, Lowe's, Dollar General |

| **Grocery** | Kroger, Publix, Winn-Dixie, Food Lion, Stop & Shop, Meijer, ACME, Aldi (until 4 p.m.), Trader Joe's (until 5 p.m.), Whole Foods (until 6 p.m.) |

| **Pharmacy** | CVS (reduced hours), Walgreens (reduced hours) |

| **Restaurants** | McDonald's, Taco Bell, Starbucks, Applebee's, Burger King, Chick-fil-A, Domino's, IHOP, KFC |

### Closed on July 4

| Category |

|----------|

| **Costco** |

| **USPS (no mail delivery)** |

| **UPS (no pickup/delivery)** |

| **FedEx (no pickup/delivery)** |

| **Banks** |

| **Government offices** |

| **Stock market (closed July 3)** |

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## Frequently Asked Questions

### Q: Is July 3 a federal holiday in 2026?

A: Yes. Since July 4 falls on a Saturday, the federal government observes Independence Day on Friday, July 3.

### Q: Will mail be delivered on July 4?

A: No. USPS will be closed and there will be no regular mail delivery on July 4. Normal service resumes Monday, July 6.

### Q: Will mail be delivered on July 3?

A: Yes. Post offices will be open and mail delivery will occur as normal on Friday, July 3.

### Q: Is Costco open on July 4?

A: No. All U.S. Costco locations will be closed on July 4.

### Q: Is Target open on July 4?

A: Yes. Target stores will be open for normal operating hours on July 4.

### Q: Is Walmart open on July 4?

A: Yes. Walmart stores will be open for normal operating hours on July 4.

### Q: Will UPS and FedEx deliver on July 4?

A: No. UPS and FedEx will not have regular pickup or delivery services on July 4.

### Q: Are banks open on July 4?

A: Most banks will be closed on July 4. Some banks may observe modified schedules on Friday, July 3.

### Q: Is the stock market open on July 4?

A: The stock market will be closed on Friday, July 3, and will reopen on Monday, July 6.

### Q: What time does Trader Joe's close on July 4?

A: Trader Joe's stores will close at 5 p.m. on July 4.

### Q: What time does Whole Foods close on July 4?

A: Whole Foods locations will close early at 6 p.m. on July 4.

### Q: What time does Aldi close on July 4?

A: Aldi stores will close early at 4 p.m. on July 4.

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## Conclusion: Plan Ahead, Celebrate Well

The 250th Independence Day is a once-in-a-lifetime celebration. Whether you're hosting a backyard barbecue, watching fireworks, or simply enjoying a long weekend with family, a little planning goes a long way.

**The key takeaways:**

- **Most stores are open on July 4**, but many close early. Check individual store hours before you go.

- **Costco is closed.** Don't show up expecting to shop.

- **Mail isn't coming.** USPS, UPS, and FedEx are all off on July 4.

- **Banks are closed.** Get your cash and banking done on Friday.

- **The stock market is closed on Friday.** Don't expect to trade on July 3.

**The golden rule:** When in doubt, call ahead or check online. Store hours can vary by location, and nothing ruins a holiday plan like finding a locked door.

Now go enjoy the celebration. You've earned it.

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## Disclaimer

**IMPORTANT:** This article is for informational purposes only. Store hours, holiday schedules, and service availability are subject to change without notice. While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information presented, we recommend verifying hours with individual stores, banks, and service providers before making any plans. Hours may vary by location. This article was published on July 4, 2026, and reflects information available at the time of publication.

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*Published: July 4, 2026*

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