Thanksgiving is full of family bonding opportunities, including that stressful pre-feast trip to the grocery store. But figuring out when to go to the grocery store for your Thanksgiving shopping can be tricky—at least if you want to maintain your holiday cheer.
Fortunately, data from Google Maps can help. Keep reading for the best and worst times to go grocery shopping to prep for Turkey Day, plus a few extra shopping tips that just might save you time.
When to Shop for Thanksgiving
The best time to go grocery shopping for Thanksgiving is at 8 a.m. on the Monday before T-day, when stores are typically the least busy.
If the Monday before Thanksgiving is not ideal, depending on your schedule (and when you want to start Thanksgiving meal prep), consider shopping any of these times during the week of Thanksgiving:
- Monday, an hour before the store closes
- The Saturday before Thanksgiving, right when the store opens
- The Saturday before Thanksgiving, an hour before the store closes
- Tuesday or Wednesday right when the store opens
No matter what day you end up going, we recommend shopping either first thing in the morning or late at night to avoid the crowds.
Shopping List
Most perishable items will need to be purchased during the week leading up to Thanksgiving for the best quality. Here are a few things you can add to your week-of list:
- Fresh turkey
- Vegetables
- Fruits
- Fresh herbs
- Milk and other dairy
- Cheese
- Ice
The Worst Times to Go Thanksgiving Shopping
According to Google Maps data, Saturdays between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. are usually the busiest time to visit the grocery store.
Don't plan on going the morning of Thanksgiving without confirming your store will be open first. We ranked the worst days and times to go shopping the week of Thanksgiving from the absolute worst to still pretty bad:
- Thanksgiving Day all-day
- Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon
- Tuesday and Wednesday evening
- The Saturday before Thanksgiving during the afternoon
- Tuesday and Wednesday mid-morning
Check How Busy Your Store Is With Google Maps
For a sense of how crowded your go-to store is, you can also check the "Popular Times" information on Google Maps—and even see real-time info on how crowded it is. If your grocery store, restaurant, or any other location seems crowded, you can change your plans.
To do this, follow these steps:
- Go to your Google Maps app or search "Google Maps" in your browser and select on the website.
- Type in your grocery store name in the search bar, and select your location of choice.
- More information on that location will appear. Scroll down until you see the section titled "Popular Times."
- From here you can select a day of the week and see how busy they are at each hour of the day. It will also have a "LIVE" red box, and beside it will say how busy they are in real-time.
Thanksgiving Shopping Tips
Plan Ahead
The key to avoiding crowds and having the best possible Turkey Day is to plan ahead for your Thanksgiving dinner. Make your grocery list, pick a quieter time to go grocery shopping, and make an efficient trip. If you're ordering food from a local restaurant or dining out for your feast, see if you can put in your order or make a reservation now—the last thing anyone wants on Thanksgiving is a sudden change of plans because of overcrowding.
The absolute best time to start shopping for Thanksgiving actually begins weeks ahead of the holiday. Shop in advance for non-perishable items and anything that will stay fresh until Turkey Day.
Here's a list of Thanksgiving groceries you can purchase way ahead of time to prepare for the big feast:
- Seasonings and spices
- Canned pumpkin
- Pie crust (if you don't plan on making it yourself)
- Marshmallows
- Cream cheese
- Fried onions
- Butter
- Canned cranberry sauce
- Flour
- Sugar
- Chicken broth
- Oil
- Meat thermometer
- Cookware
- Foil
- Beverages
Utilize Curbside Pickup
Nowadays, curbside pickup is just about the easiest way to get groceries, and many grocery stores offer this service for free. Simply add what you need to your online cart, checkout, and then drive up at the time designated for your order. Then, the grocery clerks will bring all your groceries out to your car.
If you are one who does not enjoy the crowds, this may be the best option for you. Plus, with this option, you can better keep track of what you have in your "basket," and even see your running total—so you won't have any surprises at checkout.
Stock Up on Extra Ingredients
To avoid having to make multiple trips to the store, buy a few extra ingredients. There's nothing worse than realizing you have one too few pie crusts or are short a few eggs. Consider getting additional ingredients such as an extra gallon of milk, a few more sticks of butter, and another tin of fried onions. It never hurts to have a few extra ingredients in your fridge and stocking up on them can save you a stressful trip to the grocery store the day before the big feast.
The Ultimate Thanksgiving Dinner Checklist
FAQs
The best time to go grocery shopping for Thanksgiving may be the Monday before Thanksgiving on Thursday at 8:00 a.m. when stores are typically the least busy. Monday could seem too far in advance to pick up your groceries for Thursday, but if it helps you avoid crowds, it may be worth the early trip.
When should you go shopping for Thanksgiving? ›
The absolute best time to start shopping for Thanksgiving actually begins weeks ahead of the holiday. Shop in advance for non-perishable items and anything that will stay fresh until Turkey Day.
What is the best time to go shopping to avoid crowds? ›
"Consider shopping during off-peak hours, like early on weekday mornings." But Trae Bodge, a shopping expert at TrueTrae.com, adds that shopping early—or late—on the weekend can save you from crowded aisles. "I try to avoid weekends," she says.
Should I go grocery shopping on Black Friday? ›
Is It Wise to Buy Groceries on Black Friday? It can be wise if you plan strategically. Take advantage of Black Friday deals on non-perishable items, holiday-themed goods, and ingredients for your festive meals.
Are you likely to spend more at the grocery store when you are hungry? ›
New research shows that grocery shopping on an empty stomach can lead to some serious overspending. In fact, the average person will fork out an extra $26 per trip when they're hungry!
What is the busiest day of the year for grocery shopping? ›
Answer: Grocers will tell you the day before the Fourth of July and the day before Thanksgiving are very big. But the busiest day for store traffic is generally the two days before Christmas.
What is the best time to go black friday shopping? ›
The best time to shop on Black Friday is early in the morning. The best deals and doorbusters start from as early as 5am, while some stores open their doors even earlier. The most popular deals tend to fly off the shelves pretty quickly, so you'll want to get in early if you don't want to miss out.
What is the quietest time to go grocery shopping? ›
To Beat the Crowds
The best bet is to get to the market early, as soon as it opens, or late, right before it closes. You'll zip through the aisles and check out with practically no one to slow you down. During the week, avoid visiting between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., when most people get off work and head to the store.
When not to go grocery shopping? ›
Don't Go During "Rush Hour"
Grocery stores are busiest right after most people get off work. The aisles are packed, the lines are longer, and the frustrations can be plenty.
What is the quietest day to go shopping? ›
Tips for a Peaceful Shopping Experience
Avoid peak hours – The busiest times of day at stores are usually right after work and school (in the late afternoon/early evening). These times can be chaotic and loud, so if possible try to shop during off-peak hours or on less busy days such as Sundays or early mornings.
Depending on what you're shopping for, Black Friday can be the cheapest time to buy. But not every deal that shows up during November is a good deal. And this sales season will most benefit the smart shoppers who plan in advance. For the unwary, it can be easy to make bad buys.
Is Black Friday still a thing? ›
United States. Black Friday is not an official holiday in the United States, but California and some other states observe "The Day After Thanksgiving" as a holiday for state government employees. It is sometimes observed in lieu of another federal holiday, such as Columbus Day.
Should I buy now or on Black Friday? ›
If you buy now, you could miss out on the huge savings on the day itself, but if you wait to long, the gadget you've had your eye on all year could quickly sell out. That's where I come in. I've been a product tester and shopping writer for years, and I've covered lots of Black Friday deals in my time.
How much is too much to spend on groceries? ›
What's a reasonable food budget? Many financial advisors and gurus recommend spending no more than 10%-15% of take-home pay on food, a figure that includes restaurant dining and takeout.
What is cheaper groceries or eating out? ›
Is It Cheaper to Cook or Eat Out? For those who want a quick and easy answer: It's generally cheaper to cook food at home than eat out.
How often should one person go grocery shopping? ›
As for shopping on a daily basis, Ramhold doesn't recommend it for anyone. “Picking up some incidentals here and there on a daily or near-daily basis is fine, but for the majority, your shopping should be done on a weekly basis or more to prevent overspending,” she said.
What is a good time to have Thanksgiving? ›
Twenty-nine percent like to chow down between 4-5 p.m., and 14 percent sit down to dinner between 5-7 p.m. Another 12 percent turn Thanksgiving "dinner" into lunch by eating between 12-1 p.m., and even fewer people, 4 percent, say they prefer to eat at 8 p.m. or later. It all depends on the plans you have for the day.
How early should you buy your Thanksgiving turkey? ›
Buy a fresh turkey one to two days before the day you plan to cook. If there is a 'best-by' or 'use by' date on the manufacturer's label, then you can keep fresh poultry, unopened, in the refrigerator until that date. Do not follow the 'sell by' date on the label.
What is the most popular day to shop during Thanksgiving weekend? ›
Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States. It traditionally marks the start of the Christmas shopping season in the United States. Many stores offer highly promoted sales at discounted prices and often open early, sometimes as early as midnight or even on Thanksgiving.
What time should I leave for Thanksgiving? ›
Thanksgiving travel
If you are planning to drive on Thanksgiving, your best bet is to travel before noon or after 4 p.m. Shoppers should know that the least busy time to travel for their Black Friday shopping is before noon or after 7 p.m. The worst stretch of the day is between 3 and 4 p.m.
