What’s Open on Thanksgiving in Atlanta? A Local Guide to Food, Shopping, and Services

Thanksgiving in Atlanta can feel quiet in some neighborhoods, but plenty of places stay open if you know where to look. Whether you live in the city, are visiting family, or are here for the first time, you can still find restaurants, grocery stores, attractions, and essential services operating on the holiday—often with special hours.

Below is a practical overview of what is typically open on Thanksgiving Day in Atlanta, plus what to expect, how to plan ahead, and where to double-check hours.

Big Picture: What’s Usually Open (and Closed) on Thanksgiving in Atlanta

In Atlanta, Thanksgiving generally looks like this:

Often Open (with limited hours):

• Chain and hotel restaurants
• Some local restaurants offering Thanksgiving meals
• Convenience stores and gas stations
• Many pharmacies (reduced hours)
• Some major grocery chains
• Select attractions and tourist sites
• Most MARTA train and bus service (holiday schedules)
• Hospitals and urgent care centers (some 24/7, some limited)

Usually Closed or Very Limited:

• City, county, and state government offices
• Most banks and credit unions
• Public libraries
• Most small local shops and independent retailers
• Public schools and many private schools

Because hours can change year to year, it’s wise to call ahead or check online for any location you’re planning to visit.

Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving in Atlanta

Many Atlantans don’t cook a full Thanksgiving meal at home. Some dine out, others pick up prepared meals. On Thanksgiving Day, you’ll typically find:

1. Hotel Restaurants and Downtown Dining

Major hotels in Atlanta nearly always keep at least one restaurant open on Thanksgiving, often with a special prix fixe or buffet. These are especially popular around:

• Downtown Atlanta (near Peachtree Center, Centennial Olympic Park, and the Georgia World Congress Center)
• Midtown (around Peachtree Street, 10th Street, and near major hotels along 14th and 17th Streets)
• Buckhead (Peachtree Road corridor, near Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza)

Hotel restaurants tend to:

• Require reservations (sometimes weeks ahead)
• Offer fixed menus or buffet-style Thanksgiving meals
• Charge holiday pricing, which is usually higher than normal dinner service

If you’re staying in a hotel, start by checking the on-site restaurant, as it may be the most convenient option and is usually open to non-guests as well.

2. Chain Restaurants and Casual Spots

Across Atlanta—especially along major roads like Peachtree Road, Cobb Parkway, Buford Highway, and Northside Drive—you’ll often find:

• Sit-down chain restaurants
  Many national chains with locations in Atlanta open on Thanksgiving, often earlier in the day and closing in the evening. They may offer:

  • Traditional turkey dinners
  • Regular menu items with a holiday special
  • Takeout and sometimes family meal bundles

• Fast-casual and fast-food options
  In busy corridors (Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and near major interstates like I‑75, I‑85, and I‑285), some fast-food spots open for limited hours. This can be useful if you’re:

  • Traveling
  • Working on the holiday
  • Looking for something quick outside of traditional Thanksgiving foods

📝 Tip: Locations near Atlanta airport, Downtown hotels, and hospital campuses (such as near Emory, Grady, or Northside) are more likely to be open.

3. Local Restaurants and Thanksgiving Specials

Many local Atlanta restaurants close completely, but some offer:

• Dine-in Thanksgiving brunch or dinner
  These are more common in:

  • Midtown and Inman Park
  • Old Fourth Ward
  • West Midtown
  • Virginia-Highland and Morningside
  • Buckhead Village

• Pre-order and pickup
  In the week before Thanksgiving, many Atlanta restaurants and bakeries sell:

  • Pre-cooked turkeys
  • Sides like collard greens, macaroni and cheese, cornbread dressing, and sweet potato casserole
  • Pies, cakes, and rolls

Most of these close on Thanksgiving Day itself, but some offer morning pickups for last-minute orders.

Because independent restaurants change plans from year to year, it’s smart to:

• Check their social media or website in early November
• Reserve as early as possible
• Confirm holiday pricing and cancellation policies

Grocery Stores and Food Shopping on Thanksgiving

If you realize you forgot the cranberry sauce or need more ice, not every Atlanta grocery store will be open—but many large chains keep shortened holiday hours.

What You Can Usually Expect

In the Atlanta area:

• Major grocery chains
  Many large chains with locations across the metro area open morning through mid-afternoon on Thanksgiving. Typical patterns:

  • Limited hours (for example, opening early and closing by early afternoon)
  • Reduced services at deli, bakery, or pharmacy counters
  • Crowds in the early morning as people grab last-minute items

• Neighborhood and specialty markets
  Smaller, independent stores in areas like:

  • Grant Park
  • Decatur
  • East Atlanta Village
  • West End

  are more likely to close entirely. Some international markets along Buford Highway may open for limited hours but are not guaranteed.

• Warehouse clubs
  Large membership-based warehouse stores in and around Atlanta commonly close on Thanksgiving Day, opening again on Friday.

🛒 Practical tips for Atlanta shoppers:

• Buy alcohol and specialty items no later than Wednesday evening; selection drops sharply by Thanksgiving morning.
• If you’re driving in busy areas like Buckhead, Midtown, or near Perimeter Center, allow extra time for parking and traffic.
• Check the store’s specific Atlanta location hours—different branches in the metro area may keep different holiday schedules.

Convenience Stores, Gas Stations, and Essential Errands

Gas Stations and Convenience Stores

In Atlanta, many major gas station brands and convenience stores (especially along interstates and main arteries like Peachtree Street, Northside Drive, Metropolitan Parkway, Cobb Parkway, and Cheshire Bridge Road) stay open on Thanksgiving, typically 24/7 or with standard hours.

You can usually find:

• Fuel
• Basic groceries and snacks
• Beverages and ice
• Some over-the-counter medicines

Holiday staffing may be limited, so expect:

• Lines at heavily used locations
• Occasional closure of in-store kitchens or made-to-order food counters

Pharmacies

Within Atlanta, stand-alone pharmacy locations commonly:

• Open with shortened hours
• Close earlier than usual in the evening
• May reduce services like on-site clinics

Some pharmacy counters inside grocery stores may close even if the store itself is open. If you rely on daily medication, consider:

• Refilling a few days before Thanksgiving
• Confirming holiday hours for your specific pharmacy location

Public Services, Healthcare, and Emergency Care

Even with holiday closures, essential services in Atlanta continue to operate.

Hospitals and Emergency Rooms

Major hospital systems in and around Atlanta operate 24/7, including on Thanksgiving. This includes:

• Grady Memorial Hospital
  80 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive SE, Atlanta, GA 30303
  Main line: 404‑616‑1000

• Emory University Hospital
  1364 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30322
  Main line: 404‑712‑2000

• Emory University Hospital Midtown
  550 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30308
  Main line: 404‑686‑4411

• Northside Hospital Atlanta
  1000 Johnson Ferry Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30342
  Main line: 404‑851‑8000

• Piedmont Atlanta Hospital
  1968 Peachtree Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30309
  Main line: 404‑605‑5000

Emergency departments remain open. However, non-emergency hospital services (lab work, routine imaging, elective procedures) often reduce or pause operations.

Urgent Care Centers

Many urgent care centers across the Atlanta metro area:

• Operate with limited Thanksgiving hours
• May keep only select locations open
• Serve walk-ins but might prioritize online check-ins

If you’re in-town and need non-emergency care:

• Look up nearest urgent care before heading out
• Verify same-day hours and whether they accept your insurance
• Consider telehealth options, which some providers offer even on holidays

911 and Public Safety

In Atlanta and Fulton County:

• 911 emergency services operate 24/7, including Thanksgiving.
• Atlanta Police, Atlanta Fire Rescue, and emergency medical services are active as usual.

For non-emergencies in the City of Atlanta (such as noise complaints or minor accidents with no injuries), you can typically use the non-emergency police line, which operates every day, though response times may vary due to holiday staffing and call volume.

MARTA, Airport, and Transportation

MARTA (Atlanta’s Public Transit)

MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) usually runs on a Sunday or holiday schedule on Thanksgiving.

This typically means:

• Trains may run less frequently, especially early morning and late night.
• Buses may follow reduced schedules, with some routes not operating.
• MARTA Mobility services (paratransit) often run on a holiday or Sunday schedule by reservation only.

For the most accurate Thanksgiving Day information, check:

• Schedules and alerts for specific rail lines (Red, Gold, Blue, Green)
• The schedule for your specific bus route number

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

Atlanta’s airport is open 24/7, 365 days a year, including Thanksgiving.

On Thanksgiving Day:

• Security lines can still be busy, especially early morning and evening.
• Many restaurants and shops inside the terminals are open, though some may operate with reduced hours.
• Airport MARTA service connects to Downtown, Midtown, and other parts of the city, typically using the holiday schedule.

✈️ Airport travel tips for Thanksgiving in Atlanta:

• Arrive earlier than usual—90 minutes to 2 hours before domestic flights is common advice, but check with your airline.
• Plan for limited options overnight; some concessions close early on the holiday.
• For rideshare or pickup, expect heavier traffic at the North and South terminal curbsides.

Shopping, Retail, and Malls

Atlanta’s retail landscape on Thanksgiving has shifted over time, with many large stores now choosing to stay closed for the holiday.

Big-Box and Major Retailers

Across the Atlanta metro area (including big centers around Buckhead, Cumberland, Perimeter, Camp Creek Marketplace, and Stonecrest), most major chains:

• Are closed on Thanksgiving Day
• Reopen early on Friday for holiday shopping promotions

If you need emergency items such as clothing, electronics accessories, or household supplies:

• Your best bet is often a 24-hour or late-night open supermarket or large convenience store, not a department store.

Malls and Shopping Centers

Prominent Atlanta-area malls—such as:

• Lenox Square (3393 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30326)
• Phipps Plaza (3500 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30326)
• Cumberland Mall, Perimeter Mall, and others around the metro

typically:

• Close on Thanksgiving Day
• Reopen on Friday with extended hours

Individual restaurants attached to or near malls may open on Thanksgiving, but interior retail stores are usually closed.

Parks, Attractions, and Things to Do

If you’re not spending all day at a table, there are still ways to enjoy Thanksgiving in Atlanta, especially outdoors.

Parks and Outdoor Spaces

Most Atlanta-area parks and outdoor spaces are open, including:

• Piedmont Park
  Near 10th Street NE and Monroe Drive NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

• The BeltLine
  Paved multi-use trails around the city (Eastside, Westside, and other segments)

• Grant Park, Chastain Park, Freedom Park, and others across various neighborhoods

These spaces are generally open daily, including holidays. Amenities like:

• Restrooms
• Visitor centers
• Park offices

may have restricted hours or be closed, depending on the location.

Major Atlanta Attractions

Some large attractions in Atlanta choose to close on Thanksgiving, while others remain open or operate with special holiday hours. This can include:

• Downtown and Midtown museums
• Family attractions near Centennial Olympic Park
• Some cultural institutions and exhibits

Hours often change each year. To avoid disappointment:

• Check the attraction’s Thanksgiving schedule before heading out
• Look for any required timed-entry reservations
• Confirm parking or entry procedures, as some areas may be quieter but still charge standard rates

Government Offices, Mail, and Financial Services

City, County, and State Offices

On Thanksgiving Day, government offices are almost always closed, including:

• City of Atlanta administrative offices
• Fulton County and DeKalb County government offices
• Georgia state government offices located in Downtown near the Capitol area

This typically includes:

• Tax offices
• Courts (except for certain emergency or on-call functions)
• Permitting and licensing counters

If you need government services, plan to handle them before the holiday or after offices reopen.

USPS, Packages, and Deliveries

In Atlanta:

• U.S. Postal Service post offices are closed on Thanksgiving Day.
• Regular mail delivery does not occur.
• Many private shipping stores and package centers are also closed.

Some same-day or grocery delivery services may operate with limited availability, especially in dense areas like Midtown, Buckhead, and Downtown, but selection and time slots may be very limited.

Banks and Credit Unions

Most banks and credit unions—whether in Downtown high-rises, Buckhead branches, or neighborhood shopping centers—are closed on Thanksgiving.

• ATMs remain available.
• Online and mobile banking work as usual, but transfers and deposits may not process until the next business day.

Quick Reference: What’s Usually Open in Atlanta on Thanksgiving

Below is a general pattern you can expect in Atlanta. Always confirm for specific locations and the current year.

How to Plan Your Thanksgiving Day in Atlanta

To make Thanksgiving in Atlanta smoother:

1. Decide early if you’re eating out or at home.

   • If dining out, book reservations as soon as possible.
   • If cooking, finish most of your shopping by the day before Thanksgiving.

2. Check location-specific holiday hours.

   • Look up the exact Atlanta neighborhood location (Downtown vs. Buckhead vs. Decatur, etc.).
   • Phone numbers on store receipts or business signs often have holiday messages.

3. Plan transportation with holiday schedules in mind.

   • If using MARTA, confirm train and bus frequencies.
   • If driving, anticipate less traffic in business districts but more cars near shopping and dining clusters.

4. Handle time-sensitive errands early in the week.

   • Banking, government paperwork, and shipping are best done by Wednesday.
   • Prescription refills should be requested with extra lead time, especially if using a smaller pharmacy.

5. Have backup options.

   • Note a few 24-hour or late-night convenience stores in your area.
   • Keep the contact information for nearby hospitals or urgent care centers handy, especially if you’re hosting visitors.

With a little planning and a clear sense of what’s typically open, Thanksgiving in Atlanta can be both relaxed and convenient—whether you’re gathered at home, exploring the city, or simply passing through.