Short answer
Yes. Urgent care centers take walk-in patients without an appointment; accepting walk-ins during all posted hours is part of how the Urgent Care Association defines urgent care. Many also offer online check-in, which can shorten the time you spend in the waiting room.
No appointment needed
The Urgent Care Association defines an urgent care center as one that accepts unscheduled, walk-in patients during all posted hours, and its Certified Urgent Care program requires centers to accept walk-ins during all hours.
Patients are generally seen in order of arrival, but someone who arrives sicker may be seen first.
Online check-in and appointments
Many clinics and chains let you reserve a spot online or by phone, then arrive close to your reserved time. This is not a fixed appointment; your wait can still change if sicker patients come in. Some centers also offer scheduled visits for physicals, tests or follow-ups. See urgent care chains.
How long the wait usually is
In the Urgent Care Association's 2018 benchmarking report, over 70 percent of patients waited less than 20 minutes to see a provider, almost 94 percent waited less than 30 minutes, and patients were in and out in under an hour 85 percent of the time. Waits run longer in flu season, evenings and weekends.
Walk-in clinic versus urgent care
"Walk-in clinic" can mean an urgent care center or a smaller retail clinic inside a pharmacy or store. Retail clinics usually focus on minor illnesses, vaccines and screenings and often do not have X-ray. Urgent care centers usually have X-ray and lab testing and treat minor injuries too. If you might need an X-ray or stitches, choose urgent care and call ahead.
Tips for a shorter visit
- Use online check-in where the clinic offers it, and arrive at your reserved time.
- Weekday mornings and early afternoons are often quieter than evenings and weekends.
- Call ahead if you think you need an X-ray, stitches or a specific test, so you do not wait at a clinic that cannot do it.
- Check the last check-in time; some clinics stop taking walk-ins before closing. See urgent care hours.
Walk-ins for children
Many urgent care centers see children, and some specialize in them; the Urgent Care Association reports that 8 percent of centers offer pediatric urgent care only. Some general centers do not see infants, so call first for a young child, and see pediatric urgent care.
What to bring
- Photo ID and your insurance card
- A list of your medicines and allergies
- For a child, the parent or guardian, or a signed consent if someone else brings them; see pediatric urgent care
- A payment method, since many clinics collect copays at check-in
Frequently asked questions
Do you need an appointment for urgent care?
No. Urgent care centers accept walk-in patients. Many also offer online check-in to hold your place in line.
Can you make an appointment at urgent care?
Often, yes. Many clinics offer online check-in or scheduled visits, though walk-ins are always accepted during posted hours.
How long is the wait at urgent care?
Usually short. A 2018 Urgent Care Association report found over 70 percent of patients waited less than 20 minutes to see a provider.
Is a walk-in clinic the same as urgent care?
Not always. Retail walk-in clinics focus on minor illnesses and often lack X-ray; most urgent care centers have X-ray and lab testing.
Find urgent care near me
Search by city or state to see urgent care centers and walk-in clinics, with hours where they are on file. Services differ from clinic to clinic, so call to confirm before you go.
Related guides
Sources
- Urgent Care Association (2023): 2023 Urgent Care Industry White Paper
- Journal of Urgent Care Medicine (2018): New UCA Benchmarking Report Paints a Picture of a Booming Urgent Care Industry
General information, not medical advice. Costs are typical figures from the sources above and vary by clinic, plan and location. In an emergency, call 911.