Short answer
Most urgent care centers are open seven days a week and stay open into the evening, later than a typical doctor's office. Exact opening and closing times vary by clinic, so check the specific clinic's hours, and its last check-in time, before you go.
Days of the week
The Urgent Care Association's 2023 industry white paper reports:
- Over 67 percent of urgent care centers are open every day of the week
- 11 percent are open every day except Sunday
- 18 percent are closed on weekends
Centers closed on weekends are mostly not affiliated with a hospital, according to UCA.
What time urgent care opens and closes
There is no standard schedule. FAIR Health describes urgent care centers as offering extended hours after regular office hours, and many open in the morning and close in the evening. Weekend hours are often shorter than weekday hours.
Many clinics stop accepting new patients some time before the posted closing time, especially when the waiting room is full. If you are heading in late, call first.
Holidays
Many centers stay open on holidays with reduced hours. The Urgent Care Association reports that where centers used to close on holidays, most have shifted to a reduced schedule, and in its 2019 benchmarking 20 percent of centers moved from closing on Christmas to offering limited hours.
Overnight and 24-hour urgent care
Most urgent care centers close overnight. A small number are open 24 hours; use the urgent care finder and call the clinic to confirm overnight hours. For a serious problem at night, go to the emergency room, which is always open.
Busiest times
Waits tend to run longer in the evening after work and school, on weekends when doctors' offices are closed, and during cold and flu season. If your problem can wait an hour or two, a mid-morning or early afternoon visit on a weekday is often quieter, but every clinic is different. Online check-in, where offered, lets you wait at home; see does urgent care take walk-ins.
Urgent care hours versus a doctor's office and the ER
Urgent care fills the gap between a doctor's office, which is usually open weekdays during business hours, and the emergency room, which is open around the clock. The Urgent Care Association reports that over 78 percent of the U.S. population lives within a 10-minute drive of an urgent care center, so after-hours care is close by for most people.
If your usual doctor's office is closed, check whether it runs an after-hours nurse line before you go anywhere; many do.
How to check a clinic's hours
- Find clinics near me with the urgent care finder; city pages let you filter for clinics open now where hours are on file.
- Call the clinic to confirm today's hours and the last check-in time.
- Many chains post live hours and online check-in; see urgent care chains.
Frequently asked questions
Is urgent care open on Sunday?
Most are. Over 67 percent of urgent care centers are open every day of the week, according to the Urgent Care Association; about 11 percent close only on Sunday and 18 percent close on weekends.
What time does urgent care close?
It depends on the clinic. Most close in the evening, later than a doctor's office, and some stop taking patients before closing. Check the clinic's posted hours or call.
Is urgent care open on holidays?
Many are, usually with reduced hours. Call ahead on holidays.
Is urgent care open 24 hours?
Most are not. A small number of urgent care centers are open 24 hours; emergency rooms are always open.
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
- FAIR Health Consumer: Emergency Care and Urgent Care
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.