The gas station keeps the longest hours on the entire site. It opens four hours before the warehouse and, on a weekday, is still pumping ninety minutes after the doors have shut.
Typical gas station hours
| Monday to Friday | 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 6:00 AM - 8:30 PM |
| Sunday | 6:00 AM - 7:30 PM |
The pumps close on the same seven holidays as the warehouse.
Side by side with the warehouse, the extra hours are obvious:
| Day | Gas station | Warehouse |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday | 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM | 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM |
| Saturday | 6:00 AM to 8:30 PM | 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM |
| Sunday | 6:00 AM to 7:30 PM | 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM |
Those extra hours are the reason the pumps are worth knowing about. A 6:00 AM fill up on the way to work, before the warehouse has even opened, is the fastest line of the day by a wide margin.
Yes, the pumps close on holidays too
There is a persistent belief that Costco gas stays open when the warehouse is shut. It does not. On all seven closure holidays the pumps are off as well: New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
That matters most around the driving holidays. Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day and Thanksgiving are exactly when people want cheap fuel for a road trip, and exactly when they cannot get it. Fill up the day before and expect a line when you do.
You need a membership to buy fuel
Unlike the pharmacy, the gas station is members only. You tap or insert your membership card at the pump before it will authorize. There is no cash option and no attendant to wave you through, so a lapsed membership means no fuel.
How to avoid the line
- Before 8:00 AM or after 8:30 PM on a weekday. The pumps are open, the shoppers are not there and you will usually drive straight up.
- Not on a Sunday afternoon. It is the worst window of the week, with the shortest warehouse hours pushing everyone into the same few hours.
- Not the day before a closure. The eve of a holiday closure is the single busiest fuel day at any Costco.
- Pick the pump line, not the shortest line. Costco pumps have hoses on both sides, so a car ahead of you on the far side is not blocking you at all.
Why the fuel is cheaper
Costco treats fuel as a reason to visit rather than a profit center. Prices typically run a few cents under the local average, and because members are already coming to the site, the station gets huge volume from a small footprint. The trade-off is the line, and now you know when to avoid it.
Frequently asked questions
What time does Costco gas open?
6:00 AM at most locations, four hours before the warehouse itself opens.
Is Costco gas open on holidays?
Not on the seven closure holidays. The pumps shut with the warehouse, so there is no gas-only exception on New Year’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Do you need a membership to buy Costco gas?
Yes. You tap your membership card at the pump before it will authorize. There is no cash option and no attendant override.
What time does Costco gas close?
10:00 PM on weekdays, 8:30 PM on Saturday and 7:30 PM on Sunday at most locations.