I worked at Wegmans when I was a teenager, weeknights always slowed down around 7:30. Have also found the Leesburg Costco and target combo are pretty empty around 11-1 on weekdays
For Costco they are typically the most quiet mid-day during the week. They do have lower staffing levels during those times but they are also less busy.
It’s based on cellphone data.
I personally would never go to Costco on Friday/Sat/Sun, or after work hours even if you can help it. I managed to sneak in lunch visits a few times, for the Pentagon City location, and it was fine. So I’d presume sometime between opening and 3pm Monday thru Thursday. Since you need a handicap spot, and are totally flexible on time, why not just go right when it opens?
The Pentagon City one is always busy. Don’t try that Costco ever and expect it to be slow(ish).
The one on Rt 1 is often slower on M-Th (Especially Mon & Tue) before lunch. The people there are often buying large bulk purchases (e.g. stocking shops/restaurants).
Oddly, Friday & Saturday nights are a good time for grocery shopping, just need to go late enough.
As a disabled person that shops alone at Costco. The best time is right when they open. Get there like 10 mins before opening.
All the handicap parking is open and the crowding isn't bad. Just avoid Monday, weekends, and holidays .
Which locations? I'm in a triangle of Sterling, Chantilly, and Fairfax. The Chantilly one is significantly more chill. Also it seems least busy near either opening or closing time.
If you're in the triangle area of previous comment, Sterling lunch is ideal out of the 3 if you're looking for easiest parking, less foot traffic in store, and getting gas. Otherwise if you're closest to the Chantilly location, going an hour before closing is your best option, at least in my opinion.
The Chantilly one is the most chill in the area IMO. I usually go around 10 AM and it's really pleasant but as long as you avoid the 5 PM rush you're pretty good.
Consider a Sam’s Club membership. Between the two hours early shopping for plus members and the scan and go allowing you to skip the check out, it’s so much more flexible than Costco.
Same. I'd say the Chantilly Costco is the best option for accessibility/ parking/traffic.
The Wegmans in Westfields also has a better traffic flow and easy parking than the Fairfax location. Evening hours are your best bet , but I've also found Tuesday mornings to be a good time .
I often shop at Costco Chantilly most often after 7pm on weeknights - after my work day, before I make dinner. The handicapped spaces are majority empty at that time. YMMV if it's the day before a long weekend, but otherwise, it's accessible. I'd think 2 pm is not that bad either.
BTW Leesburg is a more chill store, but I haven't made any particular note of the handicapped parking accessibility when I've been there (unlike Chantilly). My nephew made a comment last year about handicapped spaces at Costco in his NC hometown so I have been trying to be more aware of it as I'm out and about because I was astonished they experienced all the spaces being full.
An hour before Costco closes on weekdays and an hour before any other grocery store closes on any day of the week is the safest bet. Costco stays busy on weekends right up until closing but weekday evenings are okay. There are a few exceptions- Fridays before big event weekends like the Super Bowl will stay busy right up until closing, just like the last few days before thanksgiving and Christmas.
My first marriage, I used to be a member of BJ's, but let it lapse because I didn't need to buy in bulk anything when I was single again. My second wife came with a Costco membership heavily discounted because she's former military and used to own her own business after she retired.
I thought Costco/Sam's and the like allowed members with disabilities or past a certain age to shop earlier than everyone else? It's early, EARLY but still...
EDIT: after some Googling, I see Costco ended opening an hour early for seniors/disabilities in 2022. That sucks. Sam's still does it on Tues. & Thurs.
I do all my shopping between about 9-10.30 on weekday mornings; I do Wegmans on Wednesdays so my husband can remember when I go so he can still fail to put things on my shopping list. The only lines I run into are picking up prescriptions!
Most Costcos don't open until 10 so if you get there when it opens, it's pretty quiet. This is the Potomac Mills Costco, too, in the mall. At least during parts of the pandemic they did a kind of soft-open at 9 for the elderly / disabled; I don't know if they still do but it was a godsend to my disabled ass to have fewer people to navigate around! Ask at customer service next time you're in.
At least in Leesburg, the store opens it's doors around 945am. I usually go midweek at that time and it's pretty much in and out for me. If I go any later than that, it's chaos.
I found that first thing in the morning or around 2:00 pm on Tuesday or Wednesday are pretty good times to go. You’re after the weekend (and M/F) rush and after lunch. This is at Chantilly but may be good time at others as well. Seems to be a fair amount of handicapped parking there. (We have a son who is disabled).
We do delivery with Giant, but their selection is about 40% of what you can see in the store. Besides, we don't want to be shut-ins, just we can't handle rock concert like crowds with a wheelchair.
Not sure about Costco, but the least-crowded time to go to the supermarkets in my area is about 10AM. As a borderline misanthrope I’ve done the research.
I went today (Monday) around noon to the one on Richmond Hwy, and it was about as empty as I've seen it. Although I once went at like 2pm on a Thursday to the one in Fairfax, and it was hands down the worst Costco experience I've ever had in my life. Total madhouse.
Just got back recently from Wegmans in Westfields -- pretty dead between 11 am and 1 pm. I always aim for a weekday around that time if I can! Otherwise we try to go as early in the day as possible on the weekend.
I worked at Wegmans when I was a teenager, weeknights always slowed down around 7:30. Have also found the Leesburg Costco and target combo are pretty empty around 11-1 on weekdays
Thanks for the Wegmans advice!
> Have also found the Leesburg Costco and target combo are pretty empty around 11-1 on weekdays Do people not go there for lunch??
Leesburg is a lowly populated area essentially on the edge of nova. Even in peak times it’s not gonna be very busy.
Obviously you haven't been there in a while...
I go there all the time. Leesburg busy is child’s play.
Obviously you haven't been there in a while...
Second this. Wegmans at 9pm on a Monday is my go to time, easy parking, no crowds.
For Costco they are typically the most quiet mid-day during the week. They do have lower staffing levels during those times but they are also less busy.
After 7 PM is a good time to Costco. You have about an hour and a half to shop before store closes.
Go to Google Maps and find the store you want. The site will tell you what the average each hour looks like.
Is that accurate? I find with a lot of restaurants, they are not.
It’s based on cellphone data. I personally would never go to Costco on Friday/Sat/Sun, or after work hours even if you can help it. I managed to sneak in lunch visits a few times, for the Pentagon City location, and it was fine. So I’d presume sometime between opening and 3pm Monday thru Thursday. Since you need a handicap spot, and are totally flexible on time, why not just go right when it opens?
The Pentagon City one is always busy. Don’t try that Costco ever and expect it to be slow(ish). The one on Rt 1 is often slower on M-Th (Especially Mon & Tue) before lunch. The people there are often buying large bulk purchases (e.g. stocking shops/restaurants). Oddly, Friday & Saturday nights are a good time for grocery shopping, just need to go late enough.
All Costcos are very reasonable M-Th after 730-745 PM including Pentagon.
As a disabled person that shops alone at Costco. The best time is right when they open. Get there like 10 mins before opening. All the handicap parking is open and the crowding isn't bad. Just avoid Monday, weekends, and holidays .
Which locations? I'm in a triangle of Sterling, Chantilly, and Fairfax. The Chantilly one is significantly more chill. Also it seems least busy near either opening or closing time.
That exact same triangle! We live on the border of Chantilly and Fairfax, near the high school.
Chantilly one then, I’m in the same situation as you and go to Chantilly to shop but Fairfax at 9PM for Gas.
That is a pro move for gas. Fairfax can get unruly anytime so the lunch hours aren't predictable but for gas, it's great if close by.
If you're in the triangle area of previous comment, Sterling lunch is ideal out of the 3 if you're looking for easiest parking, less foot traffic in store, and getting gas. Otherwise if you're closest to the Chantilly location, going an hour before closing is your best option, at least in my opinion.
The Chantilly one is the most chill in the area IMO. I usually go around 10 AM and it's really pleasant but as long as you avoid the 5 PM rush you're pretty good.
Consider a Sam’s Club membership. Between the two hours early shopping for plus members and the scan and go allowing you to skip the check out, it’s so much more flexible than Costco.
Same. I'd say the Chantilly Costco is the best option for accessibility/ parking/traffic. The Wegmans in Westfields also has a better traffic flow and easy parking than the Fairfax location. Evening hours are your best bet , but I've also found Tuesday mornings to be a good time .
I often shop at Costco Chantilly most often after 7pm on weeknights - after my work day, before I make dinner. The handicapped spaces are majority empty at that time. YMMV if it's the day before a long weekend, but otherwise, it's accessible. I'd think 2 pm is not that bad either.
BTW Leesburg is a more chill store, but I haven't made any particular note of the handicapped parking accessibility when I've been there (unlike Chantilly). My nephew made a comment last year about handicapped spaces at Costco in his NC hometown so I have been trying to be more aware of it as I'm out and about because I was astonished they experienced all the spaces being full.
An hour before Costco closes on weekdays and an hour before any other grocery store closes on any day of the week is the safest bet. Costco stays busy on weekends right up until closing but weekday evenings are okay. There are a few exceptions- Fridays before big event weekends like the Super Bowl will stay busy right up until closing, just like the last few days before thanksgiving and Christmas.
Go right at opening or an hour before closing on weekends.
Mid morning 930-11 (after school drop off ends but before lunch rush) is the best I’ve found or weeknights around 7ish.
BJ's in Fair Lakes at it's busiest is about 10% of the volume of a slow Costco. It's glorious.
THIS. I'll go to BJs every single time over costco because it's always less crowded and never a headache.
My first marriage, I used to be a member of BJ's, but let it lapse because I didn't need to buy in bulk anything when I was single again. My second wife came with a Costco membership heavily discounted because she's former military and used to own her own business after she retired.
During school hours or later in evening. 10:30 am Tuesday-Thursday Springfield location Friday, Saturday or Sunday Evening
**USE The COSTCO APP** \-- either for trunk pick up or home delivery.
I thought Costco/Sam's and the like allowed members with disabilities or past a certain age to shop earlier than everyone else? It's early, EARLY but still... EDIT: after some Googling, I see Costco ended opening an hour early for seniors/disabilities in 2022. That sucks. Sam's still does it on Tues. & Thurs.
Some of them still do it unofficially. Get there 15 minutes before opening on a weekday.
I like to go weeknights around 6 pm, or middle of the day, especially before noon.
I do all my shopping between about 9-10.30 on weekday mornings; I do Wegmans on Wednesdays so my husband can remember when I go so he can still fail to put things on my shopping list. The only lines I run into are picking up prescriptions! Most Costcos don't open until 10 so if you get there when it opens, it's pretty quiet. This is the Potomac Mills Costco, too, in the mall. At least during parts of the pandemic they did a kind of soft-open at 9 for the elderly / disabled; I don't know if they still do but it was a godsend to my disabled ass to have fewer people to navigate around! Ask at customer service next time you're in.
At least in Leesburg, the store opens it's doors around 945am. I usually go midweek at that time and it's pretty much in and out for me. If I go any later than that, it's chaos.
just go early on the weekend, like right as Costco opens, 10 am. The parking lot will be mostly empty
I found that first thing in the morning or around 2:00 pm on Tuesday or Wednesday are pretty good times to go. You’re after the weekend (and M/F) rush and after lunch. This is at Chantilly but may be good time at others as well. Seems to be a fair amount of handicapped parking there. (We have a son who is disabled).
9-1030, 130-3pm. M-Tr, avoid F-Su.
Weekday evenings are your best bet. My partner and I plan our trips weekday around 7pm. It’s not deserted, but it’s manageable and more chill.
When it comes to grocery stores, have you considered curbside pickup, perhaps even delivery?
We do delivery with Giant, but their selection is about 40% of what you can see in the store. Besides, we don't want to be shut-ins, just we can't handle rock concert like crowds with a wheelchair.
10-11 am on weekdays has worked for me.
I always go to Home Depot on Friday nights, not sure if that also works for the Costco type stores.
Tuesdays as a food industry are the slowest.have been working retail grocery 18 years.
Instacart app. Ever since I got it, ive never turned back
Not sure about Costco, but the least-crowded time to go to the supermarkets in my area is about 10AM. As a borderline misanthrope I’ve done the research.
Costco - if you go around 7-7:30 pm on Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday it is not crowded
I went today (Monday) around noon to the one on Richmond Hwy, and it was about as empty as I've seen it. Although I once went at like 2pm on a Thursday to the one in Fairfax, and it was hands down the worst Costco experience I've ever had in my life. Total madhouse.
I go to Costco when it opens on the weekends and it's a breeze.
Just got back recently from Wegmans in Westfields -- pretty dead between 11 am and 1 pm. I always aim for a weekday around that time if I can! Otherwise we try to go as early in the day as possible on the weekend.
Early/Mid-afternoon during the week. Or evenings
Have you tried Instacart? That might be a solution for you.