Most government offices and many public institutions close on Veterans Day, while most retail and restaurants stay open.

What Businesses Are Closed on Veterans Day?

Federal and Government Services

These are the core closures you can almost always count on each Veterans Day.

  • Federal government offices (non‑essential)
  • State and most local government offices
  • Courthouses and many court operations
  • Social Security offices and many administrative agencies

In practical terms: if it’s a government office where you’d file paperwork, pay a fee, or see a judge, expect it to be closed or on very limited operations.

Mail, Shipping, and Deliveries

Mail is one of the biggest “gotchas” people forget.

  • U.S. Postal Service (USPS) post offices: closed; regular mail not delivered (only Priority Mail Express runs).
  • USPS collection and in‑person services: closed.
  • Private carriers (UPS, FedEx): generally open, but services that depend on USPS (like UPS SurePost, some hybrid services) can be delayed.

Banks, Markets, and Finance

Veterans Day is a bank holiday, but not a full “Wall Street shutdown.”

  • Many brick‑and‑mortar bank branches: closed or on holiday hours (check your specific bank).
  • Online banking and ATMs: available as usual.
  • U.S. stock markets: typically open for normal trading.

Schools and Universities

Most students get the day off, but details can vary.

  • Public K‑12 schools: usually closed, since Veterans Day is a public/state holiday in nearly all states (Wisconsin is a notable exception where it’s not a state holiday).
  • Many public colleges/universities: often closed or on limited schedules.
  • Some private schools: may choose to open but often hold observances or early dismissal.

Public Services and Transit

The “rhythm” of the day is a mix of pause and motion.

Generally closed or limited:

  • DMV and motor vehicle offices in most states.
  • Some local permitting, licensing, and administrative counters.

Generally open (possibly on a holiday schedule):

  • Public transit systems (subways, buses, commuter rail) on Sunday/holiday timetables.
  • Essential services: police, fire, hospitals, and utilities continue normal or enhanced staffing.

What Usually Stays Open

While your question is about what’s closed, it helps to know that “most places you shop” are open.

Typically open:

  • Big‑box retail (Walmart, Target, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Costco, etc.).
  • Grocery stores and supermarkets (Kroger, Safeway, ALDI, Trader Joe’s, etc.).
  • Most shopping malls and clothing retailers.
  • Most restaurants and fast‑food chains (McDonald’s, Wendy’s and others) — some offer free or discounted meals for veterans.

Snapshot Table: What’s Closed vs Open

[7][10] [7][10] [9][10] [9][7][10] [7][10] [3][1][10] [10] [1][3] [1][5][7] [5][9] [3][1][5] [10]
Type of business/service Typical status on Veterans Day
Federal government offices Closed
State & local government offices Mostly closed
USPS post offices & regular mail Closed / no regular delivery
Banks (physical branches) Often closed (holiday hours); check locally
Stock markets Open for normal trading
Public K–12 schools Usually closed in most states
Colleges/universities Often closed or limited schedule
DMV / motor vehicle offices Typically closed
Major retail stores Open (may have special sales)
Grocery stores Open, normal or near‑normal hours
Restaurants & fast food Open; some offer veteran discounts
Public transit Open, often on holiday schedule

Mini “Planning” Checklist

If you’re trying to plan your Veterans Day errands, you can think in three buckets.

  1. Anything government‑run?
    • Assume closed (offices, courts, DMV, Social Security, non‑essential services).
  2. Anything related to mail or a physical bank branch?
    • Expect USPS and many banks to be closed; plan deposits and mailings for another day.
  1. Shopping, food, and general errands?
    • Assume open, but double‑check local hours for smaller businesses or doctor’s offices.

TL;DR: On Veterans Day, government offices, post offices, many courts, DMVs, and a lot of bank branches are closed, while most stores, groceries, restaurants, and stock markets remain open (sometimes with special deals for veterans).

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.