Dairy Queen Hours Complete 2026 Guide

Knowing Dairy Queen hours can save you from a wasted trip. Each DQ location sets its own schedule based on franchise ownership, location type, and local demand. Hours can also matter if you’re stopping by for specific menu items like Blizzard Treats, burgers, or late-night ice cream cravings. A DQ Grill & Chill in a college town may stay open until midnight, while a mall location closes at 8:00 PM. Drive-thrus often operate 30 to 60 minutes past lobby closing, and only two holidays guarantee nationwide closures.
This guide covers standard operating hours for all DQ formats, regional variations, seasonal changes, holiday schedules, and the most reliable methods to confirm hours at your nearest location.

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What Time Does Dairy Queen Open and Close?

Most Dairy Queen locations operate from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily. However, hours vary significantly by location type, franchise owner, and season since each DQ is independently owned and operated.

Location TypeOpening HoursClosing Hours
DQ Grill & Chill10:00 AM10:00 PM (11:00 PM in summer)
DQ Treat11:00 AM – 12:00 PM9:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Mall Locations10:00 AM8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Drive-Thru10:00 AM10:30 PM – 11:00 PM

What Time Does Dairy Queen Open and Close?

DQ Grill & Chill locations are full-service restaurants offering burgers, chicken strips, hot dogs, and ice cream. These locations typically open at 10:00 AM and close at 10:00 PM, with extended summer hours until 11:00 PM. Select locations offer breakfast from 6:00 AM to 10:30 AM, most commonly in Texas, Florida, and California.

DQ Treat locations focus on ice cream with limited food options. Operating hours run from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM on weekdays and from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM on weekends. Many locations operate seasonally and reduce hours during winter months.

Mall and non-traditional locations include DQ counters in shopping malls, airports, college campuses, and rest stops. Hours depend entirely on the host location. Shopping malls typically operate from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, while airport locations may run from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM.

DQ time table open and close

Regional Hour Variations

Early Opening (6:00 AM – 7:00 AM)

  • DQ locations offering breakfast (primarily Texas, Florida, California)
  • Truck stops and highway rest areas

Standard Opening (10:00 AM – 11:00 AM)

  • Approximately 78% of all DQ Grill & Chill locations
  • Most suburban and urban standalone restaurants

Late Opening (12:00 PM – 1:00 PM)

  • Treat-only locations in seasonal markets
  • Small-town DQs with single-shift staffing

Early Closing (8:00 PM – 9:00 PM)

  • Rural locations with limited evening traffic
  • Cold-weather states during winter months
  • Mall food court locations

Standard Closing (10:00 PM)

  • Majority of Grill & Chill restaurants
  • Suburban family-oriented locations

Extended Hours (11:00 PM – Midnight)

  • High-traffic urban areas
  • College towns (particularly during summer months)

Peak Hours and Best Times to Visit

Peak hours include lunch rush from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM on weekdays, after-school rush from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM, and dinner rush from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM daily.

The best times for minimal wait are mid-morning from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM and early afternoon from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM.

Dairy Queen Holiday Hours

Closed Nationwide:

  • Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November)
  • Christmas Day (December 25)

Reduced Hours:

  • New Year’s Eve: Most close from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM (some stay open until 10:00 PM)
  • New Year’s Day: Late opening from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, normal 10:00 PM closing
  • Easter Sunday: Approximately 50% open with reduced hours (12:00 PM to 8:00 PM)

Normal Hours:

  • Fourth of July, Labor Day, Memorial Day Martin Luther King Jr.
  • Day, Presidents’ Day, Veterans Day
  • St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo

Drive-Thru Hours

Many DQ locations keep drive-thrus open 30 to 60 minutes after the lobby closes. When the lobby closes at 10:00 PM, drive-thru service often continues until 10:30 PM or 11:00 PM. This pattern is most common in Texas, California urban areas, Florida tourist zones, and Arizona college towns.

Seasonal Hour Changes

Summer hours (May through September) often extend to 11:00 PM instead of the standard 10:00 PM closing. Tourist destination DQs in beach towns and resort areas frequently add 2 to 3 hours to daily schedules during peak season.

Winter hours (November through March) in cold-weather states typically see reductions of 1 to 2 hours, with closing times moving from 10:00 PM to 8:00 PM or 9:00 PM. Some Treat-only locations close entirely for the winter season, and summer resort town DQs may close from October through April.

How to Find Accurate Hours

Calling the specific location directly provides the most reliable information. Ask what time they close today, whether weekend hours differ, if they serve breakfast, and if the drive-thru stays open later than the lobby.

The official Dairy Queen website at dairyqueen.com offers a store locator. Click “Locations,” enter your ZIP code or city, select your location, and check the hours section. Franchise owners update this information, though not all do so regularly.

Google Maps displays hours but may show outdated or user-submitted data. Holiday hours rarely receive updates. Cross-reference Google Maps hours with at least one other source before visiting.

Why Dairy Queen Hours Vary

Each Dairy Queen operates as an independently owned and operated franchise, giving owners the freedom to set hours based on local demand, staffing availability, seasonal traffic patterns, and personal business strategy. No central corporate mandate exists for operating hours beyond basic brand standards.

Breakfast at Dairy Queen

Only 15 to 20% of Dairy Queen locations serve breakfast, primarily DQ Grill & Chill restaurants in Texas, Florida, and California. Breakfast hours typically run from 6:00 AM to 10:30 AM or from 7:00 AM to 10:30 AM. The breakfast menu includes burritos, biscuits, pancakes, and hash browns. Treat-only locations and most mall-based DQs do not offer breakfast service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Most Dairy Queen locations open at 10:00 AM on weekdays and weekends. DQ Grill & Chill restaurants typically open at 10:00 AM, while Treat-only locations may open at 11:00 AM or noon. Some locations offering breakfast service open as early as 6:00 AM, most commonly in Texas, Florida, and California.

The majority of Dairy Queen locations close at 10:00 PM. Urban and college-town locations often stay open until 11:00 PM or midnight, especially during summer months. Rural locations and mall-based DQs may close as early as 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Drive-thru service frequently extends 30 to 60 minutes past lobby closing time.

Yes, most Dairy Queen locations are open on Sundays, typically maintaining the same 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM hours as weekdays. Some franchise owners in certain regions reduce Sunday hours or close early around 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM, which is more common in Bible Belt states and small towns.

Only 15 to 20% of Dairy Queen locations serve breakfast, primarily DQ Grill & Chill restaurants in Texas, Florida, and California. Breakfast hours run from 6:00 AM to 10:30 AM or from 7:00 AM to 10:30 AM. The menu includes burritos, biscuits, pancakes, and hash browns. Treat-only locations and mall-based DQs do not offer breakfast.

Most Dairy Queen locations close on only two holidays: Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Reduced hours are common on New Year’s Eve (closing from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM), New Year’s Day (late opening around 11:00 AM), and Easter Sunday (approximately 50% of locations open with reduced hours from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM). All other holidays typically see normal operating hours.

Many Dairy Queen drive-thrus stay open 30 to 60 minutes longer than the lobby. If the lobby closes at 10:00 PM, the drive-thru often remains open until 10:30 PM or 11:00 PM. This is especially common in Texas, California, Arizona, and Florida locations. Some DQs close both the lobby and drive-thru simultaneously.

Each Dairy Queen is an independently owned and operated franchise. Owners set hours based on local demand, staffing availability, seasonal traffic patterns, and personal business strategy. No central corporate mandate exists for operating hours beyond basic brand standards, creating inconsistent hours across different locations even within the same city.

No. Mall-based Dairy Queen locations follow the mall’s operating hours, not standard DQ hours. Most mall DQs open around 10:00 AM and close when the mall closes, usually from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM, which is earlier than standalone Grill & Chill locations.

Calling the specific location directly provides the most reliable information. You can also use DQ’s official store locator at dairyqueen.com, though hours may not always be current. Google Maps shows hours but may display outdated information. Hours don’t always match across Google, the DQ app, or posted signage.

Many Dairy Queen locations in cold-weather states reduce hours during winter months (November through March) due to decreased foot traffic. Typical winter reductions include closing 1 to 2 hours earlier (from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM instead of 10:00 PM) or opening later. Some Treat-only locations close entirely for the season.

DQ Grill & Chill locations typically maintain 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM hours year-round and are more likely to offer breakfast and extended drive-thru hours. DQ Treat locations often open later (from 11:00 AM to noon), close earlier at 9:00 PM, and may operate seasonally with reduced winter hours.

No. Once a location closes, you cannot place orders even through the mobile app. Some DQs accept mobile orders up until 15 to 30 minutes before closing to ensure completion before staff leaves. The mobile app sometimes accepts orders after a location has closed, resulting in charges without fulfillment.

Yes. Many Dairy Queen locations extend hours during summer months (May through September). Common extensions include staying open until 11:00 PM instead of 10:00 PM or opening earlier on weekends. Tourist destination DQs in beach towns and resort areas often add 2 to 3 hours to daily schedules during peak season.

Google Maps hours are often user-submitted or pulled from outdated data sources. The official Dairy Queen website relies on franchise owners to update their information, which is more reliable but not always current. Discrepancies occur when owners change hours but don’t update all platforms.

No. There are currently no 24-hour Dairy Queen locations in the United States. The latest closing times are typically midnight in high-traffic urban areas and college towns. Most locations close between 9:00 PM and 11:00 PM depending on format, region, and franchise owner decisions.