25 Restaurants Open Thanksgiving Day 2025: A Guide for Truckers & Everyone Else on the Road

Taking Thanksgiving Day to enjoy a meal with family and friends is standard practice across the United States, but not everyone gets the day off. For many people, the day is spent working or traveling. For truck drivers, the day is spent working and traveling, and finding food outside of pre-packaged gas station fare can feel daunting.

Don’t despair. If you’re going to be on the road this November 27, 2025, there are plenty of great places to stop and enjoy a nice, warm, gratitude-inducing meal — some of them nationwide chains, some of them unique and one-of-a-kind restaurants at truck stops. Here’s a list of 25 restaurants that will be open and ready to feed you, whether you want carryout or you’d like to dine in. Some will even be serving up traditional fare: turkey, ham, potatoes, stuffing, and pumpkin pie!

National Chains Open on Thanksgiving Day

One of the easiest ways to secure a meal if you’re traveling (or don’t want to cook) Thanksgiving 2025 is to head to a national chain that will be open and serving food.

Waffle House

Each of the more than 2,000 Waffle Houses across the South will be open Thanksgiving Day, 2025, because Waffle House is open 365 days a year. Whether you’re in the mood for a pecan waffle, a patty melt, or a hearty breakfast of eggs, bacon, toast, and coffee, you’ll definitely find a welcoming vibe and plenty of good food.

Cracker Barrel

Open regular hours on Thanksgiving Day, Cracker Barrels across the U.S. will start serving a traditional Thanksgiving Day meal at 11 a.m. With about 660 locations across the South, Cracker Barrel is a perfect place to grab a bite on Thanksgiving Day.

Applebee’s

Applebee’s is a casual bar and grill restaurant with almost 1,500 locations throughout almost all 50 states and more than a dozen countries. Many locations are situated conveniently along interstate corridors for weary travelers looking for a meal. This Thanksgiving holiday, many Applebee’s locations will be open — but not all. Be sure to call ahead to any Applebee’s you’re thinking of eating at along your Thanksgiving Day route to make sure it’s a location that will be serving food. 

Denny’s

While not every Denny’s location stays open Thanksgiving Day, enough do that it’s become a popular spot for travelers and truckers to grab a festive-feeling meal. Whether you want to dine in or get take-out, whether you want breakfast, lunch, or dinner, call ahead to one of Denny’s more than 1,500 spots to see if you can join them on Turkey Day. Find the location closest to your route here.

Bar Louie

Looking for a party on Thanksgiving? Most Bar Louie locations will be open. Enjoy traditional American comfort like hamburgers and chicken sandwiches, along with a tasty assortment of small plates and appetizers, plus salads and flatbread pizza. Just be sure to call ahead to the particular Bar Louie location you’re thinking of eating at on Thanksgiving to make sure it’s open.

TGI Fridays

Most of the nation’s laid-back and casual TGI Fridays will be open this coming Thanksgiving Day! Home to classics like mozzarella sticks, chicken wings, burgers, and fries, it’s not traditional holiday fare, but it’s reliable and the vibe should be fun. Call ahead to be sure the location you have in mind is open during the hours you’re planning on stopping by.

Marie Callender’s

Marie Callender’s locations will be closed to diners on Thanksgiving, but most will be open to walk-ins for picking up pre-orders and take-out. Thanksgiving Day travelers can choose from a turkey or ham dinner that will include all the fixings, a cup of creamy potato cheese soup or house salad, plus a slice of apple or pumpkin pie. Price and participation vary by location. So check in with Marie Callender’s along your route ahead of time.

IHOP

Pancakes for Thanksgiving? Why not? Most IHOP locations will be open and hoppin’ on Thanksgiving Day. Not in the mood for breakfast? Along with their classics, many open IHOP locations will also be serving a turkey dinner with mashed potatoes and gravy for anyone craving something more traditional.

Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Enjoy a unique Ruth's Chris Steak House experience this Thanksgiving Day with a take-out (or take-to-hotel) feast ready to heat and serve. Most locations are also open for dine-in with a delicious three-course turkey dinner including oven roasted turkey with sausage and herb dressing, gravy, and cranberry relish, plus decadent sides and pumpkin cheesecake for dessert! 

Bravo! Italian Kitchen

Choose Italian this Thanksgiving holiday with a stop at Bravo! Italian Kitchen. Enjoy a classic Italian entrée or opt for more traditional Thanksgiving fare for dine-in or take-out. If you’re hoping to dine in, reservations are encouraged.

Wendy’s

Many Wendy’s locations will be open and offering a full menu on Thanksgiving Day. Because hours and open participating locations vary, however, be sure to call ahead before you arrive.

White Castle

Open until 3pm on Thanksgiving Day for dine-in, drive-thru, or take-out, White Castle will be offering a full menu across its roughly 350 locations. If you’re on your way to an evening feast, or stopping by a Thanksgiving meal a day or two after the official holiday, stop in at a White Castle for a dozen sliders, no pickle, and whip up this recipe for White Castle Stuffing. 

Golden Corral

Looking for as many Thanksgiving Day meal favorites as possible? Stop by a participating Golden Corral's famous buffet during Thanksgiving for dozens of holiday delights. Don’t have time to take in the buffet? You can order ahead for pick-up, too. 

Ruby Tuesday

Each Ruby Tuesday will be open for dine-in and take-out this Thanksgiving holiday, although hours can vary by location. Indulge in their Endless Garden Bar. Dive into a steak and baked potatoes. Tackle their Chocolate Brownie Sundae Explosion in lieu of pumpkin pie. No matter what you choose, the atmosphere will be welcoming and the food comforting.

Sizzler

For a Thanksgiving dinner with an emphasis on beef instead of poultry, stop in for a Thanksgiving meal at your local Sizzler. Most locations will be open throughout the day, and yes — many will also be serving turkey with stuffing, green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy, and other favorites. Just be sure to check in with the Sizzler in your neighborhood and along your route to make sure they’re participating.

Domino’s

Pizza on Thanksgiving? Why not? As one of the most ubiquitous national chains on this list — they have over 7,000 locations — Domino's is a reliable partner in the quest to find a hot meal on Thanksgiving. Open for carry-out and delivery at most locations, check ahead of time for limited hours as some locations close early on November 27, 2025.

Restaurants Open for Thanksgiving for Truckers Driving in the Middle of Nowhere

For truck drivers — especially long-haul or OTR truckers — driving on Thanksgiving Day is a rite of passage. It’s also one of the easier days to hit the roads, traffic-wise. Still, depending on where your route takes you it might be hard to find an open restaurant come November 27, 2025. 

For those drivers in out of the way places far from where national chains hold sway, here’s a list of restaurants open on Thanksgiving Day, 2025 that are easy for truckers to find and park at.

Iowa 80 Kitchen

Inside the Iowa 80 “World’s Largest” Truck Stop off Interstate 80, you’ll find the Iowa 80 Kitchen. Open 365 days a year and 24 hours a day, this 300-seat cafe serves homestyle comfort food at a fair price. 

Schatz Crossroads

Located in Minot, North Dakota, Schatz Crossroads is a truck stop and restaurant that serves heaping plates of steak and eggs and other breakfasts, along with jumbo sandwiches, daily specials, and plenty more. Open 365 days a year, for the truck driver long-hauling to Canada on Thanksgiving Day, it’s a great place to enjoy a holiday meal.

Boise Stage Stop Restaurant

This Boise, Idaho trucking staple is open every day, including Thanksgiving Day. Known for excellent service and tasty food, the Boise Stage Stop Restaurant offers a diverse menu that includes breakfast standards and comfort food, plus select Mexican dishes and hand-made pizzas. 

Taste of India, Jay Bros. Truck Stop

In Overton, Nebraska, just off I-80 is some of the best Indian food available, and you can stop in and get it this Thanksgiving. Open from 6am until 9 or 10 p.m. each night — including Thursday, November 27, 2025 — Taste of India’s authentic Indian cuisine will make for an unforgettable Thanksgiving Day meal.

Gee Cee’s Truck Stop and Restaurant

Located off Interstate 5 in Toledo, Washington, Gee Cee’s serves up delicious American-style diner fare like pasta dishes, sandwiches, hot breakfast plates, steaks, pork chops, and plenty of delicious desserts. Also, they’ll be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day for dine-in and take-out.

The Scale Dodger (formerly HomeCooker)

Located at the London Travel Plaza along I-75 in southern Kentucky, The Scale Dodger offers downhome cooking and deli options 365 days a year. Formerly known as HomeCooker, this newly renovated truck stop eatery will be open Thanksgiving Day 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. While they will have a more limited menu than usual (rumor has it the grill will be off for the day), The Scale Dodger’s offerings are still sure to feel like home.

Ozark Mountain Grill (Both of Them)

With two locations off I-49 in Rudy, AR and Lowell, AR, Ozark Mountain Grill at Workman’s Travel Center is an exceptional restaurant in two places. Dine on just about anything: BBQ pork nachos, fried catfish, french toast, country fried steak, even a Big Honkin’ Breakfast Burrito at either Ozark Mountain Grill location this Thanksgiving Day. The Rudy, AR location will be open 24 hours, and the Lowell, AR restaurant location will be open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Mobil Cafe

Attached to the Sunoco station in Olmsted Falls, OH, Mobil Cafe boasts a unique grocery, with a deli and grill menu that’s inventive and delicious. They’ll be open Thanksgiving Day under slightly reduced hours from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. We recommend you get some hummus for the road!

Omar’s Hi-Way Chef

This popular truck stop restaurant is located inside the Tucson Truck Terminal at the Craycroft Exit off Interstate 10 in Tucson, AZ. Their regular menu serves up traditional American classics — including breakfast all day — with a little added Italian and/or Mexican flare. This Thanksgiving, Omar’s Hi-Way Chef’s menu will also include a full Turkey dinner and a full Ham dinner. If you’re still wanting to experience a Thanksgiving meal while driving on November 27th this year, they’re a best bet.

We know this list isn’t comprehensive, but we hope it helps anyone traveling this Turkey Day find a delicious and comforting dining experience. Know of another great restaurant that will be open on Thanksgiving Day, 2025? Let us know on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

Corpay Lodging is available to support all our travelers on Thanksgiving

Corpay Lodging wishes you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving no matter where you’ll be celebrating. And don’t forget, we’re always here — 24/7/365 —to support our travelers throughout the holiday season.

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