Avoid long lines, empty shelves, and parking-lot chaos. Insiders share the best weekdays and hours to shop Costco—and when to skip it—plus weekend tips.

Felix and Fido may be over the allure of their Christmas treats and need some new incentives to get through the New Year's Eve firework displays. Of course, that means a trip to your local Costco, where you can get everything they need, plus some last-minute bits for your annual party. But you'll need to time your trip wisely.

Costco, Target and Home Depot will close early on Dec. 31. These stores will keep the following hours on New Year’s Eve: However, Walmart will not close early during the following hours: If you find that you need to get groceries after hours, you may want to plan ahead, as most other stores will close early.