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Starting this weekend, McDonald’s is expanding its late-night hours at the majority of its U.S. restaurants to cater to increased nighttime demand and capitalize on the busy summer season.
According to a company spokesperson, most locations will now remain open until midnight or later throughout the year. And some locations will even return to being 24-hour operations again. Exceptions include non-traditional venues such as those in airports and shopping malls.
Some menu restrictions will apply during late-night operating hours, with items like the Double Filet-O-Fish being unavailable due to logistics. The exact items offered may vary by location, but all restaurants will be required to serve core favorites such as the Quarter Pounder, Chicken McNuggets, and McCrispy Strips.
In tandem with its late-night expansion, McDonald’s has also announced plans to hire up to 375,000 new employees across the U.S. this summer, making it the largest hiring initiative in years.
The company’s continued growth strategy, includes opening 900 new locations by 2027. The new positions, available at both company-owned and franchised restaurants, are intended to be permanent.
Late-night traffic has been on the rise as fast-food chains like Taco Bell, Jack in the Box, Wendy’s, and McDonald’s have all reported significant increases in late-night visits, prompting them to extend operating hours and invest more in late-night advertising and delivery partnerships.
To celebrate the extension of its late-night hours, McDonald’s is hosting promotional events in select cities. On May 24, the company will distribute merchandise and gift cards for free McCrispy Strips in Los Angeles, New York City, and Detroit, coinciding with major concerts in these areas. And also, 1,000 virtual gift cards for free McCrispy Strips to fans who post an Instagram story with the hashtag #DipforMcCrispyStripsGiveaway and tag @GoFooji.
In the first quarter of 2025, McDonald’s reported a 3.6% decline in U.S. same-store sales…the company’s steepest domestic drop since the pandemic-induced downturn in 2020. This decline was mostly attributed to reduced spending by lower- and middle-income consumers, who are growing increasingly cautious due to inflation and economic uncertainty. High-income customer traffic remained stable, but it wasn’t sufficient to offset the trending decrease in visits.
