What Time Do Bars Close? Last Call by State [2026 Map]
From midnight in Kentucky to 5 a.m. in Alaska, here's when bars stop pouring in every state, plus the big-city exceptions and the official rules behind each time.
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Get Free DownloadEver been caught off guard by a bartender's "last call" announcement? You're not alone. That familiar phrase (sometimes dreaded, sometimes ignored) marks the final countdown for alcohol service across America's bars and clubs.
These closing times, governed by state regulations and local ordinances, create a complex landscape that every patron and business owner must navigate. This article outlines closing times by state and city below.
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Alcohol service and closing-time rules are subject to change and may vary by state, county, city, license type, day of the week, and holiday. Confirm the requirements for your location and license with the applicable alcohol regulatory agency or local licensing authority.
Bar closing times by state, 2026. See the full table with official sources below.
Key takeaways:
Most states end on-premise alcohol sales at 2 a.m.
The latest statewide cutoffs are in Alaska (5 a.m.), New York (4 a.m.), and Indiana, Tennessee, and West Virginia (3 a.m.).
Florida, Kentucky, and Mississippi default to midnight, and Texas stops at midnight on weeknights unless a bar has a late-hours permit.
Nevada, Louisiana, Illinois, New Jersey, and Wyoming have no statewide last call, so cities and counties set the hours.
Bars usually announce last call 15 to 30 minutes before the legal cutoff.
What time do bars close?
Last call times vary substantially across the United States. Most states default to 2 a.m., while Nevada, Louisiana, Illinois, New Jersey, and Wyoming have no statewide last call and leave closing times to local governments. Some states, like Utah, have earlier closing times, taking a more conservative approach to alcohol regulation.
And the time often varies city by city – influenced by population density, tourism, historical traditions, enforcement capabilities, and community values.
What time do bars close in major cities?
New York City's 4 a.m. last call supports its reputation as "the city that never sleeps," while parts of Miami and Miami Beach let some venues serve until 5 a.m., though Miami Beach now cuts off South Beach nightclubs at 2 a.m.
Chicago bars with a late-hour license can match New York, serving until 4 a.m. (5 a.m. on Saturday nights), while some bars in St. Louis and Kansas City can get permits to stay open until 3 a.m.
Remember: while these times represent the legal cutoff for serving alcohol, most bars will begin their last call process 15-30 minutes before the mandated time to ensure compliance and a smooth closing.
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What time do bars close in each state?
*Note that ALL last call times will typically be about 15-30 minutes before the times listed below.
State | Last Call Time | Notes |
Alabama | Set locally (often 2 a.m.) | Alabama leaves weekday closing times to cities and counties, and 2 a.m. is common. Sunday sales stop at 2 a.m. unless local voters or officials approve Sunday sales, and about two dozen counties are dry or allow sales only in certain cities. Source: Code of Alabama 28-3A-19. |
Alaska | 5 a.m. | State law allows bars to serve from 8 a.m. to 5 a.m., but cities such as Anchorage can set earlier closing times. Source: Municipality of Anchorage, citing AS 04.16.010. |
Arizona | 2 a.m. | Bars and restaurants can sell from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day, and customers have until 2:30 a.m. to finish their drinks. Source: Arizona Revised Statutes 4-244. |
Arkansas | 1 a.m. | Bars can generally serve from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday service ends at midnight unless the city allows hotels and restaurants to stay open until 2 a.m., and Sunday sales (10 a.m. to midnight) require local approval. Private clubs follow separate hours. Source: Arkansas ABC Rule 3.19. |
California | 2 a.m. | Bars and restaurants can serve from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day. Source: California ABC. |
Colorado | 2 a.m. | Bars and restaurants can serve from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. any day of the year. Source: Colorado General Assembly. |
Connecticut | 1 a.m. | Bars and restaurants can serve from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Thursday, until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, and from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Sunday. Towns can set shorter hours. Source: Connecticut General Statutes 30-91. |
Delaware | 1 a.m. | Bars and restaurants can serve from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. every day, and Sunday service requires a Sunday license. Towns can set an earlier closing time. Source: Delaware Code Title 4, Chapter 7. |
Florida | Midnight | The state default bans sales from midnight to 7 a.m., but counties and cities can set their own hours, and most large ones allow 2 a.m. or later. Some venues in Miami and Miami Beach can serve until 5 a.m. Source: Florida Statutes 562.14. |
Georgia | Set locally | Georgia leaves closing times to cities and counties. Sunday service requires local voter approval and can run from 12:30 p.m., or 11 a.m. where the brunch option passed, until midnight. Some counties remain dry. Source: O.C.G.A. 3-3-7. |
Hawaii | 2 a.m. | Each county liquor commission sets hours. In Honolulu, bars and restaurants can serve from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., and cabaret licenses can stay open until 4 a.m. Source: Honolulu Liquor Commission. |
Idaho | 1 a.m. | Bars can serve liquor from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m., and patrons get up to 30 minutes to finish their drinks. Cities and counties can extend service to 2 a.m. Source: Idaho Code 23-927. |
Illinois | Set locally (often 2 a.m.) | Illinois has no statewide last call, so each city, village, or county sets its own hours. Chicago allows 4 a.m., or 5 a.m. on Saturday nights, with a late-hour license. Source: Illinois Liquor Control Act. |
Indiana | 3 a.m. | Bars and restaurants can serve from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. every day, including Sunday. Source: Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission. |
Iowa | 2 a.m. | Bars and restaurants can serve from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., seven days a week. Source: Iowa Code 123.49. |
Kansas | 2 a.m. | Bars can serve from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day, and cities and counties can set shorter hours. Source: Kansas Statutes 41-2614. |
Kentucky | Midnight | The state default bans sales by the drink between midnight and 6 a.m., but cities and counties can allow later hours, so closing times vary widely by location. Source: Kentucky Revised Statutes 244.290. |
Louisiana | None | Louisiana sets no statewide last call, so parishes and cities set their own hours, and some, including New Orleans, allow 24-hour service. Source: Louisiana R.S. 26:493. |
Maine | 1 a.m. | Bars can sell from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. every day, and drinks must be finished by 1:15 a.m. On New Year's, sales run until 2 a.m. Source: Maine Revised Statutes 28-A, Section 4. |
Maryland | Set by county (often 2 a.m.) | Maryland sets hours county by county in state law, and most bars close by 2 a.m. In Baltimore City, bars and restaurants can serve from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. Source: Maryland Code, Alcoholic Beverages 12-2004. |
Massachusetts | 2 a.m. | State law bans on-premises sales from 2 a.m. to 8 a.m., and cities and towns set each license's hours, so many close earlier. Source: Massachusetts General Laws c.138, Section 12. |
Michigan | 2 a.m. | Bars and restaurants can't sell alcohol between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m. Sunday sales before noon require a special permit. Source: Michigan Compiled Laws 436.2114. |
Minnesota | 1 a.m. (2 a.m. with permit) | Bars can serve until 2 a.m. only with a state late-night permit. Without one, last call is 1 a.m., and cities can set earlier hours. Source: Minnesota Statutes 340A.504. |
Mississippi | Midnight | Bars and restaurants can serve from 10 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Saturday. Many cities and resort areas set later hours, and Gulf Coast and casino areas can serve 24 hours. Source: Mississippi Department of Revenue, ABC. |
Missouri | 1:30 a.m. | Bars must stop serving at 1:30 a.m. every day. Bars in designated areas of Kansas City and St. Louis can get special permits to stay open until 3 a.m. Source: Missouri Revised Statutes 311.290. |
Montana | 2 a.m. | Bars must close between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m. every day, and cities can set earlier hours. Source: Montana Code 16-3-304. |
Nebraska | 1 a.m. | Bars must stop selling at 1 a.m., but a city, village, or county can extend that to 2 a.m. Source: Nebraska Revised Statutes 53-179. |
Nevada | None | Nevada has no statewide last call, so cities and counties set hours. Las Vegas and Reno allow 24-hour service, so last call depends on the bar. Source: Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 369. |
New Hampshire | 1 a.m. | Bars can serve until 1 a.m., seven days a week. A city or town can allow 2 a.m. by local ordinance. Source: New Hampshire RSA 179:17. |
New Jersey | Set locally (often 2 a.m.) | New Jersey has no statewide last call, and each town sets bar hours by ordinance. Many choose 2 a.m., but some close earlier and a few allow later service. Source: New Jersey Division of ABC. |
New Mexico | 2 a.m. | Bars can serve from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day. Restaurant beer-and-wine licenses must stop at 11 p.m. Source: New Mexico Alcoholic Beverage Control. |
New York | 4 a.m. | State law allows service until 4 a.m., and NYC bars can serve until then. Counties can set earlier closing times, so last call varies across the state. Source: New York ABC Law 106. |
North Carolina | 2 a.m. | Bars can sell from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m., and drinks must be finished by 2:30 a.m. Sunday sales start at noon, or 10 a.m. where a local brunch ordinance has passed. Source: N.C. General Statutes 18B-1004. |
North Dakota | 2 a.m. | Bars can serve from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m., including Sundays, unless local ordinances set shorter hours. Source: North Dakota Century Code 5-02. |
Ohio | 2:30 a.m. | Bars with a D-5 or similar liquor permit can serve until 2:30 a.m., while some beer and wine permits must stop at 1 a.m. Source: Ohio Administrative Code 4301:1-1-49. |
Oklahoma | 2 a.m. | Bars, restaurants, and clubs can serve from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. Each county decides on Sunday and holiday sales. Source: Oklahoma ABLE Commission. |
Oregon | 2:30 a.m. | Licensed bars and restaurants can serve from 7 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. Source: Oregon Administrative Rule 845-006-0425. |
Pennsylvania | 2 a.m. | Bars and restaurants can serve from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m., and patrons must leave by 2:30 a.m. Sunday sales need a permit, and private clubs can serve until 3 a.m. Source: Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. |
Rhode Island | 1 a.m. | Bars must stop serving at 1 a.m. Local licensing boards can allow 2 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and the night before state holidays. Source: Rhode Island General Laws 3-7-7. |
South Carolina | 2 a.m. | Bars and restaurants can serve liquor from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., Monday through Saturday. Sunday sales require local voter approval and a Sunday permit. Source: South Carolina Code 61-6-1610. |
South Dakota | 2 a.m. | State law bans on-sale service between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m., and cities can set stricter hours. Source: South Dakota Codified Laws 35-4-81.2. |
Tennessee | 3 a.m. | Service must stop at 3 a.m. every day and can start at 8 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. on Sunday. Some cities set earlier hours. Source: UT County Technical Assistance Service. |
Texas | Midnight (2 a.m. with late-hours permit) | Bars stop selling at midnight Monday through Friday and at 1 a.m. on Saturday night. With a late-hours permit, where local rules allow it, they can sell until 2 a.m. any night. Source: Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. |
Utah | 1 a.m. | Bars stop selling at 1 a.m., and drinking on the premises must end by 2 a.m. Restaurants have earlier cutoffs. Source: Utah DABS Bar License Handbook. |
Vermont | 2 a.m. | Bars and restaurants can serve from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. Source: Vermont Statutes Title 7, Section 62. |
Virginia | 2 a.m. | On-premises service is banned from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. In localities without mixed-drink sales, service stops at midnight. Source: Virginia Administrative Code 3VAC5-50-30. |
Washington | 2 a.m. | Sales and service are banned from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m., and local governments can set earlier closing times. Source: WAC 314-11-070. |
West Virginia | 3 a.m. | Private clubs, the license most bars serving liquor hold, can serve from 6 a.m. to 3 a.m. daily. Venues licensed only for beer and wine must stop at 2 a.m. Source: West Virginia ABCA. |
Wisconsin | 2 a.m. (2:30 a.m. weekends) | Bars must close from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. Monday through Friday and from 2:30 a.m. to 6 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday mornings. There is no closing time on New Year's Day. Source: Wisconsin Statutes 125.32(3). |
Wyoming | Set locally (often 2 a.m.) | Wyoming has no statewide last call. Since 2017, each city or county sets its own hours, and many still use 2 a.m. Source: Wyoming Legislature. |
Why do bar closing times differ by state?
Before you blame your local bartender for cutting you off, let's rewind to the early 1900s.
Today's last call regulations trace their origins to the temperance movements of the early 20th century.
These movements, which culminated in Prohibition, fundamentally shaped American alcohol policy. Even after Prohibition's repeal, states maintained significant control over alcohol regulation, leading to the diverse landscape we see today.
What last call means for bar and restaurant owners
Economic considerations
Last call policies can significantly shape local economies. Extended hours can boost business revenue and create additional employment opportunities, while also generating additional tax revenue for local governments. Last call times can also affect the attractiveness of a destination for tourists and visitors, shaping perceptions of nightlife and entertainment offerings.
But these benefits also come with operational challenges. Later hours mean increased staffing costs, additional security requirements, and potentially higher insurance premiums. Businesses have to weigh the potential revenue against these operational expenses when determining their optimal closing times.
Social and cultural factors
The ripple effects of last call times extend far beyond bar doors. Law enforcement must carefully allocate resources around closing times, while emergency services adapt their staffing patterns accordingly. Traffic management becomes crucial, especially in popular entertainment districts, and communities must develop comprehensive strategies to prevent impaired driving.
Quality of life concerns are also a factor in mixed-use neighborhoods, where residential areas border entertainment districts. Noise levels, parking availability, and property values all feel the impact of closing time policies. Research from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) shows that thoughtfully designed last call regulations can create safer communities while supporting local economies.
Last call times will likely continue to evolve as communities grow and change. The most effective policies will balance the needs of businesses, residents, and public safety, recognizing that what works for one community may not work for another.
Whether it's 2 a.m. or sunrise, the goal remains the same: creating vibrant, safe spaces for nightlife while respecting the communities they serve.
Frequently asked questions
What time do most bars close?
Most U.S. states require bars to stop serving alcohol by 2 a.m. A few allow later service, such as New York (4 a.m.) and Alaska (5 a.m.), while Florida, Kentucky, and Mississippi default to midnight.
What time is last call?
Bars usually announce last call 15 to 30 minutes before the legal cutoff. In a state with a 2 a.m. closing time, that puts last call around 1:30 to 1:45 a.m.
Which state has the latest last call?
Alaska. State law allows bars to serve until 5 a.m., although cities such as Anchorage set earlier closing times.
Which states have no statewide last call?
Nevada, Louisiana, Illinois, New Jersey, and Wyoming leave closing times to cities and counties, so hours vary by location.
What time do bars close in New York City?
New York City bars can serve until 4 a.m., the latest time New York state law allows.
What time do bars close in Chicago?
Most Chicago bars stop serving at 2 a.m., or 3 a.m. on Saturday nights. Bars with a late-hour license can serve until 4 a.m., or 5 a.m. on Saturday nights.
What time do bars close in Texas?
Texas bars stop selling at midnight Monday through Friday and at 1 a.m. on Saturday night. Bars with a late-hours permit can serve until 2 a.m. any night.
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