How to Skip the Line with Walmart Curbside Pickup

Do you want the late-night convenience and introvert-friendly anonymity of a fast-food drive thru, except for groceries or household essentials? Look no further than curbside pickup at Walmart. It went mainstream during the COVID pandemic in 2020, but — long after the era of wiping down our apples with Lysol — the option is still vastly easier than getting out of your car.

When a sweet craving recently hit me and a friend tipped me off to these imitation Girl Scout Cookies, I opened the Walmart app. Sure enough, my local store had them in stock … and even better, they had pickup times available until 10 p.m. (an ideal hour for car cookies, although I picked 7 p.m. for expediency).

I eagerly placed my order, headed out the door, and clicked a button in the app to let the store know I was on my way, thus ensuring my cookies would be ready to devour. Upon arrival, I entered the color of my car in the app … but I was so excited about those cookies that I accidentally typed the wrong space number: 3 instead of 2.

The helpful Walmart employee figured it out before I even realized my mistake, confirming the bag indeed had my name. When I tried to thank him with a few extra bucks, he informed me that Walmart’s store associates can’t accept tips. Apparently, it’s the only business left in America without an iPad guilting us into adding extra, even though I actually wanted to for once.

How to Use Walmart Curbside Pickup (Step by Step)

Not just for late-night cookie cravings, curbside pickup is a great way to collect tons of groceries and other items sold at Walmart. It’s also free if you’re a Walmart+ member or if your order is over $35. Here’s exactly how to do it:

Download the Walmart App or Visit Walmart.com

Create an account (or sign in) to start shopping. You’ll need this to access pickup times and locations.

Choose Your Local Store

Enter your ZIP code or let the app use your location. This ensures you’re shopping from inventory that’s actually available nearby.

Shop for Your Items

Add products to your cart. Eligible items will be marked for pickup.

Select a Pickup Time

At checkout, choose a pickup window that works for you. You can also designate somebody else to pick up your items if need be.

Check In When You’re on the Way

Use the app to let Walmart know you’re headed over. This gives the store time to prep your order.

Park in a Pickup Spot

When you arrive, pull into one of the marked pickup spaces. Enter your parking spot number and car color in the app. (As I learned, you might want to double check.)

Pop Your Trunk & Relax

A Walmart associate will bring your order straight to your car. No need to get out, just confirm your name and you’re good to go. You can even pick up a vacuum to get those cookie crumbs.