30+ Places to Buy Newspapers Near You in 2026 (3 Easiest Ways)

Last week I needed to grab a Sunday New York Times for the crossword puzzle (yeah, I’m old school), and I realized I had no idea which stores near me actually still sell newspapers.

So I did what any curious person would do – I spent two days calling and visiting stores to find out who still carries physical newspapers in 2026.

Turns out? It’s way more complicated than it used to be. Some stores stopped carrying them entirely, others only stock local papers, and several told me “we sold out by 8am on Sundays.”

Here’s everything I learned, plus the easiest ways to actually get a newspaper in 2026 without driving to five different stores.

The Reality of Buying Newspapers in 2026

Before I get into where to buy them, here’s what you need to know: physical newspaper sales are way down, and many stores have cut back or stopped carrying them entirely.

Fun fact: The first newspaper was printed in Strasbourg, Germany in 1605 by Johan Carolus!

When I called my local Walmart, the associate said “We stopped selling newspapers last year – nobody was buying them.” Target told me the same thing.

But here’s the good news: plenty of places still sell them, you just need to know where to look (and when to go).

Modern Ways to Get Newspapers (Easiest Options First)

1. Get Newspapers Delivered Through Instacart

I didn’t know you could order newspaper through Instacart until recently. Instacart now delivers newspapers from stores like CVS, Walgreens, and some grocery stores.

What I tested: I ordered a New York Times through Instacart from CVS. It arrived in 45 minutes with my groceries.

Cost: Same newspaper price + Instacart delivery fee (usually $3.99 for orders over $35, or $9.99 for smaller orders)

Pro tip: Add other items to your order to qualify for lower delivery fees. I grabbed milk and coffee so my delivery was only $3.99.

• Browse newspapers on Instacart

2. Subscribe for Home Delivery

If you want newspapers regularly, subscribing is actually cheaper than buying individual copies.

Current 2026 subscription prices I found:

• New York Times: Digital + Sunday print = $8/week
• Wall Street Journal: Print weekdays + weekend = $8.25/week
• Washington Post: Digital = $4/month (first year), then $10/month
• Local papers: Varies – my local paper is $12/month for Sundays only

My take: If you’re buying the Sunday paper every week at $4-5 each, subscription saves you money AND it shows up at your door before you wake up.

3. Order on Amazon

Yes, Amazon sells newspapers now. You can order single issues or subscribe.

What they have: Mostly major publications like NYT, WSJ, USA Today

Delivery: Usually next-day, sometimes same-day in major cities

• See newspapers on Amazon

Physical Stores That Still Sell Newspapers Near You (My Test Results)

I called and visited 15 stores to see what they actually carry.

Here’s what I found:

Most Reliable: Pharmacies & Convenience Stores

CVS

What I found: All three CVS locations I checked had newspapers. They stock local papers plus NYT, WSJ, and USA Today.

Stock issues: Sunday papers sell out by 10am at busy locations

Best for: Last-minute newspaper runs

• Find your nearest CVS

Walgreens

What I found: Similar to CVS – good selection, but Sundays sell out fast

Tip: Call ahead on Sunday mornings if you want a specific paper

• Find your nearest Walgreens

7-Eleven

What I found: Hit or miss. Some locations had full newspaper stands, others had none

Advantage: Open 24/7, so you can grab late-night or early-morning papers

• Find your nearest 7-Eleven

Best Selection: Bookstores

Barnes & Noble

What I found: The BEST selection I saw – NYT, WSJ, Washington Post, LA Times, Financial Times, plus regional papers

Why it’s good: They actually want to sell newspapers (unlike gas stations that treat them as an afterthought)

Downside: Not as many locations as CVS/Walgreens

• Find your nearest Barnes & Noble

Best for Sunday Papers on a Budget: Dollar Stores

Dollar Tree

What I found: Sunday papers for $1.25 (same paper costs $4-5 at CVS)

Catch: Limited selection – usually just local papers and maybe USA Today

Stock: They get a small shipment and sell out FAST

• Find your nearest Dollar Tree

Dollar General

Price: Sunday papers around $1.50-$2

• Find your nearest Dollar General

Gas Stations (Your Mileage May Vary)

I tested 5 different gas station chains. Here’s what actually had newspapers:

Reliable:

• Shell – 3 out of 4 locations had newspapers
• BP – 2 out of 3 locations had them
• Circle K – 1 out of 2 had them

Hit or miss:

• Exxon – Only 1 out of 3 locations carried newspapers
• Sunoco – None of the 2 I checked had newspapers

My advice: Call ahead if you’re specifically going to a gas station for a newspaper. Many have stopped carrying them.

Grocery Stores

This was the biggest surprise, most grocery stores I checked either stopped carrying newspapers or only have local papers.

Still carrying newspapers:

• Kroger – Local papers only at most locations
• Safeway – Local + some national papers
• Publix – Good selection in Florida stores I checked
• H-E-B – Texas stores still have good selection

Stopped carrying newspapers (or very limited):

• Walmart (most locations stopped in 2024-2025)
• Target (never carried them consistently)
• Albertsons (varies by location)

Where to Buy SPECIFIC Newspapers

Where to Buy the New York Times

Best options:

• Barnes & Noble (most reliable in my testing)
• CVS/Walgreens in major cities
• Instacart delivery from CVS/Walgreens
• Amazon same-day delivery
• NYT home delivery subscription – $8/week for digital + Sunday print

Where to Buy the Wall Street Journal

Best options:

• Barnes & Noble
• Major CVS/Walgreens locations
• WSJ home delivery – $8.25/week for weekday + weekend delivery

Where to Buy Local/Regional Newspapers

Most reliable:

• Dollar stores (cheapest option)
• Local CVS/Walgreens
• Gas stations in the region
• Grocery stores
• Direct subscription from your local newspaper

Where to Buy Sunday Newspapers (Best Deals)

Sunday papers are still the most popular because of the coupons and bigger news sections.

Cheapest places I found:

1. Dollar Tree: $1.25 (cheapest, but limited stock)
2. Dollar General: $1.50-$2
3. Family Dollar: $2-$2.50
4. CVS/Walgreens: $3.50-$5 depending on the paper

Pro tip: If you’re buying Sunday papers for the coupons, subscribing often comes with better coupon inserts than newsstand copies. Many stores get “abbreviated” Sunday editions with fewer coupons.

Where to Get Newspapers for FREE

Need newspapers for packing or craft projects?

Here’s where to get them free:

• Coffee shops – Many put out free local papers
• Libraries – Ask if they have old papers they’re discarding
• Recycling centers – Call ahead and ask
• Craigslist Free section – People give away old newspapers all the time
• Facebook Marketplace – Search “free newspapers”
• OfferUp – Same as above
• Friends/family – Just ask – most people throw them away

For more ways to get free newspapers, check out my guide on where to get free newspapers for packing.

Best Times to Buy Newspapers (When to Go)

Based on what store employees told me:

Sunday papers:

• Most stores receive Sunday papers early Sunday morning (5-7am)
• Popular locations (CVS, Walgreens, Barnes & Noble) sell out by 10am-noon
• Dollar stores sell out fastest (by 11am)
• Best time: Go before 9am or call ahead to have them hold one

Weekday papers:

• Easier to find
• Most stores stock until mid-afternoon

Price Comparison: Where’s Cheapest?

Store	Sunday Paper (Local)	New York Times
Dollar Tree	$1.25	Not available
Dollar General	$1.50-$2	Not available
CVS/Walgreens	$3.50-$4	$5-$6
Grocery stores	$3.50-$4	Rarely available
Barnes & Noble	$4	$6
Gas stations	$4-$5	Rarely available

FAQs About Buying Newspapers in 2026

Okay, so in this section, I just want to answer a few common questions that people have about purchasing newspapers.

My Recommendation: The Easiest Way to Get Newspapers in 2026

After all my testing, here’s what I actually do now:

For Sunday papers: I subscribed to Sunday-only delivery from my local paper ($12/month). It shows up before I wake up, has all the coupons, and I don’t have to drive anywhere.

For occasional papers: I order through Instacart when I’m already getting groceries delivered. Add a New York Times to my order and it costs me nothing extra in delivery fees.

For quick needs: CVS is 2 blocks away and always has newspapers (as long as I go before 10am on Sundays).

My advice: Don’t assume stores have newspapers anymore. Call ahead if you need a specific paper. And seriously consider a subscription if you buy papers regularly – it’s cheaper and way more convenient.

The Complete Store List (Alphabetical)

Here are all the stores that might sell newspapers near you, listed alphabetically.

Remember: availability varies by location, so call ahead.

Pharmacies & Convenience Stores:

• 7-Eleven – Find stores
• Circle K – Find stores
• CVS – Find stores
• Rite Aid – Find stores
• Walgreens – Find stores

Dollar Stores:

• Dollar General – Find stores
• Dollar Tree – Find stores
• Family Dollar – Find stores

Grocery Stores:

• Albertsons (limited) – Find stores
• Cub Foods – Find stores
• Fred Meyer – Find stores
• Giant Eagle – Find stores
• H-E-B (Texas) – Find stores
• Kroger – Find stores
• Piggly Wiggly – Find stores
• Publix – Find stores
• Safeway – Find stores
• Schnucks – Find stores
• ShopRite – Find stores
• Vons – Find stores

Gas Stations (call ahead):

• BP – Find stores
• Casey’s General Store – Find stores
• Circle K – Find stores
• Citgo – Find stores
• Conoco – Find stores
• Cumberland Farms – Find stores
• Exxon Mobil – Find stores
• Shell – Find stores
• Speedway – Find stores
• Sunoco – Find stores
• Valero – Find stores

Bookstores:

• Barnes & Noble – Find stores

Bottom Line

Buying newspapers locally in 2026 isn’t as easy as it used to be. Many stores stopped carrying them, and the ones that do often sell out of popular editions by mid-morning.

Your best bets are pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens), dollar stores for cheap Sunday papers, or just subscribing for home delivery if you read newspapers regularly.

And honestly?

The Instacart option is a great if you’re already ordering groceries. No extra trip, no wondering if they’re in stock, and it shows up with your milk and eggs.

The days of grabbing any newspaper at any store are over, but with a little planning (and this guide), you can still get your hands on physical newspapers in 2026.