Millions of Americans are turning to urgent care centers. As of mid-2025, there were 15,116 facilities in the U.S.—almost twice as many as the 7,983 centers that existed in 2015, according to the Urgent Care Association, an industry group.
A big reason for this shift is a chronic shortage of primary care doctors, which is making it harder than ever to get medical appointments. And hospital emergency rooms often have long wait times; averages at many facilities range from nearly two hours to more than five hours. Care at urgent care clinics, on the other hand, usually takes about an hour, and many clinics are open into early-evening hours and on weekends.
But there are things you should consider before seeking help at an urgent care center. See my story in Consumers’ Checkbook to learn more about what to know about urgent care.
