Holiday Package Shipping Deadlines for Christmas 2012

If you want Santa Claus to arrive on time with holiday packages to military, international or U.S. destinations, the U.S. Postal Service has announced the dates those packages must be in the mail. So has FedEx and UPS.

Here's what you need to know to get your packages to their destinations on time.

Post Office Locations

In the St. Charles area, there is a U.S. post office at 112 S 5th St, Saint Charles, MO 63301. 

Postal Service Shipping Deadlines

Military Shipping Deadlines*

Parcel Post service to all APO/FPO/DPO addresses was Nov. 13. Priority and First Class Mail must be sent by Dec. 3 to APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIP 093, and Dec. 10 to all other military addresses. 

*The deadline for Dec. 25 delivery to Africa and Central and South America is Dec. 3. For more details on military and international mailing, visit the USPS website.

FedEx Deadlines

The deadline for FedEx Ground delivery by Christmas is Dec. 17. FedEx overnight services sent by Dec. 22 will get you there on time. And FedEx Same Day service will be operating on Christmas Day.

The closest FedEx World Service Center is at 13342 Lake Front Dr, Earth City, MO 63045. The office is open from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. It is closed on Sunday. There's a FedEx Office Print & Ship Center at 7120 Mexico Rd in St. Peters, MO 63376. The phone number is (636) 970-7005.

UPS Deadlines

The UPS schedule notes that packages can be sent by air, international and ground by Dec. 20. UPS Next Day Air packages picked up on that day will arrive Friday, Dec. 21. UPS 2nd Day Air packages picked up that day will arrive on Dec. 24. 

There are UPS drop boxes at The Sleep Inn. The UPS Store is at 498 South Fifth Street and 2025 Zumbehl Road.