Cookout Near Me (2026): Find Locations & Hours

If you are craving a late-night burger tray or a thick milkshake, searching for a cookout near me is the fastest way to find your closest restaurant. Cook Out is a beloved Southern fast-food chain founded in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1989, and it has grown from a single drive-thru into a regional favorite with more than 350 restaurants across the Southeastern United States.

This guide covers how to find a Cook Out near you, which states have locations, typical opening hours, what to expect at the drive-thru, and where the chain is expanding next. Because new restaurants open regularly and hours can vary by location, always confirm details with the official Cook Out locator before you head out.

How to Find a Cook Out Near Me

Locating your nearest Cook Out takes less than a minute. Follow these steps to find locations, directions, and opening hours:

1. Use the official store locator on cookout.com to search by city, state, or zip code.
2. Search Google Maps for “Cook Out near me” to see the closest restaurants with live hours and directions.
3. Check the listed opening hours before driving, since closing times vary by location.
4. Call ahead during holidays or severe weather, when hours sometimes change.

A few practical tips will make your visit smoother:

• Cook Out locations get very busy after 10 PM, especially on weekends, so allow extra time in the drive-thru line.
• Most locations serve from drive-thru lanes and walk-up windows rather than indoor dining rooms.
• Cash and cards are both widely accepted, but policies can differ by store.

How Many Cook Out Locations Are There in 2026

As of 2026, there are more than 350 Cook Out locations operating in the United States, and the chain is still growing. Unlike most fast-food brands, Cook Out does not franchise every restaurant is company-owned, with the business still run by the Reaves family out of Thomasville, North Carolina. This model is one reason pricing and quality stay remarkably consistent from state to state.

Cookout Near Me: States With the Most Locations

Cook Out remains a firmly Southeastern chain. North Carolina alone holds roughly 40 percent of all locations, with the rest spread across ten more states. The approximate counts below shift as new restaurants open, so treat them as a current snapshot rather than exact figures.

Cook Out Hours: What Time Do They Open and Close

Cook Out is famous for late-night service, and many locations stay open well past midnight. Typical opening hours are:

These are standard hours, but some locations close earlier, around 2:00 AM, or keep slightly different schedules. Details vary by location, so verify your local restaurant’s hours before making a late-night trip.

What to Expect at a Cook Out: Drive-Thru and Walk-Up Service

The classic Cook Out layout features two drive-thru lanes and a walk-up window, with no traditional indoor dining room at most older locations. Newer restaurants increasingly add indoor seating and counter service, but drive-thru remains the signature experience. This setup keeps lines moving even when the lot is packed.

• Expect the signature Cook Out Tray: an entree, two sides, and a drink at a very low price.
• Milkshakes come in more than 40 flavors and can be added to a tray for a small upcharge.
• All beef is fresh and never frozen, ground at the company’s own commissary and delivered daily.
• Late-night crowds peak between 11 PM and 2 AM, when many competitors are already closed.

Is a Cook Out Near Me Coming Soon?

Cook Out is expanding faster now than at any point in its history. In late 2025 the chain announced at least 19 new restaurants across North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Virginia, and Florida, with many already open by 2026. Florida is the newest frontier: Pensacola opened in 2025, followed by Tampa Bay locations in 2026, with Jacksonville under construction. If you’re curious about how new locations come about, see our guide to Cookout franchise opportunities.

If you live outside the current footprint, the wait may continue. As of 2026, there are no confirmed Cook Out restaurants in Texas, California, or the Northeast, and the company has not announced plans to leave the Southeast. The closest options for Texans remain the locations in Mississippi and Alabama.

Tips for Visiting a Cook Out Near You

• Have your tray combination ready before you reach the speaker to keep the line moving.
• Check the official locator for the newest openings new locations are not always added to maps right away.
• Walk-up windows can be quicker than the drive-thru during peak late-night hours.
• Menus are consistent chain-wide, but limited-time items and shake flavors can vary by location.
• College towns are prime territory; if you are near a university in the Southeast, there is likely a Cook Out close by.

Whether you are a longtime regular or visiting a Cook Out for the first time, finding a cookout near me is simple thanks to the chain’s growing footprint and late-night hours. With more than 350 locations across 11 Southeastern states and more on the way your next tray and milkshake are probably closer than you think. Just remember that hours and opening status can vary by location, so a quick check on the official locator before you go is always worth it. And if you’d rather work at a Cook Out than just eat at one, explore Cookout careers for jobs, pay, and how to apply at locations near you. Planning an event for a big group? See our guide to catering a party with Cook Out party trays.