Cookout Hours 2026 What Time Does Cookout Open and Close?
You’re hungry. It’s late. Before you drive across town, here’s everything you need to know. Check the complete Cookout Menu so you know what to order before you arrive. This guide covers Cookout’s opening times, closing times, drive-thru vs lobby hours, holiday schedule, and how to confirm your nearest location. No filler. Just the facts.
Cookout Hours 2026 Regular Daily Schedule
Most Cookout locations open at 10:30 AM, seven days a week. They serve the full menu from the moment they open. There is no limited early menu or breakfast-only period.
| Day | Opens | Closes |
| Monday | 10:30 AM | 3:00 AM |
| Tuesday | 10:30 AM | 3:00 AM |
| Wednesday | 10:30 AM | 3:00 AM |
| Thursday | 10:30 AM | 3:00 AM |
| Friday | 10:30 AM | 4:00 AM |
| Saturday | 10:30 AM | 4:00 AM |
| Sunday | 10:30 AM | 3:00 AM |
A small number of locations open at 11:00 AM instead. Always confirm with your nearest store before heading out.
What Time Does Cookout Close And Why It’s Later Than You Think
Most fast-food chains shut down by 10 or 11 PM. Cookout closes at 3:00 AM on weekdays and 4:00 AM on Friday and Saturday. That gap is intentional.
Cook Out built its brand around late-night service from the beginning. College students, shift workers, and post-game crowds are core to who they serve. Locations near universities like the University of South Carolina in Columbia, the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, and UNC Chapel Hill consistently stay open the latest.
One important tip: on busy Friday and Saturday nights, the drive-thru line may close a few minutes before the official time. Arrive at least 10 to 15 minutes early to be safe.
Cookout Drive Thru Hours Open Later Than the Lobby
The drive-thru and the lobby do not close at the same time. This is where many people get caught off guard. Cook Out serves its full menu right up to closing time, including everything on the Cookout Secret Menu.
| Service | Typical Close Time |
| Drive-Thru | 3:00 AM (weekdays) / 4:00 AM (weekends) |
| Lobby / Dine-In | 10:00 PM to midnight (varies by location) |
After midnight, the drive-thru is your only option at most locations. Cook Out uses a dual-lane drive-thru at most restaurants. Both lanes move at the same speed. Pick either one and you will get served at the same pace.
During late-night rushes on weekends, the line can get long. It moves faster than it looks. Stay in the car and let the system work.
Cookout Lobby and Dine-In Hours
The lobby opens at 10:30 AM at most locations. It closes earlier than the drive-thru, usually between 10:00 PM and midnight.
Some Cook Out locations are drive-thru only and have no lobby at all. The standard restaurant format features two drive-thru lanes and a walk-up window. Newer locations in some areas have added indoor seating, but most do not.
Outdoor seating, where available, follows the same hours as the lobby. It may close earlier during extreme heat or bad weather.
If you plan to eat inside, check your local location before going, search by ZIP code to confirm whether a lobby is available.
Cookout Holiday Hours 2026 What’s Open and What’s Closed
Cook Out stays open on most holidays throughout the year. Full menu including Cookout Burgers available on all open holidays. There are three days when all locations close.
Closed on these three days:
- Christmas Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Easter Sunday
Every other major holiday runs on regular hours or close to it.
| Holiday | Status | Notes |
| New Year’s Day | Open | Regular hours |
| New Year’s Eve | Open | May close slightly early |
| Christmas Eve | Open | Closes early, often by 6–8 PM |
| Christmas Day | Closed | All locations |
| Thanksgiving Day | Closed | All locations |
| Easter Sunday | Closed | All locations |
| Easter Monday | Open | Regular hours |
| Good Friday | Open | Regular hours |
| Black Friday | Open | Regular hours |
| Memorial Day | Open | Regular hours |
| Independence Day (July 4th) | Open | Regular hours |
| Labor Day | Open | Regular hours |
| Halloween | Open | Regular hours |
| Valentine’s Day | Open | Regular hours |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Open | Regular hours |
| Presidents’ Day | Open | Regular hours |
| Veterans Day | Open | Regular hours |
| Juneteenth | Open | Regular hours |
| St. Patrick’s Day | Open | Regular hours |
Cookout Christmas Hours
Cook Out closes on Christmas Day at all locations. On Christmas Eve, most restaurants stay open but shut down earlier than usual. Many locations close between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM on Christmas Eve.
Do not plan a late-night Christmas Eve run. Go earlier in the day to be safe.
Cookout Thanksgiving Hours
All locations close on Thanksgiving Day. The Wednesday before Thanksgiving runs on regular hours. Black Friday also runs on regular hours. Plan your visit for either of those days instead.
Cookout Hours on Sundays
Yes, Cook Out is open every Sunday. Sunday hours follow the same weekday schedule.
- Opens: 10:30 AM
- Closes: 3:00 AM
Sunday does not get the extended 4:00 AM closing that Friday and Saturday receive. College town locations may stay open slightly later on Sunday nights after campus events, but this varies.
State Wise Cookout Hours
Cook Out operates in 11 states across the Southeast. Hours are not identical across all locations. Local ordinances, staffing, and customer demand all affect closing time. Full Cookout Sides Menu is available during all open hours.
| State | Locations | Typical Closing Time |
| North Carolina | 100+ | 3:00 AM to 4:30 AM |
| Virginia | 60+ | 3:00 AM to 4:00 AM |
| South Carolina | 40+ | 3:00 AM to 4:00 AM |
| Tennessee | 30+ | 2:00 AM to 3:00 AM |
| Georgia | 30+ | 3:00 AM |
| Alabama | 20+ | 2:00 AM to 3:00 AM |
| Kentucky | 10+ | 3:00 AM to 5:00 AM |
| Mississippi | 10+ | 2:00 AM to 3:00 AM |
| West Virginia | 5+ | 2:00 AM to 3:00 AM |
| Maryland | 5+ | 3:00 AM |
| Florida | New | 3:00 AM |
North Carolina is the home state. Locations there generally stay open the latest. Lexington, Kentucky is one of the latest-closing locations in the entire chain, sometimes serving until 5:00 AM on weekends. Smaller towns and rural locations close earlier, often by 11:00 PM.
How to Find Cookout Hours Near You
General hours give you a starting point. Your specific location may differ. Plan your meal ahead with the Cookout Calorie Calculator. Here are four ways to get the exact time for your nearest Cook Out.
Official Website: Go to cookout.com. Open the Store Locator. Type in your ZIP code, city, or state. The result shows your nearest location, its current hours, and a phone number.
Google Maps: Search “Cookout near me” with location enabled. Google pulls real-time data and shows whether the location is currently open or closed. It also shows the busiest hours of the day, which helps you time your visit.
Apple Maps: Works the same as Google Maps. Useful if you are on an iPhone and want quick directions alongside the hours.
Cookout Mobile App: Download from the App Store or Google Play. Use the store locator inside the app for hours, directions, and menu access.
Best times to visit for a short wait: Between 10:30 AM and noon, or between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM. The lunch rush runs from noon to 1:30 PM. The late-night rush runs from 11:00 PM to 2:00 AM on weekends. On holidays, call the location directly. Google Maps does not always update in time for short-notice changes.
Late-Night Visit Tips That Actually Help
Cook Out serves its full menu right up to closing time. There is no separate late-night menu with fewer options. The Cookout Tray Menu, Cookout Milkshakes Menu, burgers, and chicken are all available until the last order. The full Cookout Drinks Menu is also available until last order.
A few things to keep in mind for late visits:
Some specialty sides and drinks may run out very late in the night. Order the items you came for first before adding extras.
The lobby is likely closed after midnight. Go straight to the drive-thru. Both lanes work equally well.
On a busy Saturday night, the line can look intimidating. It moves quickly. The dual-lane design exists specifically for high-volume late-night traffic.
Final Thoughts
Cookout opens at 10:30 AM and closes between 3:00 AM and 4:00 AM depending on the day. The drive-thru outlasts the lobby at almost every location. Three holidays mean a closed door: Christmas Day, Thanksgiving, and Easter Sunday.
Bookmark this page for reference. Also explore the Cookout Ice Cream Menu and check the Cookout Allergen Menu for dietary needs. Always confirm your specific store’s hours on Google Maps before heading out, especially on holidays or late at night. Hours shift as Cook Out expands into new markets and adapts to local demand.