Looking for a Cook Out near you? Cook Out, the beloved Southern fast-food chain founded in 1989 by Morris Reaves in Greensboro, North Carolina, has grown from a single drive-thru into one of America’s most talked-about regional restaurant brands. As of mid-2026, there are over 350 Cook Out restaurant locations spread across 11 states in the Southeastern United States, and the chain is still expanding. This guide covers every state where Cook Out operates, provides accurate store counts, shares details on new openings, and helps you find Cook Out directions to the nearest restaurant using the Cook Out map and store locator.

Whether you are a lifelong fan searching for the Cookout closest to home, a college student craving a late-night Cookout Tray, or a road tripper passing through the Southeast, this page is your most detailed resource for Cookout locations in the US. We checked the official store locator and other available sources to compile the state counts to give you the most accurate picture available.

How Many Cookout Restaurant Locations Exist in 2026?

Cook Out operates between 350 and 377 locations across 11 U.S. states as of mid-2026. Unlike most fast-food brands, Cook Out does not franchise; every single location is company-owned and operated by the Reaves family business, headquartered in Thomasville, North Carolina. This model ensures consistent quality, pricing, and service across all Cook Out locations.

The chain’s dual drive-thru layout, walk-up window service, and late-night hours have made it a regional icon. Most Cook Out locations stay open from 10:30 AM until 3:00 AM or 4:00 AM daily, giving customers one of the longest operating windows in fast food. For detailed hour-by-hour breakdowns, check our Cookout Hours guide.

Cook Out Locations by State 2026 Data

The table below breaks down restaurant counts by state. and each state’s share of the total footprint.

Nearly 66% of all Cook Out locations are concentrated in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. This tight regional focus is deliberate; Cook Out prioritizes operational efficiency and brand loyalty over rapid national expansion.

State-by-State Cookout Locations Breakdown

North Carolina — 139 Locations (Home State)

North Carolina is where it all started, and the state now has 139 Cook Out restaurant locations across more than 100 cities. Charlotte leads with 13 locations, followed by Greensboro (7), Winston-Salem (6), Raleigh (5), and Durham (5). You will find Cook Out in major metros, college towns like Chapel Hill, Boone, and Greenville, and smaller communities alike. The state offers one Cook Out for roughly every 75,500 residents, the best access ratio anywhere. If you’re trying Cook Out for the first time, a North Carolina location is where the experience feels most authentic.

South Carolina — 51 Locations

South Carolina was Cook Out’s first out-of-state expansion when the 74th restaurant opened in Spartanburg on July 30, 2010. Today, the state has 51 locations across Columbia (6), Greenville (4), Spartanburg (3), Charleston (3), Florence (3), and Myrtle Beach (3). The Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head locations are especially popular with vacationers, while Columbia draws heavy University of South Carolina student traffic.

Georgia — 47 Locations

Georgia has 47 Cook Out locations, anchored by Atlanta’s metro area with spots on Moreland Avenue, Northside Drive, and Ponce De Leon Avenue. Augusta (4), Athens (3), and Savannah (2) are other major hubs. Smaller cities like Valdosta, Statesboro, and Cordele also have restaurants along the I-75 and I-85 corridors.

Tennessee — 42 Locations

Tennessee hosts 42 locations, with Memphis (5), Knoxville (4), Nashville (4), Chattanooga (3), and Johnson City (3) leading the way. The Pigeon Forge location near the Great Smoky Mountains is popular with tourists, while college-town spots in Cookeville and Martin serve nearby universities. Nashville’s growth has been especially strong. Try one of their milkshakes with your visit; the menu features 40+ flavors at every location.

Virginia — 42 Locations

Virginia matches Tennessee with 42 locations. The Virginia Beach and Norfolk area has the densest cluster, with multiple restaurants on Military Highway, Little Creek Road, and General Booth Boulevard. Richmond, Charlottesville (UVA), Blacksburg (Virginia Tech), and Harrisonburg (JMU) are also well served. The Manassas Park location is the closest cookout to Washington, D.C.

Alabama — 16 Locations

Alabama has 16 restaurants in Birmingham (2), Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, Auburn, Montgomery, Mobile, Dothan, and other cities. The college-town presence is strong near the University of Alabama and Auburn University. For nutritional details on what to order, check our Cookout Nutrition guide.

Kentucky, Mississippi, West Virginia, Maryland

Kentucky has 12 locations in cities like Bowling Green, Lexington, and Richmond. Mississippi has 8 restaurants across Jackson (2), Hattiesburg, Oxford, Columbus, Meridian, and Olive Branch. West Virginia has 4 locations in Beckley, Charleston, Cross Lanes, and Huntington. Maryland has a single Cook Out in Salisbury, the chain’s northernmost outpost.

Florida — 2 Open + Expansion Underway

Florida is Cook Out’s newest and most exciting market. The chain opened its first Florida location in Pensacola in July 2025, followed by Tallahassee. Three new Tampa Bay Cook Out restaurants are confirmed: Temple Terrace (5501 East Fowler Avenue, near USF, opened late July 2026), Carrollwood (16215 North Dale Mabry Highway), and St. Petersburg. A Jacksonville location at 14016 Beach Boulevard is also under construction.

Is Cookout in Texas?

One of the most frequently searched questions is whether Cook Out in Texas exists. As of August 2026, Cook Out does not have any confirmed open restaurants in Texas. While some sources have referenced expansion plans, no Cook Out restaurant is currently operating in the Lone Star State. The search term “cookout Texas” generates significant monthly volume, reflecting strong demand from Texas residents who have visited Cook Out while traveling.

If the chain does expand to Texas, it would mark a major leap beyond its Southeastern footprint. For now, the closest Cook Out locations for Texans are in Mississippi or Alabama.

New Cookout Locations and Recent Openings

Cook Out has been actively expanding throughout 2025 and 2026, focusing on suburban markets around Charlotte, Nashville, and Atlanta. Here are notable Cook Out new locations:

Upcoming confirmed sites include locations in Carrollwood (FL), St. Petersburg (FL), Jacksonville (FL), Charlotte (NC), Harrisburg (NC), Virginia Beach (VA), and more. Cook Out typically opens new cookout locations with minimal announcement, letting word-of-mouth do the marketing.

Cookout Closing Time and Operating Hours

Most cookouts follow this schedule:

These hours make Cook Out one of the few fast-food chains open well past midnight every night. The Cook Out closing time varies slightly by location; some close at 2:00 AM, others stay open until 4:00 AM. Always verify using the Cookout location map or by calling ahead. For holiday hours and seasonal changes, visit Cookout Hours.

How to Find Cookout Directions and the Location Map

Finding Cookout directions to the nearest restaurant is simple.

Store Locator: Visit our Cookout Locator and enter city or state. The Cook Out location map shows nearby restaurants with addresses, phone numbers, and hours. You can filter by state and adjust the search radius up to 1,000 miles.

Google Maps or Apple Maps: Search “Cook Out near me” for real-time data on hours, reviews, and turn-by-turn Cook Out directions. The official Cook Out map is the most reliable source because it includes newly opened locations that may not yet appear on third-party services.

Cook Out Restaurants in Major Cities

Charlotte, North Carolina, tops the list with 13 Cook Out restaurants, making it the single most concentrated Cook Out city in the country. Greensboro follows with 7, Winston-Salem with 6, and Columbia, South Carolina, with 6. Memphis, Raleigh, and Durham each have 5 locations, while Nashville, Knoxville, Augusta, Greenville, Wilmington, and Virginia Beach each host 4. If you are in any of these cities, you are never more than a few minutes from a Cook Out drive-thru.

The chain’s site selection consistently favors three types of locations: college towns (Chapel Hill, Blacksburg, Auburn, and Athens); highway-adjacent spots along interstates like I-85 and I-95, and suburban commercial corridors in growing metro areas. This formula has proven remarkably effective at generating high traffic volume with minimal advertising spend.

States Without Cookout Locations

Cook Out is absent from most U.S. states. No Cook Out locations exist in California, Texas, New York, Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, or any Western, Midwestern, or Northeastern state. The company prioritizes depth over breadth, saturating existing markets before entering new ones. The Florida expansion in 2025-2026 is the first major step beyond the traditional footprint and could pave the way for further growth.

If you don’t have a Cook Out nearby, you may need to travel to the Southeast to try their char-grilled burgers, BBQ plates, or legendary milkshakes. Plan a trip to the Southeast. You can also check Cookout delivery availability through third-party apps.

What Makes Cookout Restaurants Unique?

Cook Out restaurants stand apart from typical fast-food chains. Most use a dual drive-thru lane system for faster service, with walk-up windows rather than traditional indoor dining. The Cookout menu is built around value; the signature Cook Out Tray lets you choose an entree, two sides, and a drink for roughly $5 to $7. Popular sides include fries, hushpuppies, onion rings, corn dogs, and quesadillas. The milkshake menu alone features 40+ flavors.

All Cook Out meat is fresh and never frozen, ground at the company’s own commissary in Greensboro and delivered daily. This vertically integrated supply chain keeps prices low while maintaining quality.

A Brief History of Cook Out’s Growth

Morris Reaves, a former Wendy’s franchise operator in North Carolina’s Triad region, opened the first Cook Out on Randleman Road in Greensboro in 1989. The concept was simple: char-grilled burgers, hot dogs, and milkshakes served through a drive-thru window with an outdoor cooking style. By 1998, the chain had reached 10 locations, all in North Carolina. A dedicated meat commissary was established in Greensboro in 1999 to maintain quality at scale.

Cook Out remained exclusively a North Carolina brand until July 30, 2010, when the 74th location opened in Spartanburg, South Carolina. From there, expansion moved into Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, West Virginia, and Maryland. Jeremy Reaves, Morris’s son, now serves as CEO and has overseen growth from fewer than 100 locations to over 350. The company remains privately owned, does not franchise, and is famously press-shy; Jeremy Reaves has not given an in-depth media interview in years. Cook Out’s marketing strategy relies almost entirely on word-of-mouth, social media buzz, and the strength of its value proposition. Revenue is estimated at around $125 million annually.

Interested in joining the team? Entry-level pay typically ranges from $13 to $16 per hour, with management roles earning $48,000 to $80,000+. Visit our Cookout Careers page for current openings.

Frequently Asked Questions