Cookout Hours 2026 – Opening & Closing Times, Late-Night & Holiday Schedule
Cookout opens at 10:30 AM. Most locations close at 3:00 AM on weekdays and 4:00 AM on weekends. That’s your answer.
But there’s more to know before you drive out.
Cookout Hours in 2026 are not the same at every location across the Southeast. Charlotte runs differently from Nashville. A holiday can shut things down with zero warning. The drive-thru stays open long after dine-in closes.
This page covers real-world Cookout hours, daily schedules, drive-thru times, holiday hours, and a state-by-state breakdown. No guessing. No outdated tables.
Cookout built its name on late-night meals, cookout trays, char-grilled burgers, and over 40 milkshake flavors. It serves lunch-goers, dinner crowds, and late-night snackers all at one location. Miss the closing window by 30 minutes, and you’re driving home empty.
Cookout Hours Today
Yes, Cookout Restaurant is open today.
Most locations start serving at 10:30 AM. Fridays and Saturdays run until 4:30 AM. Every other day closes around 3:00 AM. Those are the standard operational hours for today.
| Day | Opening Time | Closing Time |
| Monday – Thursday | 10:30 AM | 3:00 AM |
| Friday – Saturday | 10:30 AM | 4:30 AM |
| Sunday | 10:30 AM | 3:00 AM |
Today’s timings can shift. Special events, local staffing, or unexpected changes push closing times earlier. Holidays hit differently, too; some locations cut hours short. Pull up Google Maps before heading out. It shows real-time operational hours straight from the restaurant.
Standard Operating Cookout Hours
Cookout runs seven days a week. No off days. No mid-week closures. The kitchen stays live from late morning deep into the early hours of the next day.
| Day | Opening Hours | Closing Hours |
| 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 |
Friday and Saturday closing times stretch to 4:00 AM. Weekdays wrap at 3:00 AM, though high-traffic locations in urban areas and interstate corridors push to 3:30 AM. Local demand, city ordinances, and local staffing all affect the final closing time at your specific spot.
Dine-in and drive-thru don’t always match. The lobby closes earlier. The drive-thru keeps running 30 to 60 minutes past lobby hours, sometimes longer in college towns.
What Time Does Cookout Open?
Cookout opens at 10:30 AM, seven days a week, at most locations. A handful of locations start at 10:00 AM, mainly in smaller towns or newer markets, adjusting their daily schedule. The drive-thru opens at the same time. No separate start time for the window. Use the Cookout store locator on the official website, enter your ZIP code or city name for real-time hours at your nearest location.
What Time Does Cookout Close?
Weekdays (Monday through Thursday) close at 3:00 AM. Friday and Saturday nights run until 4:00 AM, sometimes 4:30 AM, depending on local demand and city size. Sunday nights follow the weekday schedule at 3:00 AM.
| Day | Closing Time |
| Sunday – Thursday | 3:00 AM |
| Friday – Saturday | 4:00 AM – 4:30 AM |
Three things pull closing times earlier than expected:
- City size and demand: Larger cities and college towns run the latest hours. Smaller communities close closer to midnight.
- Local staffing: A short-staffed night means an earlier close. It’s not common, but it happens.
- Bad weather or special events: Severe weather or local ordinances trigger earlier closures with no public notice.
When Does Cookout Open on Weekends?
Cookout keeps the same 10:30 AM opening time on Saturdays and Sundays. The closing time does not change the opening. Saturday nights run until 4:00 AM. Sunday nights close at 3:00 AM, matching the weekday schedule.
| Day | Opening Time | Closing Time |
| Saturday | 10:30 AM | 4:00 AM |
| Sunday | 10:30 AM | 3:00 AM |
Cookout Holiday Hours
Cookout stays open on most U.S. holidays. Three holidays are the exception: Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Most locations shut down completely on those dates.
| Holiday | Date (2026) | Status | Hours |
| New Year’s Day | January 1 | Open | Regular timings |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | January 20 | Open | Regular timings |
| Valentine’s Day | February 14 | Open | Regular timings |
| Presidents’ Day | February 17 | Open | Regular timings |
| Good Friday | April 18 | Open | Regular timings |
| Easter Sunday | April 20 | Closed | None |
| Easter Monday | April 21 | Open | Regular timings |
| Memorial Day | May 26 | Open | Regular timings |
| Juneteenth | June 19 | Open | Regular timings |
| Independence Day | July 4 | Open | Closes by 9 PM |
| Labor Day | September 1 | Open | Regular timings |
| Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples’ Day | October 13 | Open | Regular timings |
| Halloween | October 31 | Open | Regular timings |
| Veterans Day | November 11 | Open | Regular timings |
| Thanksgiving Day | November 27 | Closed | None |
| Black Friday | November 28 | Open | Regular timings |
| Christmas Eve | December 24 | Open | Closes by 7 PM |
| Christmas Day | December 25 | Closed | None |
| New Year’s Eve | December 31 | Open | Closes by 9 PM |
Independence Day, Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Eve see shortened hours. The drive-thru follows the same reduced schedule on those nights. Call your local store before making a special trip on any of these dates. Hours shift by location, city, and state.
Cookout Christmas Hours
Christmas Eve stays open at most locations. Expect a closing time around 7:00 PM, much earlier than the standard 3:00 AM close. Christmas Day is a full closure across all locations. No drive-thru. No walk-up window.
| Holiday | Is Cookout Open? | Hours |
| Christmas Eve | Yes | 10:30 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Christmas Day | No | Closed — all locations |
| Thanksgiving Day | No | Closed — all locations |
| New Year’s Eve | Yes | 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM |
New Year’s Day bounces back to regular timings the full 10:30 AM to 3:00 AM schedule returns. Christmas Eve before 6:00 PM is your window during Christmas week. The early close catches a lot of people off guard.
Cookout Hours on Christian Holidays
Two Christian holidays affect Cookout hours in 2026: Easter and Christmas.
| Holiday | Date (2026) | Status | Notes |
| Good Friday | April 18 | Open | Regular menu and hours |
| Easter Sunday | April 20 | Closed | All locations shut down |
| Easter Monday | April 21 | Open | Regular timings resume |
| Christmas Eve | December 24 | Open | Closes by 7:00 PM |
| Christmas Day | December 25 | Closed | All locations shut down |
Good Friday stays open with a regular menu. Easter Sunday is a full closure at all locations. Plan around Easter Sunday and Christmas Day; every other date on the calendar stays open.
Cookout Drive-Thru Hours
The drive-thru is the heart of Cookout. Most locations run drive-thru only, no indoor dining, no lobby seating. Two drive-thru lanes and a walk-up window serve burgers, trays, milkshakes, sides, and drinks deep into the night.
| Day | Drive-Thru Hours |
| Monday – Thursday | 10:30 AM – 3:00 AM |
| Friday – Saturday | 10:30 AM – 4:00 AM |
| Sunday | 10:30 AM – 3:00 AM |
High-traffic locations near universities and interstate corridors push further. Some spots in college towns run the drive-thru until 4:30 AM or 5:00 AM on Friday and Saturday nights. Where a lobby exists, indoor dining shuts down between 11:00 PM and midnight. After that, the drive-thru takes over as the only option. The Milkshake Menu stays active through closing at most locations. Online orders follow the same drive-thru schedule.
| Holiday | Drive-Thru Hours |
| Christmas Eve | Closes by 7:00 PM |
| Independence Day | Closes 1 hour early |
| Thanksgiving Day | Closed — all day |
| New Year’s Eve | Closes by 9:00 PM |
Christmas Day and Easter Sunday mean zero drive-thru service across all locations.
Cookout Dine-In Hours
Dine-in at Cookout is not guaranteed at every location. Most restaurants run a drive-thru only. A handful of newer locations added a lobby and indoor dining halls.
Where dine-in seating exists:
| Operating Days | Dine-In Hours |
| Monday – Thursday | 10:30 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Friday – Saturday | 10:30 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Sunday | 10:30 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Service Type | Closes |
| Dine-In / Lobby | 10:00 PM – 11:00 PM |
| Drive-Thru | 3:00 AM – 4:30 AM |
That gap catches people off guard. You pull up expecting to sit down, and the lobby is locked. After midnight, the drive-thru is your only option. Snack runs, late-night meals, and midnight trays all go through the window, not the front door. If indoor seating matters for your visit, check Google Maps before heading out.
Cookout Restaurant Lobby Hours
Cookout lobbies don’t run the same hours as the drive-thru, and they don’t exist at every location.
| Service | Lobby Hours |
| Daily (Where Available) | 10:30 AM – 10:00 PM |
Three things cut lobby times shorter than usual:
- Power issues: Indoor dining shuts immediately. The drive-thru sometimes keeps running.
- Cleaning schedules: Some locations close lobbies earlier on slower nights before the late-night drive-thru rush kicks in.
- Storms and extreme heat: Severe weather pushes lobby closures earlier with no public notice.
Outdoor seating follows the same lobby times. Patios close when the lobby closes, not when the drive-thru closes. Some standalone Cookout spots carry full outdoor seating. Others, particularly locations inside malls run no outdoor seating at all. The Nutrition Guide and Drinks Menu are both available on our website before your visit.
Cookout Restaurant Hours Across Various States
Cookout operates across 11 states in the Southeast. Every state follows the same general schedule: 10:30 AM opening, late-night closing, but local demand, events, and city size push individual locations outside those standard times.
| State | Hours | Days |
| North Carolina | 10:30 AM – 3:00 AM (Sun–Thu) / 4:00 AM (Fri–Sat) | 7 days a week |
| South Carolina | 10:30 AM – 3:00 AM (Sun–Thu) / 4:00 AM (Fri–Sat) | 7 days a week |
| Georgia | 10:30 AM – 3:00 AM (Sun–Thu) / 4:00 AM (Fri–Sat) | 7 days a week |
| Virginia | 10:30 AM – 3:00 AM (Sun–Thu) / 4:00 AM (Fri–Sat) | 7 days a week |
| Tennessee | 10:30 AM – 3:00 AM (Sun–Thu) / 4:00 AM (Fri–Sat) | 7 days a week |
| Alabama | 10:30 AM – 3:00 AM (Sun–Thu) / 4:00 AM (Fri–Sat) | 7 days a week |
| Mississippi | 10:30 AM – 3:00 AM (Sun–Thu) / 4:00 AM (Fri–Sat) | 7 days a week |
| Kentucky | 10:30 AM – 3:00 AM (Sun–Thu) / 4:00 AM (Fri–Sat) | 7 days a week |
| Florida | 10:30 AM – 3:00 AM (Sun–Thu) / 4:00 AM (Fri–Sat) | 7 days a week |
| Maryland | 10:30 AM – 3:00 AM (Sun–Thu) / 4:00 AM (Fri–Sat) | 7 days a week |
| West Virginia | 10:30 AM – 3:00 AM (Sun–Thu) / 4:00 AM (Fri–Sat) | 7 days a week |
City-level hours tell a more accurate story than state-level averages:
| City / Location | Address | Sun–Thu | Fri–Sat |
| Greensboro, NC | 2411 Battleground Ave | 10:30 AM – 3:00 AM | 10:30 AM – 4:00 AM |
| Raleigh, NC | 3930 Western Blvd | 10:30 AM – 4:00 AM | 10:30 AM – 5:00 AM |
| Charlotte, NC | 9705 N Tryon St | 10:30 AM – 4:00 AM | 10:30 AM – 5:00 AM |
| Nashville, TN | 5802 Charlotte Pike | 10:30 AM – 3:00 AM | 10:30 AM – 4:00 AM |
| Atlanta, GA | 1112 Northside Dr NW | 10:30 AM – 4:00 AM | 10:30 AM – 5:00 AM |
Raleigh, Charlotte, and Atlanta push to 4:00 AM on weeknights and 5:00 AM on Fri–Sat. Demand drives those extended hours. Smaller communities across Alabama, Mississippi, West Virginia, and Kentucky wrap up earlier, some as early as midnight on weekdays.
Is Cookout Open on Sundays?
Yes. Cookout is open on Sundays, all days of the week, no exceptions.
Sunday follows the same opening time as every other day. The kitchen starts at 10:30 AM and runs through late-night service until 3:00 AM. Burgers, trays, milkshakes, and sides stay on the full menu from open to close. Brunch crowds, dinner runs, and late-meal visits after midnight all get served.
The only difference Fridays and Saturdays push to 4:00 AM. Sunday drops back to 3:00 AM. That’s the one thing to keep in mind for Sunday late-night cravings.
Cookout Sunday Hours
| Day | Opening Time | Closing Time | Notes |
| Sunday | 10:30 AM | 3:00 AM | Late-night service available |
| Friday | 10:30 AM | 4:00 AM | Extended weekend hours |
| Saturday | 10:30 AM | 4:00 AM | Extended weekend hours |
| Regular Days (Mon–Thu) | 10:30 AM | 3:00 AM | Standard closing time |
A handful of high-traffic locations in college towns push Sunday closing times past 3:00 AM. Confirm your location’s hours on Google Maps before a Sunday late-night run.
How to Find Cookout Hours Near You
Cookout hours change by location, city, and state. Three methods get you the most accurate real-time hours fast.
- 🌐 Official Website Store Locator: Visit our website → Click the store locator tab → Enter your ZIP code or city name → Hit enter → Select your nearest location → Read the opening and closing hours for that spot.
- 🗺️ Google Maps Search: Open Google Maps → Search “Cookout near me” → Enable location services → Select the closest location → Check hours on the location card → Look for Open or Closed status with today’s closing time.
- 📱 Mobile App Locator: Download the Cookout app from App Store or Google Play → Tap the store locator → Allow location access → Select your nearest location → Check operational hours listed.
Cookout Phone Numbers
| Contact | Number |
| Head Office | (336) 724-7970 |
| Corporate Phone Number | (336) 431-1094 |
| Toll-Free Number | (866) 547-0011 |
| Customer Helpline | (866) 547-0011 |
For holiday visits or late-night trips past 2:00 AM, call ahead. Hours shift without public notice on those nights.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Time Does Cookout Open?
Cookout opens at 10:30 AM daily at most locations. A small number start at 10:00 AM, mainly in smaller towns or newer markets. Seven days a week, no mid-week breaks.
How Late Does Cookout Stay Open?
Cookout closes at 3:00 AM Sunday through Thursday. Fridays and Saturdays push to 4:00 AM, sometimes 4:30 AM at high-traffic spots in busy college towns.
Is Cookout Open 24 Hours a Day?
No. Cookout closes for 5 to 7 hours overnight. Most spots shut between 3:00 AM and 4:30 AM and reopen at 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM the next morning.
Does Cookout Close Early on Holidays?
Three holidays mean full closure: Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Christmas Eve closes by 7:00 PM. New Year’s Eve closes by 9:00 PM. Every other holiday runs regular timings.
What Are the Cookout Dine-In Hours?
Where a lobby exists, indoor dining halls close between 11:00 PM and midnight. After midnight, the drive-thru is the only option at every location, whether with a lobby or without a lobby.
Is Cookout Open on Christmas Day?
No. December 25 is a full closure at all locations, no drive-thru, no walk-up window, no online orders.
What Time Does Cookout Close on Christmas Eve?
Cookout closes by 7:00 PM on Christmas Eve. The drive-thru follows the same early close on December 24.
Can I Use the Drive-Thru Late at Night?
Yes. The drive-thru runs until 3:00 AM on weekdays and 4:00 AM on weekends. After midnight, it’s the only active service at every Cookout location.
Are Cookout Hours the Same Everywhere?
No. Local staffing, state rules, local ordinances, and foot traffic all affect closing times at each specific restaurant. A Cookout in a college town runs later than one in a smaller community.
Is Cookout Open on Sundays?
Yes. Cookout runs seven days a week. Sunday closes at 3:00 AM, one hour earlier than Friday and Saturday nights.
How Can I Find Cookout Hours Near Me?
Search “Cookout Hours Near Me” on Google Maps for real-time hours. Use the store locator at cookout.com or the Cookout mobile app. For holiday or late-night visits past 2:00 AM, call your nearest location directly.
Conclusion
Cookout runs seven days a week across 11 Southeast states. Most locations open at 10:30 AM and close at 3:00 AM on weekdays. Fridays and Saturdays stretch to 4:00 AM. The drive-thru outlasts the lobby every single night.
Three dates close everything in 2026 on Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Christmas Eve wraps at 7:00 PM. New Year’s Eve cuts off at 9:00 PM. Every other day on the calendar stays open on regular timings.
Dine-in is not available at every location. Where lobbies exist, indoor dining shuts between 11:00 PM and midnight. Late-night meals, midnight trays, post-game burgers, and after-work milkshake runs all go through the drive-thru, not the front door.