📍 Shelby, North Carolina • 1 Store • 6 Nearby • 2026
Cook Out Shelby NC — Location, Hours & Prices (2026)
Shelby has one Cook Out, at 308 Earl Rd just off Dixon Blvd near Lowe’s. Six more stores are within about 23 miles in Kings Mountain, Gaffney, Forest City, Gastonia and Lincolnton.
One Shelby store on Earl Rd. Most Cook Outs open 10:30 AM–3 AM, 4 AM Fri–Sat. Cookout Tray about $7.39–$7.99.
This guide covers the Cook Out in Shelby, NC, on Earl Rd off Dixon Blvd, plus the nearest stores in Kings Mountain, Gaffney, Forest City, Gastonia and Lincolnton. It also covers hours, tray prices, directions from US-74 and I-85, and late-night tips for Gardner-Webb and Cleveland Community College students. Store addresses come from the Cook Out store locator (October 2026).
Last verified: October 2026 | Sources: Cook Out store locator (October 2026), Lowe’s store locator, Cleveland County commercial listings
How Many Cook Out Locations Are in Shelby?
Shelby has one Cook Out: 308 Earl Rd, Shelby, NC 28150, just off Dixon Blvd near Lowe’s, about a mile south of uptown. It is the only Cook Out in Shelby and in Cleveland County outside Kings Mountain, according to the Cook Out store locator (October 2026).
Some older web pages list two Shelby stores on E Dixon Blvd and W Dixon Blvd. Those addresses are not in Cook Out’s current locator. The Earl Rd store is the one to use. It sits in the Dixon Blvd shopping area south of uptown, close to Atrium Health Cleveland, Cleveland Community College and the big-box stores along the US-74 corridor.
The next-closest Cook Out is in Kings Mountain at 711 York Rd, about 12.5 miles east, near I-85. Across the state line, Gaffney, SC is about 15.5 miles south, and Forest City is about 20.8 miles west in Rutherford County. Like most Cook Out locations, the Shelby store typically opens at 10:30 AM and stays open until about 3 AM Sunday through Thursday and 4 AM on Friday and Saturday. Hours can vary by store.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Cook Out stores in Shelby | 1 (308 Earl Rd) |
| Nearest store outside Shelby | Kings Mountain, 711 York Rd, about 12.5 mi |
| Open Cook Out stores in North Carolina | 144 (October 2026) |
| Coming soon nearby | None listed within 30 miles |
| Typical hours | 10:30 AM to about 3 AM (4 AM Fri–Sat) |
Where Is the Cook Out in Shelby, and What Are the Closest Others?
The Shelby Cook Out is at 308 Earl Rd, and six more Cook Out stores are within about 23 miles in Kings Mountain, Gaffney, Forest City, Gastonia and Lincolnton. Addresses come from the Cook Out store locator (October 2026). Tap any card for Google Maps directions. Distances are straight-line miles from uptown Shelby, so the actual drive is a bit longer.
| Area | Stores | Cities | Main roads |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside Shelby | 1 | Shelby | Dixon Blvd (US-74 corridor) • Earl Rd • NC-18 • NC-150 |
| Nearby Cook Out locations | 6 | Kings Mountain, Gaffney, Forest City, Gastonia, Lincolnton | I-85 • US-74 • US-321 • I-85 (SC) |
1. Inside Shelby — 1 Cook Out location
Earl Rd runs off Dixon Blvd in Shelby’s main shopping district. Lowe’s is just up the road at 425 Earl Rd, and a Walgreens and a row of fast-food restaurants line the Dixon Blvd frontage. From uptown, head south on S Lafayette St or S Washington St to Dixon Blvd. The store is about a mile from Court Square.
Cook Out Shelby
308 Earl Road, Shelby, NC 28150
Earl Rd just off Dixon Blvd, near Lowe’s, south of uptown Shelby
2. Nearby Cook Out locations — 6 Cook Out locations
These six stores are 12.5 to 23.2 miles from Shelby. Kings Mountain is the closest backup and the easiest stop for I-85 traffic. Gaffney serves drivers heading into South Carolina. Forest City covers the Rutherford County side to the west, and Gastonia and Lincolnton are the choices for trips toward Charlotte or Lincoln County.
Cook Out Kings Mountain
711 York Rd, Kings Mountain, NC 28086
12.5 mi; York Rd in Kings Mountain, near I-85
Cook Out Gaffney, SC
1513 W Floyd Baker Rd, Gaffney, SC 29341
15.5 mi; W Floyd Baker in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC
Cook Out Forest City
130 Grace Way, Forest City, NC 28043
20.8 mi; Grace Way in Forest City, Rutherford County, west on US-74
Cook Out Gastonia – S Union Rd
2113 S. Union Road, Gastonia, NC 28054
21.2 mi; S Union Rd on Gastonia’s south side
Cook Out Lincolnton
1437 E. Main Street, Lincolnton, NC 28093
21.5 mi; E Main St in Lincolnton, the Lincoln County seat
Cook Out Gastonia – E Franklin Blvd
2810 East Franklin Blvd., Gastonia, NC 28056
23.2 mi; E Franklin Blvd in east Gastonia
Which Cook Out Is Closest to My Part of Cleveland County?
For Shelby and most of central and western Cleveland County, the Earl Rd store is the closest Cook Out. East-county towns near I-85 are closer to Kings Mountain, and the southern edge near the state line can be about as close to Gaffney.
| If you are in… | Closest Cook Out | Route |
|---|---|---|
| Uptown Shelby / Court Square | Shelby – Earl Rd | S Lafayette St or S Washington St to Dixon Blvd |
| Boiling Springs / Gardner-Webb | Shelby – Earl Rd | East on NC-150 into Shelby |
| Polkville / Lawndale / Fallston | Shelby – Earl Rd | South on NC-226 or NC-18 into Shelby |
| Kings Mountain / Grover | Kings Mountain | York Rd near I-85 |
| Earl / Patterson Springs (south) | Shelby – Earl Rd or Gaffney, SC | North to Dixon Blvd, or south across the state line |
| Lattimore / Mooresboro (west) | Shelby – Earl Rd or Forest City | US-74 east to Shelby or west to Forest City |
| Cherryville (Gaston County) | Lincolnton or Shelby | Compare drive times; both are 20-plus minutes |
Shelby’s street grid funnels traffic onto Dixon Blvd, which can be slow around the shopping centers at dinnertime. After about 9 PM it clears out, and the drive from anywhere in town is usually under 10 minutes.
How Do I Get to the Shelby Cook Out From US-74, I-85 or NC-18?
Head for Dixon Blvd in south Shelby and turn onto Earl Rd near Lowe’s. From Charlotte or Kings Mountain, follow US-74 west into Shelby. From Forest City and Rutherford County, follow US-74 east.
- US-74: the main east–west route through Cleveland County, linking Shelby with Kings Mountain and I-85 to the east and with Forest City and Rutherfordton to the west. The Dixon Blvd corridor carries this traffic through Shelby’s commercial strip.
- I-85: passes Kings Mountain, about 12 miles east of Shelby. Interstate travelers who just want the closest Cook Out to the highway should use the Kings Mountain store on York Rd rather than drive into Shelby.
- NC-18: runs north to Fallston and on toward Morganton, and south toward the South Carolina line.
- NC-150: connects Shelby with Boiling Springs and Gardner-Webb University to the west.
- NC-226: runs north from Shelby toward Polkville and the South Mountains side of the county.
Shelby is roughly 45 miles west of uptown Charlotte. If you are driving out from Charlotte, you will pass Cook Out stores in Gastonia and Kings Mountain before you reach Shelby. The Shelby store is still the right stop if you are heading on to Gardner-Webb, Lake Lure or the mountains via US-74.
What Is the Cook Out Scene Like in Shelby?
Shelby is the Cleveland County seat, with about 22,000 residents at the 2020 census, and one Cook Out serves the whole city. The store sits in the Dixon Blvd retail district, where most of the city’s national chains are, rather than in the historic uptown.
The city: Uptown Shelby centers on Court Square and the 1907 Cleveland County Courthouse, which now houses the Earl Scruggs Center, a museum honoring the banjo legend born in Cleveland County. The Don Gibson Theatre, named for the country songwriter from Shelby, is a few blocks away.
The food culture: Shelby has a serious barbecue tradition. Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge on E Dixon Blvd and Alston Bridges Barbecue on E Grover St are local institutions, and livermush is a breakfast staple across Cleveland County. Cook Out fits in as the cheap, late-night option, not as a replacement for those places.
The wider network: Cook Out was founded in 1989 in Greensboro by Morris Reaves and has 144 open stores in North Carolina as of October 2026. Cleveland County has two: Shelby and Kings Mountain. The rest of the area’s stores are spread across Gaston, Lincoln and Rutherford counties and upstate South Carolina.
We have not found a reliable public record of when the Earl Rd store opened, so this guide does not give an opening date. Cook Out’s locator lists no new stores coming soon within 30 miles of Shelby as of October 2026.
Is There a Cook Out Near Gardner-Webb, Cleveland Community College or the Hospital?
Yes. The Earl Rd Cook Out is the closest late-night food stop for Cleveland Community College, Atrium Health Cleveland and Gardner-Webb University students willing to drive into Shelby. It is usually open past midnight, when most of Shelby has closed for the night.
Gardner-Webb University Gardner-Webb is in Boiling Springs, west of Shelby on NC-150. Boiling Springs has no Cook Out of its own, so students drive into Shelby to the Earl Rd store, usually about 15 to 20 minutes.
Cleveland Community College The community college campus is on the east side of Shelby near Dixon Blvd. The Cook Out on Earl Rd is a short drive west along the same corridor.
Atrium Health Cleveland The hospital on E Grover St is about a mile from the Earl Rd store, a quick option for night-shift nurses and visitors after the cafeteria closes.
American Legion World Series Shelby hosts the American Legion World Series at Keeter Stadium. Visiting teams and families who want a cheap post-game meal can use the drive-thru.
Crest and Shelby High Schools After Friday night football, families from around the county end up on Dixon Blvd. Order ahead mentally; the drive-thru line gets long.
Kings Mountain National Military Park The battlefield park and Crowders Mountain State Park are closer to the Kings Mountain Cook Out on York Rd than to Shelby.
What Time Does the Shelby Cook Out Close?
Most Cook Out restaurants, including the Shelby store, typically open at 10:30 AM and close around 3 AM Sunday through Thursday and 4 AM on Friday and Saturday. Hours vary by store and can change on holidays or when the store is short-staffed, so check the Cook Out locator or call before a late drive.
Late-night tip: Very late at night, many Cook Out stores serve through the drive-thru only. In Shelby, the Earl Rd store is often one of the few places still serving hot food after midnight.
| Day | Typical open | Typical close |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday–Thursday | 10:30 AM | about 3:00 AM |
| Friday–Saturday | 10:30 AM | about 4:00 AM |
| Major holidays | Varies | May close early or stay closed |
These are Cook Out’s typical chain-wide hours, not hours confirmed for this specific store. For holiday notes and more detail, see our Cook Out hours guide.
What Should I Order at Cook Out in Shelby, and How Much Does It Cost?
Get the Cookout Tray: an entree, two sides and a drink for about $7.39 to $7.99. Add a milkshake for about $3.99. Cook Out offers more than 40 shake flavors, so there is plenty to choose from.
Shelby’s store serves the standard Cook Out menu: char-grilled burgers, chopped barbecue, hot dogs, chicken strips, wraps and quesadillas, plus sides such as hushpuppies, onion rings, fries, Cajun fries, chili and coleslaw.
- Cookout Tray: about $7.39–$7.99 (entree + 2 sides + drink)
- Jr. Tray: from about $5.29
- Milkshakes: about $3.99, 40+ flavors
- Big Double burger: a popular tray entree
- Cheerwine and Cheerwine floats on the drink menu
Prices vary slightly by location and change over time, so treat these as estimates. Cash and cards are accepted. See the full Cook Out menu, the tray menu and the milkshake menu for details.
Ordering at the Shelby store: Like most Cook Out locations, the Earl Rd store uses a drive-thru plus a walk-up window rather than a dining room. For a team or church-group order, call out the trays one at a time and confirm the sides. That keeps the line moving and the order right.
How Does Cook Out Compare to Shelby’s Barbecue Joints?
Shelby’s barbecue lodges serve the city’s signature food, and Cook Out wins on late hours and price. Most locals use both: barbecue for a sit-down lunch, Cook Out for a cheap tray at night.
Shelby’s best-known barbecue spots are Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge and Alston Bridges Barbecue, both known for the Piedmont-style pork that western North Carolina favors. They are lunch and dinner places with dining rooms. Cook Out’s chopped barbecue is a quick, budget version that you can get long after those restaurants close.
| Factor | Cook Out Shelby | Shelby barbecue lodges |
|---|---|---|
| Hours | Open until about 3–4 AM | Daytime and early evening |
| Price | About $7.39–$7.99 tray with 2 sides and a drink | Full barbecue plates cost more |
| Barbecue style | Chopped barbecue sandwich or tray | Pit-cooked Piedmont-style pork with red slaw and hushpuppies |
| Seating | Drive-thru and walk-up only | Sit-down dining rooms |
For burgers, Cook Out competes with the national chains along Dixon Blvd. Its edge is the tray deal and the milkshake list. For a true Shelby barbecue meal, visit one of the local lodges at lunch and save Cook Out for the late-night run.
What Other Cook Out Guides Are Near Shelby?
The closest Cook Out guide to Shelby is Gastonia, about 25 miles east, with two stores. These guides cover the rest of the Charlotte region, the foothills and upstate South Carolina. Spartanburg’s E Main St store is about 29.5 miles south-southwest, just outside the directory’s range.
Cook Out Gastonia Both Gastonia stores on S Union Rd and E Franklin Blvd.
Cook Out Charlotte Every Charlotte-area store, about an hour east.
Cook Out Morganton Burke County’s Burkemont Rd store, north via NC-18.
Cook Out Hickory Catawba County stores along US-321 and US-70.
Cook Out Asheville Mountain stores west via US-74 and I-26.
Cook Out South Carolina All open SC stores, including Gaffney and Spartanburg.
Cook Out North Carolina All 144 open NC stores, grouped by region.
Cook Out Locations Finder Search every Cook Out by city or state.
Cook Out Shelby FAQs
Answers to the questions people ask most.
How many Cook Out locations are in Shelby, NC?
Shelby has one Cook Out, at 308 Earl Rd, Shelby, NC 28150, according to the Cook Out store locator in October 2026. It is just off Dixon Blvd near Lowe’s, about a mile south of uptown. Older lists showing stores at 1015 E Dixon Blvd and 1801 W Dixon Blvd do not match Cook Out’s current locator.
What time does Cook Out in Shelby close?
The Shelby Cook Out typically follows the chain’s standard hours: it opens at 10:30 AM and closes around 3 AM Sunday through Thursday and 4 AM Friday and Saturday. Hours vary by store and on holidays, and late-night orders are often drive-thru only. Check the locator or call before a very late trip.
What is the closest Cook Out to Shelby besides Earl Rd?
The next-closest store is in Kings Mountain at 711 York Rd, about 12.5 miles east near I-85. Gaffney, SC (1513 W Floyd Baker) is about 15.5 miles south, and Forest City (130 Grace Way) is about 20.8 miles west. Gastonia’s S Union Rd store is about 21 miles east.
Is there a Cook Out near Gardner-Webb University?
Boiling Springs, home of Gardner-Webb, does not have its own Cook Out. The closest is the Shelby store at 308 Earl Rd. Take NC-150 east into Shelby, then head to Dixon Blvd and Earl Rd near Lowe’s. Most students can make the drive in about 15 to 20 minutes.
Is there a Cook Out in Boiling Springs, Lawndale or Grover?
No. Cook Out’s locator lists only two stores in Cleveland County: Shelby at 308 Earl Rd and Kings Mountain at 711 York Rd. Boiling Springs and Lawndale residents usually use the Shelby store. Grover sits right by I-85, so Kings Mountain or Gaffney, SC is usually the faster drive from there.
How much is a Cookout Tray in Shelby?
A Cookout Tray in Shelby costs about $7.39 to $7.99. It comes with one entree, such as a burger, barbecue sandwich or chicken strips, plus two sides and a drink. A Jr. Tray starts around $5.29, and milkshakes are about $3.99. Prices can vary a little by store and change over time.
Does the Shelby Cook Out have a dining room?
Like most Cook Out locations, the Earl Rd store is built around a drive-thru and a walk-up window and does not have a traditional indoor dining room. If you want to eat right away, park and eat in your car, or take your tray uptown or to Shelby City Park.
Is a new Cook Out coming to Shelby or Cleveland County?
As of October 2026, Cook Out’s store locator lists no coming-soon stores within 30 miles of Shelby. The two open Cleveland County stores are 308 Earl Rd in Shelby and 711 York Rd in Kings Mountain. Watch the locator for updates, since new stores are added there before they open.
Find the Closest Cook Out to Shelby
The Earl Rd store off Dixon Blvd is Shelby’s only Cook Out. If you are near I-85, the Kings Mountain store on York Rd may be faster.