Cook Out Boone NC — Location, Hours & Prices (2026)

How Many Cook Out Locations Are in Boone?

Boone has one Cook Out: 1179 Blowing Rock Rd, Boone, NC 28607, on US 321 near Boone Mall. It is the only Cook Out in Boone and in Watauga County, according to the Cook Out store locator (October 2026).

Some older web pages list two Boone stores, on Winklers Creek Rd and Bamboo Rd. Those addresses do not appear in Cook Out’s current locator. The Blowing Rock Rd store is the one to use. It sits on the main commercial strip south of downtown, about a mile from the center of Appalachian State’s campus, and right on the road travelers use to come up from Blowing Rock and Lenoir.

The next-closest Cook Out stores are down the mountain: Lenoir on Blowing Rock Blvd, about 22 miles south on US 321, and Wilkesboro on US 421, about 27 miles east. Like most Cook Out locations, the Boone store typically opens at 10:30 AM and serves until about 3 AM Sunday through Thursday and 4 AM on Friday and Saturday. Hours vary by store, and mountain weather can affect them.

Where Is the Cook Out in Boone, and What Are the Closest Others?

The Boone Cook Out is at 1179 Blowing Rock Rd, and the only other stores within about 27 miles are in Lenoir and Wilkesboro. Addresses come from the Cook Out store locator (October 2026). Tap any card for Google Maps directions. Distances are straight-line miles from downtown Boone; mountain roads make the actual drives longer.

Why Is There Only One Cook Out in the High Country?

Boone is a college town in a mountain county, and one Cook Out serves Watauga County and much of the surrounding High Country. The chain’s other stores in this part of North Carolina are in the foothills below the Blue Ridge, in towns like Lenoir, Wilkesboro, Morganton and Hickory.

That mix of students and visitors keeps the drive-thru busy at night. Expect lines after App State games, during move-in week in August, and on fall weekends when US 321 and US 421 fill with leaf-season traffic.

Which Cook Out Is Closest to Me in the High Country?

For Boone, Blowing Rock and most of Watauga County, the Blowing Rock Rd store is the closest Cook Out. Only people near Wilkes County or at the bottom of the mountain in Caldwell County will find another store closer.

Winter weather changes everything up here. Snow and ice can close or slow US 321, US 421 and NC-105, and the drive down to Lenoir or Wilkesboro is not one to make on a bad night. If the Boone store is closed during a storm, it is usually better to wait than to head down the mountain.

How Do I Get to the Boone Cook Out From US 421, US 321 or NC-105?

Every major road into Boone leads to Blowing Rock Rd. From US 321 coming up from Blowing Rock, you reach the Cook Out before downtown. From US 421 or NC-105, head into town and turn south on Blowing Rock Rd toward Boone Mall.

• US 321 (Blowing Rock Rd): the route south to Blowing Rock, Lenoir and Hickory. Tweetsie Railroad sits on this road between Boone and Blowing Rock, and the Blue Ridge Parkway crosses it near Blowing Rock.
• US 421: the main route east to Deep Gap, Wilkesboro and Winston-Salem, and west toward Tennessee. It runs through Boone on King St and the bypass area.
• NC-105: the road southwest to Foscoe, Banner Elk and the ski areas. It meets US 321 on the south side of town.
• US 221: connects Boone with West Jefferson to the north and runs with US 321 toward Blowing Rock, then continues south past Grandfather Mountain toward Linville.

Interstates are far away in the High Country. I-40 is about an hour south via US 321 or US 421, and I-77 is east of Wilkesboro. For travelers driving up from Charlotte, Hickory or Winston-Salem, the Boone store is often the last Cook Out stop before the ski slopes and cabins.

Is There a Cook Out Near Appalachian State University?

Yes. The Blowing Rock Rd Cook Out is about a mile south of App State’s main campus, the closest Cook Out to the university by far. Students reach it by car, by bike or on AppalCART, Boone’s fare-free transit system, while buses are running.

Check AppalCART’s current routes and hours before counting on a bus late at night. Service levels change between the academic year and summer.

What Time Does Cook Out Close in Boone?

Winter storms hit Boone harder than most Cook Out towns, and the store may close early when roads ice over. Because the next Cook Out is more than 20 miles away down the mountain, a quick hours check matters. For holiday schedules, see the Cook Out hours guide.

What Should I Order at Cook Out in Boone, and How Much Does It Cost?

The menu is the same chain-wide, so the full Cook Out menu applies in Boone. See the tray menu, the milkshake menu and the drinks menu for details, or check the nutrition guide if you are counting calories before a hike.

• Group orders: ordering several trays is usually cheaper than buying items one by one, which helps when feeding a dorm floor or a cabin full of skiers.
• Check the bag: on busy weekend nights, confirm sides and sauces before you pull away.
• Payment: Cook Out accepts cash and cards.
• Seating: plan on drive-thru or walk-up service; most Cook Out stores do not have a full dining room.

How Does Cook Out Compare to Boone’s Local Favorites?

Cook Out wins on price and late hours. Boone’s local restaurants win on mountain atmosphere and home cooking. Students and locals tend to use Cook Out for late nights and local spots for sit-down meals.

Restaurant hours change with the seasons in the High Country, so check before you go. Cook Out’s appeal is that the menu and the tray deal stay the same whether it is a snowy January night or a busy October leaf weekend.

Where Are the Other Cook Out Guides Near Boone?

The closest Cook Out guides are Lenoir, Hickory, Morganton and Statesville in the foothills, plus Asheville to the southwest. Tennessee stores are also within reach for people on the western side of the High Country.

For any other starting point, use the Cook Out locations finder.

Cook Out Boone FAQs

Answers to the questions people ask most.