📍 Tennessee • 40 Open Stores • 8 Regions • 2026

Cook Out Tennessee — All 40 Locations, Addresses & Hours (2026)

Tennessee has 40 open Cook Out restaurants as of October 2026, stretching from Bristol and Johnson City in the Tri-Cities to Memphis and Millington on the Mississippi River, with clusters in Knoxville, Nashville, Chattanooga and Memphis.

Knoxville has 4 stores, Memphis 5, Nashville 3. Five more are listed as coming soon. Most open 10:30 AM–3 AM (4 AM Fri–Sat). Cookout Tray about $7.39–$7.99.

Tennessee — Cook Out Facts
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40
Open stores in Tennessee
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5
Listed as coming soon
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29
Tennessee cities and towns served
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4:00 AM
Typical Fri & Sat close

This guide lists every open Cook Out in Tennessee, grouped into eight regions from the Tri-Cities to Memphis, with addresses taken from Cook Out’s own store locator, one-tap Google Maps directions and a short note on where each store sits. Below the directory you will find which interstate exits put you closest to a Cook Out, the campuses and bases with a late-night tray nearby, typical hours, prices and the five Tennessee stores that are listed as coming soon.

Last verified: October 2026  |  Sources: Cook Out store locator (October 2026), WCYB, Roane County News

40Open TN stores
5Memphis-addressed stores
4Knoxville stores
40+Milkshake flavors
Tennessee Quick Answer

How Many Cook Out Locations Are in Tennessee?

There are 40 open Cook Out restaurants in Tennessee as of October 2026, according to the Cook Out store locator, plus 5 more listed as coming soon. They are spread across 29 cities and towns in all three Grand Divisions of the state: East, Middle and West Tennessee.

That makes Tennessee one of Cook Out’s larger markets. Only North Carolina (144), South Carolina (52), Georgia (46) and Virginia (42) have more open stores, while Tennessee’s 40 put it well ahead of Alabama (15), Kentucky (12) and Mississippi (9).

The biggest single-city clusters are in Memphis (5 stores carrying a Memphis address, including the one on US-64 in the Bartlett/Wolfchase area), Knoxville (4) and Nashville (3, plus Madison on Gallatin Pike). Murfreesboro and Clarksville each have two. Every other town on the list has one store.

  • East Tennessee: 20 stores, from Bristol and Kingsport down through Knoxville to Chattanooga and Cleveland
  • Middle Tennessee: 12 stores, including Nashville, Murfreesboro, Clarksville and Cookeville
  • West Tennessee: 8 stores, in Memphis, Millington, Jackson and Martin
Location Directory

Where Is Every Cook Out in Tennessee?

All 40 open Tennessee stores are listed below in eight regions, roughly east to west. Addresses come from the Cook Out store locator (October 2026); each card has a Directions button for Google Maps, and stores in cities with their own guide link to it. Coming-soon locations are not shown in the cards; they are covered in the hours and expansion section further down.

AreaStoresCitiesMain roads
Tri-Cities & Northeast Tennessee7Bristol, Kingsport, Johnson City, Elizabethton, Jonesborough, Greeneville, MorristownI-81 • I-26 • US-11E • US-11W
Knoxville & the Smokies9Knoxville, Powell, Maryville, Lenoir City, Kingston, Pigeon ForgeI-40 • I-75 • I-140 • US-321 • US-441 Parkway
Chattanooga & Southeast Tennessee4Chattanooga, Hixson, Cleveland, AthensI-75 • I-24 • TN-153 • US-11
Upper Cumberland1CookevilleI-40 • TN-111 • US-70N
Nashville & Middle Tennessee9Nashville, Madison, Smyrna, Murfreesboro, Lebanon, DicksonI-40 • I-24 • I-65 • Gallatin Pike • West End Ave
Clarksville & Fort Campbell2ClarksvilleI-24 • US-79 Wilma Rudolph Blvd • US-41A
Jackson & Northwest Tennessee2Jackson, MartinI-40 • US-45 • US-45E
Memphis Metro6Memphis, MillingtonI-40 • I-240 • I-55 • US-51 • US-64

1. Tri-Cities & Northeast Tennessee — 7 Cook Out locations

Northeast Tennessee has seven stores strung along I-81, I-26 and US-11E, from Bristol on the Virginia line to Greeneville and Morristown. Johnson City’s store sits on State of Franklin Rd beside East Tennessee State University, and Elizabethton’s opened in September 2019 on West Elk Ave, according to WCYB.

2. Knoxville & the Smokies — 9 Cook Out locations

Greater Knoxville is Cook Out’s densest Tennessee market, with nine stores. Four carry a Knoxville address: the Cumberland Ave store on the Strip next to the University of Tennessee, Kingston Pike near Bearden, Cedar Bluff Rd off I-40/75, and Turkey Creek in the west. Powell, Maryville, Lenoir City, Kingston and the Pigeon Forge Parkway round out the region.

3. Chattanooga & Southeast Tennessee — 4 Cook Out locations

Four stores cover the southeast corner along I-75 and I-24. Chattanooga’s Brainerd Rd store and the Hixson store on Hwy 153 serve the metro, while Cleveland and Athens sit on the I-75 corridor toward Knoxville. Just over the state line, Fort Oglethorpe and Dalton in Georgia also serve the Chattanooga area.

4. Upper Cumberland — 1 Cook Out location

The Upper Cumberland plateau has one store, in Cookeville, on South Jefferson Ave near I-40. It is the natural stop on the long I-40 stretch between Nashville and Knoxville and the closest Cook Out to Tennessee Tech.

5. Nashville & Middle Tennessee — 9 Cook Out locations

Nine stores serve Nashville and the surrounding counties. Inside Nashville, West End Ave sits by Vanderbilt, Gallatin Pike serves East Nashville and Charlotte Pike covers the west side; Madison is farther up Gallatin Pike near RiverGate. Smyrna, Murfreesboro (two), Lebanon and Dickson cover the I-24 and I-40 suburbs.

6. Clarksville & Fort Campbell — 2 Cook Out locations

Clarksville, Tennessee’s fifth-largest city and the gateway to Fort Campbell, has two stores: one on Wilma Rudolph Blvd near I-24 and Governor’s Square mall, the other on North 2nd St north of downtown and Austin Peay State University.

7. Jackson & Northwest Tennessee — 2 Cook Out locations

Between Nashville and Memphis, two stores cover rural West Tennessee: Jackson, right off I-40, and the college town of Martin, home of UT Martin.

8. Memphis Metro — 6 Cook Out locations

Six stores serve the Memphis area. Union Ave is in Midtown, South Highland St is by the University of Memphis, Elvis Presley Blvd is in Whitehaven south of Graceland, Winchester Rd is in Hickory Hill, US-64 is in the Bartlett/Wolfchase area, and Millington sits on US-51 north of the city.

Road-Trip Guide

Which Tennessee Cook Out Is Closest to My Interstate Exit?

Most Tennessee Cook Outs sit within a couple of miles of I-40, I-24, I-75, I-81 or I-26. The table below lists the stores that are easiest to reach from each interstate, so you can plan a tray stop on a road trip across the state.

InterstateEasy Cook Out stopsNotes
I-40 (Memphis–Nashville–Knoxville)Bartlett/Wolfchase (exit 16), Jackson (exit 80), Dickson, Charlotte Pike, Lebanon (exit 238), Cookeville (exit 287), Kingston (exit 352), Cedar Bluff (exit 378), Turkey CreekLongest gap is roughly Jackson to Dickson
I-24 (Clarksville–Nashville–Chattanooga)Clarksville Wilma Rudolph Blvd (exit 4), Smyrna (exit 70), Murfreesboro, Chattanooga Brainerd Rd (exit 184)No store on the Monteagle stretch between Murfreesboro and Chattanooga
I-75 (Chattanooga–Knoxville)Cleveland (exit 25), Athens, Lenoir City (exit 81), Powell (exit 112)Fort Oglethorpe and Dalton, GA, are just south of the state line
I-81 / I-26 (Tri-Cities)Bristol, Kingsport, Johnson City, JonesboroughGreeneville and Morristown are on US-11E
I-55 / US-51 (Memphis)Elvis Presley Blvd, MillingtonGraceland is just north of the Whitehaven store
US-441 (Smokies)Pigeon Forge Parkway, MaryvilleHandy after a day in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Exit numbers above are the nearest interchanges; check the Directions button on each store card for the exact turn. Cook Out stores are drive-thru focused, so they are quick stops even when the interstate is busy.

Tennessee Market

How Did Cook Out Grow in Tennessee?

Cook Out was founded in 1989 in Greensboro, North Carolina, by Morris Reaves, and its Tennessee stores grew outward from the chain’s Carolina and Virginia base. Today the 40 Tennessee stores reach all the way to the Mississippi River.

1989: The first Cook Out opens in Greensboro, North Carolina. The chain still runs its stores as company-operated restaurants rather than franchises.

Northeast Tennessee: The Tri-Cities, linked to Virginia and North Carolina by I-81 and I-26, now have stores in Bristol, Kingsport, Johnson City, Elizabethton and Jonesborough.

September 2019: Elizabethton’s store opens on West Elk Ave, on the site of a former Long John Silver’s and A&W, as reported by WCYB.

Roane County: The Kingston store, built at North Kentucky St and Franklin St on the site of a demolished bank building, became the first Cook Out in Roane County, according to the Roane County News.

October 2026: The Cook Out locator shows 40 open Tennessee stores and 5 more coming soon, three of them in the Nashville area.

Cook Out has never published a store-by-store opening timeline for Tennessee, so we only list dates that local news outlets reported. What the map shows clearly is the pattern: stores cluster around college campuses (UT Knoxville, ETSU, Vanderbilt, MTSU, Austin Peay, Tennessee Tech, UT Martin, the University of Memphis) and along the interstates that carry most of the state’s traffic.

Late-Night Food

Which Tennessee Colleges and Bases Have a Cook Out Nearby?

At least a dozen Tennessee campuses and one large Army post have a Cook Out within a few minutes’ drive. That is a big part of why the stores stay open until 3 or 4 AM.

University of Tennessee, Knoxville The Cumberland Ave store is on the Strip, walking distance from campus housing and Neyland Stadium crowds.

Vanderbilt & Belmont West End Ave puts a Cook Out on the edge of Vanderbilt, a short drive from Belmont and Music Row.

East Tennessee State Johnson City’s store is on West State of Franklin Rd beside ETSU; Milligan University students are closer to Elizabethton.

MTSU Both Murfreesboro stores, on Memorial Blvd and South Rutherford Blvd, are a few miles from Middle Tennessee State.

Austin Peay & Fort Campbell North 2nd St is about a mile from Austin Peay; Wilma Rudolph Blvd is the closer stop for many soldiers and families from Fort Campbell.

University of Memphis South Highland St sits just south of campus; Rhodes College students are closer to the Union Ave store in Midtown.

UT Martin & Union University Martin’s store is at University Plaza by UT Martin; Union University students use the Jackson store off I-40.

Tennessee Tech, UTC, Lee & more Cookeville serves Tennessee Tech, Brainerd Rd serves UTC, Cleveland serves Lee University, and Athens serves Tennessee Wesleyan.

Millington’s store on US-51 is the closest Cook Out to Naval Support Activity Mid-South. Hospital night-shift workers have options too: Union Ave is near Methodist University Hospital in Memphis, and West End Ave is close to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Late-Night Hours

What Time Does Cook Out Close in Tennessee?

Most Tennessee Cook Outs open at 10:30 AM and close around 3 AM Sunday through Thursday and 4 AM on Friday and Saturday. Hours are set store by store, so a location can close earlier on some nights or during staffing shortages.

DayTypical openTypical close
Sunday–Thursday10:30 AMAbout 3:00 AM
Friday–Saturday10:30 AMAbout 4:00 AM
Major holidaysVariesMany stores close or shorten hours

Late at night most stores serve through the drive-thru only, and many Tennessee locations have walk-up windows and patio seating rather than an indoor dining room. If you are driving a long way for a late tray, call ahead or check the store’s listing on Google Maps. Our full Cook Out hours guide covers holidays and drive-thru-only periods.

Which Tennessee Cook Outs are coming soon?

The Cook Out locator lists five Tennessee stores as coming soon, with no published opening dates: 10 Harding Mall Dr, Nashville (37211); 5002 Old Hickory Blvd, Hermitage (37076); 5321 Hickory Hollow Ln, Antioch (37013); 2128 N Locust Ave, Lawrenceburg (38464); and 3240 Austin Peay Hwy, Memphis (38128). They are not included in the 40-store count until Cook Out marks them open.

Ordering Guide

What Does Cook Out Cost in Tennessee?

A Cookout Tray costs about $7.39 to $7.99 in Tennessee, and it includes an entree, two sides and a drink. Prices vary slightly by store and can change, but the menu is the same one you will find in the Carolinas and Virginia.

First-timer tip: Order a Big Double “Cook Out Style” (chili, slaw, onions and mustard) on a tray with hushpuppies and cheese bites, then swap the drink for a milkshake. Cheerwine, the North Carolina cherry soda, is on the fountain at most stores.
  • Cookout Tray: about $7.39–$7.99 (entree + 2 sides + drink)
  • Jr. Tray: from about $5.29
  • Milkshakes: about $3.99, with 40+ flavors
  • Big Double burger: Cook Out’s signature char-grilled double patty
  • Payment: cash and cards accepted

Popular tray entrees include the Big Double, the char-grilled chicken sandwich, chicken strips, BBQ (chopped pork), hot dogs and the quesadilla. Sides range from fries and onion rings to hushpuppies, chili, slaw, corn dogs and a side burger. See the Cook Out tray menu, the milkshake flavor list and the full Cook Out menu for every option.

Tennessee Food Scene

How Does Cook Out Compare to Tennessee Favorites?

Cook Out competes on price and late hours, not on regional specialties. Tennessee has plenty of those, and many locals pair them with Cook Out depending on the time of night.

  • Nashville hot chicken: Prince’s and Hattie B’s made Nashville hot chicken famous. Cook Out’s Cajun chicken is milder, but it is cheaper and open later.
  • Memphis barbecue: Memphis is known for dry-rub ribs and pulled pork. Cook Out’s chopped BBQ is a North Carolina-style tray option, not a substitute for a rib joint.
  • Krystal: The small-square-burger chain was founded in Chattanooga in 1932 and is still a late-night rival across East and Middle Tennessee.
  • Pal’s Sudden Service: The Kingsport-born drive-thru chain dominates the Tri-Cities; Cook Out wins on milkshake variety and tray value.
  • National chains: Compared with Sonic, Wendy’s or Whataburger, a Cook Out tray usually gives you two sides and a drink for less than a single combo elsewhere.
More Guides

Which Tennessee Cities Have Their Own Cook Out Guide?

Knoxville, Nashville and Chattanooga each have a dedicated guide with neighborhood-by-neighborhood directions. For neighboring states, use the state and city guides below.

Heading toward Kentucky? See the Cook Out Lexington, KY guide. To search every state at once, use the Cook Out locations finder.

Questions Answered

Cook Out Tennessee FAQs

Answers to the questions people ask most.

How many Cook Out restaurants are in Tennessee?

Tennessee has 40 open Cook Out restaurants as of October 2026, according to the Cook Out store locator, in 29 cities and towns. Five more are listed as coming soon: Harding Mall Dr in Nashville, Hermitage, Antioch, Lawrenceburg and Austin Peay Hwy in Memphis. Only North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Virginia have more open Cook Outs.

Where are the Cook Out locations in Knoxville?

Knoxville has four: 2135 Cumberland Ave on the Strip by the University of Tennessee, 6920 Kingston Pike in the Bearden area, 321 Cedar Bluff Rd off I-40/75, and 11113 Parkside Dr at Turkey Creek. Nearby stores are in Powell (435 E Emory Rd), Maryville, Lenoir City, Kingston and Pigeon Forge.

Where are the Cook Out locations in Nashville?

Nashville has three open stores: 1807 West End Ave near Vanderbilt, 2910 Gallatin Pike in East Nashville and 5802 Charlotte Pike in West Nashville. Madison has another at 2102 Gallatin Pike N near RiverGate. Three more Nashville-area stores are coming soon at 10 Harding Mall Dr, 5002 Old Hickory Blvd in Hermitage and 5321 Hickory Hollow Ln in Antioch.

How many Cook Outs are in Memphis?

Five stores carry a Memphis address: 1463 Union Ave in Midtown, 757 S Highland St near the University of Memphis, 4286 Elvis Presley Blvd in Whitehaven, 7755 Winchester Rd in Hickory Hill and 7970 US Hwy 64 near Wolfchase in the Bartlett area. Millington, at 8569 Hwy 51, is a sixth nearby. A store at 3240 Austin Peay Hwy is coming soon.

What time does Cook Out close in Tennessee?

Most Tennessee Cook Outs open at 10:30 AM and close around 3 AM Sunday through Thursday and around 4 AM on Friday and Saturday. Late at night many serve only through the drive-thru. Hours vary by store and on holidays, so check the specific location on Google Maps before a long late-night drive.

Is there a Cook Out in Chattanooga?

Yes. Chattanooga’s Cook Out is at 5001 Brainerd Rd, about half a mile from I-24 exit 184 at Moore Rd. Hixson has another at 5390 TN-153. Just across the Georgia line there is a store at 920 Battlefield Pkwy in Fort Oglethorpe, and Cleveland’s store is at 822 25th St off I-75.

Which Tennessee Cook Out is closest to the Smokies?

The Pigeon Forge store at 3984 Parkway is the closest Cook Out to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Gatlinburg. Maryville’s store at 1305 W Lamar Alexander Pkwy is handy if you enter the park through Townsend, and the four Knoxville stores are about 30 to 40 minutes from Pigeon Forge.

Is there a Cook Out near Fort Campbell?

Yes. Clarksville has two Cook Outs: 2892 Wilma Rudolph Blvd near Governor’s Square mall and I-24 exit 4, and 804 N 2nd St north of downtown near Austin Peay State University. Both are a short drive from Fort Campbell, which straddles the Tennessee-Kentucky line north of Clarksville.

Sources: Cook Out store locator, October 2026 (all addresses, open and coming-soon status, state counts); WCYB, September 2019 (Elizabethton opening and former site); Roane County News (Kingston site and first Roane County store); iExit (Chattanooga I-24 exit 184 and Jackson I-40 exit 80 locations).
Before You Drive

Find the Closest Cook Out in Tennessee

Jump back to the regional directory and tap Directions on the store nearest you. Hours vary by location, so check before a late-night run.

See All Tennessee Locations