Cook Out Chattanooga TN — Brainerd Rd Location, Nearby Stores & Hours (2026)

Is There a Cook Out in Chattanooga?

Yes. Chattanooga’s Cook Out is at 5001 Brainerd Rd, Chattanooga, TN 37421, about half a mile from I-24 exit 184 (Moore Rd) on the city’s east side. It is the only Cook Out with a Chattanooga address, roughly 6.4 miles from downtown.

Two more Cook Outs are almost as close. The Hixson store at 5390 TN-153 is about 6.9 miles north of downtown, near Northgate Mall, and the Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, store at 920 Battlefield Pkwy is about 7.6 miles south, near Chickamauga Battlefield. That gives the metro three Cook Outs within 8 miles of the Tennessee Aquarium.

Farther out, Cleveland, Tennessee (822 25th St NW), and Dalton, Georgia (1257 Glenwood Ave), are each about 26 miles away along I-75. The Cook Out store locator lists no coming-soon stores within 30 miles of Chattanooga as of October 2026.

• East Chattanooga, Brainerd, East Ridge, the airport and Hamilton Place: Brainerd Rd
• Hixson, Red Bank, Soddy-Daisy and the Chickamauga Dam area: Hixson
• Rossville, Fort Oglethorpe, Ringgold and Lookout Valley’s Georgia side: Fort Oglethorpe

Where Are the Cook Out Locations Near Chattanooga?

Below are the one in-city store and the four nearest Cook Outs outside the city limits, with straight-line distances from downtown Chattanooga. Addresses come from the Cook Out store locator (October 2026); tap Directions on any card for Google Maps.

Which Cook Out Is Closest to Me in Chattanooga?

For most of the city, the closest Cook Out depends on which side of Missionary Ridge and the Tennessee River you are on. East-side neighborhoods should use Brainerd Rd, north-shore and northern suburbs should use Hixson, and the Georgia side of the metro should use Fort Oglethorpe.

Distances in the directory are straight lines from downtown, so expect real drive times of roughly 12 to 20 minutes to Brainerd Rd, Hixson or Fort Oglethorpe outside rush hour, and 30 minutes or more to Cleveland or Dalton.

How Do I Get to Cook Out From I-24 and I-75?

The Brainerd Rd Cook Out is the easiest interstate stop in Chattanooga: from I-24, take exit 184 (Moore Rd) and drive about half a mile to Brainerd Rd. From I-75, the I-24 interchange is just a few miles away, so the store works for travelers on either highway.

• I-24 westbound from Nashville: You pass downtown first. Stay on I-24 east toward the I-75 split and use exit 184 for Brainerd Rd.
• I-75 northbound from Atlanta: Fort Oglethorpe is the first Chattanooga-area Cook Out after Dalton; GA-2 Battlefield Pkwy runs west from I-75 near Ringgold. Otherwise continue into Tennessee and take I-24 west to exit 184.
• I-75 southbound from Knoxville: Cleveland (exit 25, TN-60) is your first chance. Closer in, use Hwy 153 for Hixson or continue to I-24 for Brainerd Rd.
• US-27 / Hwy 153 (north side): Hwy 153 links I-75 with Hixson across Chickamauga Dam; the Hixson store is on the 153 corridor near Northgate Mall.
• I-59 from Birmingham: I-59 joins I-24 west of the city, so Brainerd Rd is the nearest stop after you cross Lookout Valley and downtown.

Brainerd Rd itself (US-11/64) is one of Chattanooga’s main east-west commercial roads, lined with fast food, auto shops and shopping centers from the Brainerd neighborhood out toward Eastgate Town Center.

Is There a Cook Out Near UTC and Other Chattanooga Campuses?

There is no Cook Out on the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga campus; the closest is Brainerd Rd, about 6 miles east via I-24. For students on the north and east sides of the metro, Hixson or Brainerd Rd is usually a 10- to 15-minute drive.

Night-shift workers have options too. Parkridge East Hospital in East Ridge is a short drive from Brainerd Rd, and CHI Memorial Hospital Hixson is on the north side near the Hixson store. Erlanger’s main campus downtown is about 15 minutes from Brainerd Rd by interstate.

What Time Does Cook Out Close in Chattanooga?

Cook Out is built around the drive-thru, and most stores have a walk-up window and outdoor tables rather than a full dining room. After midnight, expect drive-thru service only. That late close makes Brainerd Rd and Hixson useful stops after a Mocs game, a late shift or a drive in on I-24 or I-75. Note that Fort Oglethorpe and Dalton are in Georgia but on the same Eastern time zone as Chattanooga. See the Cook Out hours guide for holiday details.

What Should I Order at Cook Out in Chattanooga?

Tray entrees include the Big Double, char-grilled chicken sandwich, chicken strips, chopped BBQ, hot dogs and quesadillas. Sides include fries, onion rings, hushpuppies, chili, slaw, corn dogs and even a side burger. Milkshake flavors range from banana pudding and cheesecake to peach cobbler and Oreo. Prices are approximate and can vary slightly between Chattanooga, Hixson and the Georgia stores. Browse the tray menu, the milkshake menu and the full Cook Out menu.

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

Cook Out’s advantage in Chattanooga is simple: a full tray for under $8, served until 3 or 4 AM. The city has deeper roots in other kinds of fast food, though.

• Krystal: The small square burgers were born in Chattanooga in 1932, and Krystal is still Cook Out’s closest late-night rival in the area. Cook Out’s trays give you more food per dollar; Krystal wins if you want sliders.
• Champy’s Famous Fried Chicken: The Chattanooga-born fried chicken spot is a sit-down, music-and-beer experience. Cook Out is the fast, cheap alternative after Champy’s closes.
• MoonPie: Chattanooga Bakery has made MoonPies since 1917. Cook Out does not sell them, but a banana pudding or peach cobbler shake fills the same Southern-dessert slot.
• National chains: Compared with the burger chains on Brainerd Rd and Hwy 153, a Cook Out tray usually costs less than a combo meal and comes with two sides instead of one.

Where Can I Find More Cook Out Guides Near Chattanooga?

The Tennessee guide lists all 40 open stores in the state, and the Georgia guide covers Fort Oglethorpe, Dalton and the rest of North Georgia. Knoxville, Nashville and Atlanta each have their own guide for longer trips.

To search every state at once, use the Cook Out locations finder.

Cook Out Chattanooga FAQs

Answers to the questions people ask most.