Cook Out Louisburg NC — Golden Leaf Dr Location, Menu, Prices & Hours (2026)

Is There a Cook Out in Louisburg, NC?

Yes. Louisburg has one Cook Out, at 21 Golden Leaf Dr, Louisburg, NC 27549. It is the only Cook Out in Louisburg and the only one in Franklin County, according to the Cook Out store locator (October 2026).

The store sits on Golden Leaf Dr about a mile south of downtown Louisburg, in a small cluster of quick-service restaurants. Bojangles is on the same street at 12 Golden Leaf Dr, and Johnny Bull’s Steakhouse is right next door. El Perico and Mayflower Seafood are about half a mile away.

Louisburg is a small county seat, with 3,064 residents at the 2020 census, so this one store does a lot of work. It feeds Louisburg College students, Franklin County commuters coming home from Raleigh on US-401, and people from Bunn, Franklinton, Youngsville and rural Warren and Nash County roads who do not have a Cook Out of their own.

• Address: 21 Golden Leaf Dr, Louisburg, NC 27549
• Where in town: South side, about 1 mile from downtown, next to Johnny Bull’s Steakhouse
• Typical hours: 10:30 AM to about 3 AM Sunday–Thursday and 4 AM Friday–Saturday (hours vary by store)
• Next nearest: Wake Forest (11690 Northpark Dr), about 16 miles southwest

Where Are the Cook Out Locations Near Louisburg?

Louisburg’s store is listed first, followed by every Cook Out within about 24 miles of town, with straight-line distances from Louisburg. Addresses come from the Cook Out store locator (October 2026); tap Directions on any card to open Google Maps. Road miles are longer than the distances shown.

Which Cook Out Is Closest to My Part of Franklin County?

For Louisburg, Bunn, Centerville and most of central and eastern Franklin County, the closest Cook Out is 21 Golden Leaf Dr. People in Youngsville and southwestern Franklin County are often closer to Wake Forest, and the Franklinton side of the county can go either way.

Distances in the directory are straight lines from Louisburg. In practice, most of Franklin County is 10 to 25 minutes from Golden Leaf Dr, while Wake Forest is roughly a half-hour drive from Louisburg and the North Raleigh stores closer to 40 minutes, depending on traffic on US-401 and Capital Blvd.

How Do I Get to Cook Out Louisburg From US-401, NC 39 or NC 56?

Head for the south side of Louisburg and Golden Leaf Dr, about a mile below downtown. Every main road into town meets on or near Bickett Boulevard, the bypass east of downtown that carries US-401, NC 39 and NC 56 for parts of their route through Louisburg, so the store is easy to reach from any direction.

• US-401 from Raleigh: Louisburg is about 29 miles northeast of Raleigh. US-401 runs from the capital through Rolesville into Louisburg, which makes it the main commuter road for Franklin County residents who work in Wake County. Golden Leaf Dr is on the south side of town, the same side you approach from Raleigh.
• US-401 from Warrenton: Coming south from Warren County, US-401 brings you through Louisburg on Bickett Blvd; continue to the south side for Golden Leaf Dr.
• NC 39 from Henderson or Bunn: NC 39 links Henderson to the north and Bunn to the south with Louisburg. Henderson has no Cook Out of its own, so NC 39 is a common route south for Vance County drivers who prefer Louisburg over Oxford.
• NC 56 from Franklinton, Creedmoor and Butner: NC 56 runs about 8.5 miles west from Louisburg to Franklinton and US-1, then on to Creedmoor and I-85 at Butner. If you are already near Creedmoor, the Telecom Dr store there is the closer stop.
• US-1 corridor: Drivers on US-1 between Raleigh and Henderson are usually better served by the Wake Forest store on Northpark Dr, just off Capital Blvd. Louisburg is a detour east of US-1 unless you are heading into Franklin County anyway.

There is no interstate in Franklin County, so Louisburg’s Cook Out is a local stop rather than a highway pull-off. Traffic is lightest late at night, when the drive-thru is usually one of the few kitchens in town still open.

What Is the Cook Out Market Like in Louisburg and Franklin County?

Louisburg is a one-store Cook Out market in a fast-growing county that still has only one location. The Golden Leaf Dr store covers all of Franklin County and much of Warren County, while the Wake County stores pick up the southwestern edge.

We have not found a reliable public record of when the Louisburg store opened, so this page does not give a date. What is clear is the role it plays: Louisburg is the county seat and shopping center for a largely rural county, and the roads from Bunn, Franklinton, Centerville and Warrenton all funnel into town.

Downtown Louisburg is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Louisburg Historic District, and the Tar River runs along the edge of town. Visitors who come for downtown, Louisburg College events or a game at the college often finish the night at Cook Out because it outlasts most local kitchens by several hours.

Is There a Cook Out Near Louisburg College?

Yes. Louisburg College is on the north side of town, and the Golden Leaf Dr Cook Out is on the south side, so most students can reach it in a few minutes by car. Students at Vance-Granville Community College’s Franklin County Campus use the same store.

For late study sessions, the important detail is hours. Most Cook Outs stay open until about 3 AM on weeknights and 4 AM on weekends, but some third-party listings show earlier closing times for the Louisburg store, so confirm before a very late run.

What Time Does Cook Out Close in Louisburg?

For holiday schedules and how late-night service works, see our guide to Cook Out’s opening and closing times. Late hours can be shortened by staffing, weather or holidays, and the walk-up window may close before the drive-thru.

Cook Out is a drive-thru and walk-up chain, and most locations do not have indoor dining rooms. Plan to eat in the car, back on campus or at home. If Golden Leaf Dr is closed, the Wake Forest store on Northpark Dr is the next option, about 16 miles southwest.

What’s on the Cook Out Louisburg Menu, and How Much Does It Cost?

The best value is the Cookout Tray, about $7.39–$7.99 for one entree, two sides and a drink. Louisburg uses the same menu as other North Carolina Cook Outs; a Jr. Tray starts around $5.29 and milkshakes run about $3.99. These are typical prices that vary by store, so the menu board on Golden Leaf Dr is the final word.

Calories for popular Louisburg orders

Calorie figures below come from Cook Out’s published nutrition information.

A Cook Out Style quarter-pound burger with hush puppies and a regular Cheerwine comes to roughly 895 calories. For full details see the Cookout Tray menu, the milkshake menu, the sides menu and the Cook Out calories guide.

• Know your tray before the speaker: entree, two sides, drink. The line moves faster, especially at dinner.
• College group runs: trays keep large orders straight because each comes with its own drink.
• Long drive home: if you are heading back to Bunn, Warrenton or Youngsville, shakes travel well; fries are best eaten in the lot.

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

Cook Out wins on price and late hours. Louisburg’s local favorites offer sit-down meals, steak, seafood or barbecue at a higher price, and most close well before Cook Out’s typical 3 AM close.

Where Cook Out stands out in Louisburg is the combination of a full tray for under $8, more than 40 milkshake flavors and drive-thru hours that run well past midnight. Downtown spots such as Tar Banks Brewing and 210 Nash are better for an evening out; Cook Out is where the evening often ends.

Where Are More Cook Out Guides Near Louisburg?

The Cook Out North Carolina guide lists all 144 open North Carolina stores. Closer to home, these city guides cover the stores Franklin County drivers use most.

Cook Out Louisburg NC FAQs

Answers to the questions people ask most.