Cook Out Asheville NC — 2 Locations, Addresses & Hours (2026)

How Many Cook Out Locations Are in Asheville, NC?

Asheville has 2 open Cook Out restaurants as of October 2026, according to Cook Out’s store locator: 251 Tunnel Rd (ZIP 28805) and 1055 Patton Ave (ZIP 28806). They are the only two Cook Outs in Buncombe County.

The stores sit on opposite sides of downtown. Tunnel Road is East Asheville’s main shopping corridor, running from the Beaucatcher Tunnel past Asheville Mall toward Oteen and Swannanoa. Patton Avenue is West Asheville’s commercial strip; the Cook Out there is about 0.9 mile west of I-240 exit 2, among fast-food neighbors such as Bojangles and KFC.

Earlier versions of this page placed the Patton Ave store near Biltmore Estate and Tanger Outlets and off “I-26 exit 33.” That was wrong: Patton Ave is on the west side of the French Broad River, and Biltmore Estate is south of downtown. Use the I-240 directions below instead.

• East Asheville: 251 Tunnel Rd, Asheville, NC 28805.
• West Asheville: 1055 Patton Ave, Asheville, NC 28806.
• Next-closest stores: Hendersonville (about 19 mi), Brevard (about 26 mi), Waynesville (about 27 mi), Marion (about 30 mi).
• Coming soon: none listed within 30 miles of Asheville.

Where Are the Cook Out Locations in Asheville?

Both Asheville stores are listed first, followed by the four nearest Cook Outs in Henderson, Transylvania, Haywood and McDowell counties. Addresses come from Cook Out’s store locator (October 2026). Distances are approximate straight-line miles from downtown Asheville; mountain driving distances are longer.

Which Asheville Cook Out Is Closest to Me?

East of downtown, use 251 Tunnel Rd; west of the French Broad River, use 1055 Patton Ave. From downtown itself, the two are roughly equal, so pick the one on your way out of town.

Distances depend heavily on traffic on I-240 and the I-26 corridor. On busy weekends, the Tunnel Rd strip near Asheville Mall can be slow; Patton Ave is often the quicker choice for anyone already west of downtown.

Is There a Cook Out Near I-40 or I-26 in Asheville?

Both Asheville Cook Outs are on the I-240 loop rather than directly on I-40 or I-26: Patton Ave is about 0.9 mile from I-240 exit 2, and Tunnel Rd is on the east side of the loop. From either interstate, plan on a few extra minutes to reach them.

Asheville is where I-40 (east to Morganton, Hickory and Statesville, west to Knoxville) meets I-26 (south to Hendersonville and Spartanburg, north toward Johnson City). I-240 connects them through the city, passing West Asheville, downtown and the Beaucatcher Cut on its way to Tunnel Road.

Coming from each direction

• I-40 westbound (from Hickory, Morganton, Marion): Marion’s US-70 store is the last before Asheville. For Tunnel Rd, take I-240 west toward downtown.
• I-40 eastbound (from Knoxville, Waynesville): Waynesville’s South Main St store is the last before Asheville. For Patton Ave, continue to I-240 and exit 2 area; or follow US-19/23 into West Asheville.
• I-26 northbound (from Hendersonville, Spartanburg): Hendersonville’s Chimney Rock Rd store is about 19 miles before Asheville. In the city, choose the store on your side of town.
• I-26 southbound (from Weaverville, Mars Hill): follow I-26 into the I-240 corridor; Patton Ave is the closer store.

Heading over the mountains to Tennessee? See the Knoxville guide and the Tennessee guide for stores on the other side of the state line.

When Did Cook Out Come to Asheville?

Cook Out was in Asheville by around 2009: a local food blog wrote in November 2010 that the Tunnel Road store, then the city’s only Cook Out, had opened about a year earlier. The Patton Ave store in West Asheville came later; we have not found a verified opening date for it.

Asheville is an unusual Cook Out market. The city is known for its independent restaurants, breweries and tourism around Biltmore Estate and the Blue Ridge Parkway, yet the two Cook Outs stay busy because they serve a different need: cheap, fast food late at night, when most of the city’s kitchens are closed.

Both stores sit on established commercial corridors rather than downtown. That keeps them convenient for residents of East and West Asheville and for travelers coming off I-240, without a detour through downtown’s narrow streets.

Is There a Cook Out Near UNC Asheville or Mission Hospital?

Neither Asheville Cook Out is on a campus, but both are a short drive from UNC Asheville, A-B Tech and Mission Hospital via I-240. Their typical 3–4 AM closing times make them a regular stop for students and night-shift workers.

What Time Does Cook Out Close in Asheville?

Most Cook Out stores open at 10:30 AM and close around 3 AM Sunday through Thursday and around 4 AM on Friday and Saturday. The Tunnel Rd and Patton Ave stores can differ, and hours change on holidays, so check Google Maps before a late drive.

These are typical chain hours, not posted hours for either Asheville store. Mountain weather can also close stores early: snow and ice on I-40 and I-26 occasionally shut down roads in the region, so check before driving in winter storms.

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

Get the Cookout Tray, about $7.39–$7.99 for an entree, two sides and a drink. Both Asheville stores use Cook Out’s standard North Carolina menu, though prices can vary slightly by store.

For a vegetarian option, see the vegan and vegetarian menu guide. Also see the tray menu, milkshake menu and the full Cook Out menu.

How Does Cook Out Compare to Asheville’s Food Scene?

Asheville’s independent restaurants win on atmosphere and local ingredients; Cook Out wins on price and late hours. A full Cook Out tray costs less than a single appetizer at many downtown restaurants, and it is available hours after most kitchens close.

Plenty of Asheville locals use both: a long dinner downtown or on Haywood Road, and a Cook Out milkshake on the way home. Visitors staying near the Tunnel Rd hotels or out toward Candler and Enka often find the nearest Cook Out is the easiest late meal around.

Where Are the Other Cook Out Guides Near Asheville?

The nearest Cook Out guides to Asheville are Morganton, Hickory and Boone to the east, and Knoxville across the Tennessee line. Hendersonville, Brevard, Waynesville and Marion are listed in the directory above.

To search any other town, use the Cook Out locations finder.

Cook Out Asheville FAQs

Answers to the questions people ask most.