Cook Out Bristol TN/VA — 2 Locations, Menu, Prices & Hours (2026)

How Many Cook Out Locations Are in Bristol, TN and VA?

Bristol has two Cook Outs, one in each state: 1316 Volunteer Pkwy, Bristol, TN 37620, on Volunteer Parkway (US-11E) between downtown and Bristol Motor Speedway, and 3128 Lee Hwy, Bristol, VA 24202, about 0.2 mile from I-81 exit 7, according to the Cook Out store locator (October 2026).

The two stores are about 6.7 miles apart in a straight line, on opposite sides of the twin cities. The Tennessee store sits a couple of miles south of State Street, the downtown main street where the state line runs down the middle of the road. The Virginia store is on Bristol, Virginia’s northeast edge in the Lee Highway shopping district by Walmart Supercenter, Sam’s Club and Home Depot.

The Volunteer Parkway store is the newer of the two. WCYB reported in late December 2024 that Cook Out was moving into the former Long John Silver’s building on Volunteer Parkway, and on January 2, 2025, the station reported the drive-thru open, with a sign promising lobby service in February.

• Bristol, TN: 1316 Volunteer Pkwy, Bristol, TN 37620 (Volunteer Pkwy / US-11E)
• Bristol, VA: 3128 Lee Hwy, Bristol, VA 24202 (I-81 exit 7, Old Airport Rd / Bonham Rd)
• Typical hours: 10:30 AM to about 3 AM Sunday–Thursday, about 4 AM Friday–Saturday (varies by store)
• Service: drive-thru and walk-up; cash and cards accepted

Where Are the Cook Out Locations in Bristol and the Tri-Cities?

Both Bristol stores are listed first, one per state, followed by the four nearest Tri-Cities stores with straight-line distances from central Bristol. Addresses come from the Cook Out store locator (October 2026); tap Directions on any card to open Google Maps.

Which Bristol Cook Out Is Closer: Tennessee or Virginia?

South of State Street and anywhere near the speedway, the Volunteer Parkway store in Tennessee is closer. North and east of downtown, along Lee Highway, I-81 and toward Abingdon, the Lee Hwy store in Virginia is closer. From State Street itself, the Tennessee store is usually the shorter drive.

Bristol is one community split by a state line. Bristol, Tennessee is in Sullivan County; Bristol, Virginia is an independent city. The line runs down the center of State Street downtown, under the lit “Bristol VA–TENN: A Good Place to Live” sign, so you can stand with one foot in each state. That matters for small things like sales tax and which state’s rules apply, but not for the menu: both Cook Outs serve the same trays, burgers and 40-plus milkshakes.

Is There a Cook Out Near Bristol Motor Speedway?

Yes. The Volunteer Parkway Cook Out is the closest, roughly 4 miles north of Bristol Motor Speedway on the same highway, US-11E. The Lee Hwy store at I-81 exit 7 is the better choice if you are staying on the Virginia side or heading home north on I-81.

Race-day crowds can stretch any drive-thru line, and hours on major event weekends are set by the store. If you are planning a post-race tray, check the store’s Google listing for that night’s closing time first.

Which I-81 Exit Is Closest to Cook Out in Bristol?

For the Virginia store, use I-81 exit 7 (Old Airport Rd / Bonham Rd); the Cook Out is about 0.2 mile away on Lee Highway. For the Tennessee store, leave I-81 and follow State Street or TN-394 to Volunteer Parkway.

• Southbound from Abingdon or Roanoke: Exit 7 is your first Bristol exit with a Cook Out. If you are continuing into Tennessee, it is also the last Cook Out in Virginia on I-81.
• Northbound from Knoxville or Kingsport: Kingsport’s E Stone Dr store, off US-11W, is the nearest Cook Out west of Bristol. In Bristol, exit 7 puts you closest to the Lee Hwy store; for Volunteer Parkway, head into town and south on US-11E.
• From Johnson City or Elizabethton: US-11E (which becomes Volunteer Parkway in Bristol) brings you past Bristol Motor Speedway straight to the Tennessee store.
• From downtown: From the State Street sign, head south on Volunteer Parkway for the Tennessee store, or northeast on Lee Highway for the Virginia store.

Is There a Cook Out Near King University, Virginia High or the Hospital?

King University students and Bristol Regional Medical Center staff are closest to the Volunteer Parkway store on the Tennessee side. Virginia-side families can choose either store; the Lee Hwy location is handier when you are heading toward I-81.

What Time Does Cook Out Close in Bristol?

These are chain-wide norms rather than posted schedules for Volunteer Parkway or Lee Highway, and the two stores do not necessarily keep identical hours. Late hours can be shortened on holidays, in winter weather or on short-staffed nights, and the walk-up window may close before the drive-thru. Having two stores helps: if one is closed early, the other is about 15 minutes away. For holiday hours and what to order after midnight, see our guide to Cook Out’s late-night hours.

Cook Out is built around the drive-thru and walk-up window, and most locations have no dining room. The Volunteer Parkway store moved into a former Long John Silver’s building, and WCYB reported a sign promising lobby service there; ask in store whether the lobby is open when you visit.

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

The best value at either Bristol store is the Cookout Tray: one entree plus two sides and a drink for about $7.39–$7.99. The Jr. Tray starts at about $5.29, and a milkshake runs about $3.99. These are typical prices that vary by store, and your total can differ slightly between the Tennessee and Virginia stores because sales tax rates differ by state.

First-timer tip: Order a Big Double “Cook Out Style” (chili, slaw, onions and mustard) as your tray entree, take hushpuppies and onion rings as sides, and make the drink a Cheerwine, the North Carolina cherry soda. Add a Banana Pudding or Peach Cobbler shake for dessert.

• Cookout Tray (entree + 2 sides + drink): about $7.39–$7.99
• Jr. Tray: from about $5.29
• Milkshakes (40+ flavors): about $3.99
• Payment: cash and cards accepted

Both stores serve the same core menu: charbroiled burgers (regular, Big Double and Huge), char-grilled and spicy chicken sandwiches, chicken strips, barbecue sandwiches and plates, hot dogs, wraps and quesadillas. Tray sides include fries, onion rings, hushpuppies, cheese bites, chicken nuggets, chili and slaw. See every combination on our Cook Out tray menu page and every flavor on the Cook Out milkshake menu.

How many calories are in popular Cook Out items?

The figures below come from Cook Out’s official nutrition PDF. For dessert, the Peach Cobbler milkshake is listed at 790 calories and the Cheerwine float at 401.

For macros and allergens, see our Cook Out calories guide.

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

Cook Out competes on price, a deep shake menu and late hours. Bristol’s local favorites offer regional flavor, from Tri-Cities drive-ins to State Street barbecue, but most close well before Cook Out does.

For a national comparison, read Cook Out vs. McDonald’s, or see what makes the chain’s signature sandwich different in our Big Double burger guide.

Where Are More Cook Out Guides Near Bristol?

Bristol sits on the line, so it belongs in two state guides: the Cook Out Tennessee guide covers all 40 open Tennessee stores and the Cook Out Virginia guide covers all 42 open Virginia stores. To search any other town, use our Cook Out location finder.

Cook Out Bristol FAQs

Answers to the questions people ask most.