Cook Out Pigeon Forge TN — Parkway Location, Menu, Prices & Hours (2026)

Is There a Cook Out in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee?

Yes. Pigeon Forge has one Cook Out, at 3984 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863. It sits on the southern stretch of the Parkway (US-441), the end of town closest to Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, according to the Cook Out store locator (October 2026).

It is also the only Cook Out in Sevier County. The locator lists no store in Gatlinburg, none in Sevierville and none in Kodak or along the Parkway toward I-40. If you are staying anywhere between the national park entrance and I-40 exit 407, this Parkway drive-thru is your Cook Out.

Beyond Sevier County, the next-closest stores are on Cumberland Ave in Knoxville (about 25 miles straight-line) and on Lamar Alexander Pkwy in Maryville (about 26 miles). Both are a 45-minute-plus drive in normal traffic and longer on a busy summer weekend. The locator shows no coming-soon stores within 30 miles of Pigeon Forge as of October 2026.

• Address: 3984 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
• Location: south (Gatlinburg) end of the Parkway strip, Sevier County
• Typical hours: 10:30 AM to about 3 AM Sunday–Thursday and 4 AM Friday–Saturday (hours vary by store)
• Next nearest: Knoxville – Cumberland Ave and Maryville – Lamar Alexander Pkwy, each about 25 miles away

Where Are the Cook Out Locations Near Pigeon Forge, TN?

The Pigeon Forge store comes first, followed by the six nearest Cook Outs outside Sevier County with straight-line distances from Pigeon Forge. Addresses come from the Cook Out store locator (October 2026); tap Directions on any card to open Google Maps. Mountain road distances are noticeably longer than the straight-line numbers. To search every state, use the Cook Out finder map.

Which Cook Out Is Closest to Me in the Smokies?

For nearly every town in Sevier County, including Gatlinburg, Sevierville, Kodak and Wears Valley, the closest Cook Out is 3984 Parkway in Pigeon Forge. Only once you are in Knox or Blount County does a different store become closer.

Distances in the directory are straight lines from Pigeon Forge. On the ground, the Smokies stretch everything out: the Parkway between Sevierville and the Gatlinburg Spur can take far longer than the mileage suggests on summer and fall weekends, and the road over Newfound Gap to the North Carolina side is a slow mountain drive that can close in winter weather.

How Do I Get to the Pigeon Forge Cook Out Without Sitting in Parkway Traffic?

The Cook Out is on the Parkway itself, so you will drive at least part of it. The trick is to use the back roads to skip the most congested stretch, then rejoin the Parkway close to the south end of town.

The Parkway is US-441 through Pigeon Forge. It is a six-lane road between Sevierville and the Gatlinburg Spur, and US-321 shares it until Wears Valley Road, where US-321 turns west toward Townsend and Maryville. Traffic lights are numbered along the strip: drivers coming north from Gatlinburg meet light #10 first and count down, so the Cook Out is in the high-numbered stretch rather than the low-numbered lights near Sevierville.

• From I-40 (exit 407): Follow the Parkway (TN-66, then US-441) south through Kodak and Sevierville into Pigeon Forge. The whole parkway runs about 23 miles from the interchange to the national park boundary in Gatlinburg, and the Cook Out is near the Pigeon Forge–Gatlinburg end, so expect roughly 15 miles of driving that summer traffic can stretch a long way.
• Teaster Lane: An eastern bypass that runs just east of the Parkway from light #2 to Dollywood Lane. Use it to skip the north and middle of the strip, then rejoin the Parkway and continue south.
• Veterans Blvd: Coming from Sevierville, Veterans Blvd skirts east of the Parkway and merges with Dollywood Lane at light #8, a good way to stay off the busiest part of the strip.
• Jake Thomas Road: Connects the Parkway (around light #5) to Teaster Lane when the main road backs up.
• From Gatlinburg: Drive north on the Gatlinburg Spur (US-441), the scenic divided road along the Little Pigeon River. The Cook Out is on the first part of Pigeon Forge you reach, which makes it the most convenient stop from Gatlinburg cabins.
• From Wears Valley: Wears Valley Rd (US-321) meets the Parkway in Pigeon Forge; turn south toward Gatlinburg to reach the store.
• Trolley: The Pigeon Forge trolley station sits at Patriot Park in the Old Mill District, by light #7. Trolley routes cover the Parkway, but schedules end well before Cook Out closes, so plan on a car for late-night runs.

Late at night the Parkway is much easier. After the dinner shows let out and the attractions close, the drive from The Island or the Old Mill area down to the Cook Out is usually quick, and the drive-thru is one of the few kitchens still serving.

Is the Pigeon Forge Cook Out Near Dollywood and The Island?

Yes. Both are a short drive up the Parkway. Dollywood is reached by Dollywood Lane at light #8, and The Island sits off the Parkway in the middle of town, so either one is a quick hop to the Cook Out on the Gatlinburg end of the strip, traffic permitting.

Because the Parkway is one long tourist corridor, the store sees heavy traffic during peak vacation weeks, Dollywood festivals and the fall leaf season. Expect longer drive-thru lines around dinner and right after evening shows end.

What Time Does Cook Out Close in Pigeon Forge?

These are chain-wide norms, not a guaranteed schedule for 3984 Parkway. A resort town brings its own variables: winter storms in the mountains, staffing during peak tourist weeks and holiday schedules can all shorten hours. For holiday patterns and day-by-day details, see Cook Out’s hours by day.

Most Cook Outs are drive-thru and walk-up only, without indoor dining rooms. In Pigeon Forge, that usually means eating in the car, at your hotel or back at the cabin. Since no other Cook Out is within about 25 miles, it is worth confirming hours before making a special trip from Gatlinburg, Wears Valley or Sevierville.

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

The Pigeon Forge store serves Cook Out’s standard menu, and the best value is still the Cookout Tray: one entree, two sides and a drink for about $7.39–$7.99. A Jr. Tray starts around $5.29 and milkshakes run about $3.99. These are typical chain prices and vary by store, so the menu board at 3984 Parkway is the final word.

First-timer tip: Get a Big Double “Cook Out Style” (chili, slaw, onions and mustard) on a tray with hush puppies and onion rings, wash it down with a Cheerwine, and add a milkshake for the drive back to the cabin. Cook Out was founded in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1989 by Morris Reaves.

• 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

The full menu covers charbroiled burgers, barbecue, chicken sandwiches, strips and wraps, hot dogs and quesadillas, with sides like fries, onion rings, hush puppies, chili and slaw. See the Cook Out tray menu and milkshake menu for every option.

• Feeding a vacation group: Trays are the easiest way to order for a cabin full of people. Write the order down before you reach the speaker; the drive-thru moves faster when every tray is settled.
• Shakes on mountain roads: Milkshakes are thick and travel well, but if your cabin is up a steep, winding drive, a cup holder and a lid check save a mess.
• Check the bag: On busy summer nights, confirm sides and sauces before pulling back onto the Parkway; turning around on the strip is not quick.

How Does Cook Out Compare to Pigeon Forge’s Local Favorites?

Cook Out is the cheap, fast and open-late choice in a town full of sit-down tourist restaurants. The Smokies’ well-known spots offer atmosphere and Southern cooking at higher prices and earlier closing times, while Cook Out wins on value and late-night hours.

What sets Cook Out apart on the Parkway is the pairing of a full tray for under $8, a 40-plus flavor milkshake menu and a drive-thru that usually stays open past 3 AM, long after the attractions and most restaurants have closed.

Where Are More Cook Out Guides Near Pigeon Forge?

The Cook Out Tennessee guide lists all 40 open Tennessee stores. For the closest alternatives, the Knoxville guide covers the city stores you will pass on the way to or from I-40 and I-75.

Cook Out Pigeon Forge FAQs

Answers to the questions people ask most.