Cookout Holiday Hours 2026: Is Cookout Open Today?

Planning a Cookout run on a holiday? Check the hours before you drive over. Cook Out closes on Christmas Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Easter Sunday every year. Every other holiday, your nearest location is open and serving.

Most nights, Cookout runs until 3:00 AM. Weekends push that to 4:00 AM. Two nights break that pattern every year: Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Both close earlier than you’d expect. For daily opening and closing times, see the full Cookout hours schedule. Check the table below before you head out on either one.

Is Cookout Open on Holidays? Quick Answer

Yes. Cookout Restaurants stays open on most U.S. holidays. Only three days see full closures every year:

  • Christmas Day (December 25)
  • Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday of November)
  • Easter Sunday

Every other holiday runs on regular or slightly shortened hours. The full holiday schedule is in the table directly below.

Cookout Holiday Hours 2026: Full Schedule

Check this table before you leave the house on any U.S. holiday.

HolidayDateStatusHours
New Year’s DayJan 1OpenRegular
MLK Jr. DayJan 20OpenRegular
Valentine’s DayFeb 14OpenRegular
Presidents DayFeb 17OpenRegular
Good FridayApr 3OpenRegular
Easter SundayApr 5ClosedClosed
Mother’s DayMay 11OpenRegular
Memorial DayMay 26OpenRegular
Father’s DayJun 15OpenRegular
JuneteenthJun 19OpenRegular
Independence DayJul 4OpenRegular
Labor DaySep 1OpenRegular
Columbus DayOct 13OpenRegular
HalloweenOct 31OpenRegular
Veterans DayNov 11OpenRegular
Thanksgiving DayNov 27ClosedClosed
Black FridayNov 28OpenRegular
Christmas EveDec 24Open10:30 AM to 8:00 PM*
Christmas DayDec 25ClosedClosed
New Year’s EveDec 31Open10:30 AM to 2:00 AM*

*Hours vary by location. Call your nearest Cook Out or check Google Maps to confirm.

Source: Cookout official location listings at cookout.com/locations and Google Maps real-time data.

What Are Cookouts Regular Hours?

Most Cookout locations follow this daily schedule year-round:

DayOpenClose
Sunday to Thursday10:30 AM3:00 AM
Friday and Saturday10:30 AM4:00 AM

Drive-thru windows often stay open 30 to 60 minutes past lobby closing. Locations near college campuses and major highways run even later on weekends.

Is Cookout Open on Christmas Day?

No. Cookout is closed on Christmas Day at every location across all 15 states.

December 25 is one of only three full closures the chain observes each year. Staff gets the day off. No drive-thru. No lobby. No exceptions at standard locations.

Is Cookout Open on Christmas Eve?

Yes, but go earlier than you think. Most Cookout locations open at 10:30 AM on Christmas Eve. Closing time varies by location more than on any other holiday. Some spots shut down as early as 5:00 PM based on staffing.

Cookout Christmas Eve Hours at a Glance:

  • Open: 10:30 AM (standard)
  • Close: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM (varies by location)
  • Drive-thru: Same closing time as lobby on Christmas Eve

Cookout Christmas Hours: Best Time to Visit

Christmas week has two safe days: December 23 and December 26. Both run regular hours. December 24 is the risky one. Most locations close between 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM that day. Go early or skip it.

Always call your local spot or check Google Maps on December 24. Hours posted online may not reflect last-minute staffing changes.

Is Cookout Open on Thanksgiving?

No. Cookout closes on Thanksgiving Day at nearly every location.

This is a firm chain-wide policy. Employees get Thanksgiving off to spend time with family. Even locations near busy college towns follow this closure.

Cookout Thanksgiving Hours: Day Before and After

  • Wednesday before Thanksgiving: Open, regular hours
  • Black Friday: Open from 10:30 AM, regular hours
  • Thanksgiving Day is the only gap. Cook Out runs normally the day before and picks right back up Friday morning. Wednesday is your best shot if you want Cook Out that week.

Is Cookout Open on Easter Sunday?

No. Easter Sunday is the third closed holiday Cook Out observes each year.

Here is what the days around Easter look like:

  • Good Friday: Open, regular hours
  • Holy Saturday: Open, regular hours
  • Easter Sunday: Closed
  • Easter Monday: Open, regular hours resume

Plan your visit for any day except Easter Sunday itself.

Cookout Hours on July 4th, Memorial Day, and Labor Day

Cookout stays open on all three major summer holidays with no hour changes.

  • July 4th: Open, regular hours. Expect longer drive-thru lines from 7:00 PM onward. Go before the dinner rush.
  • Memorial Day: Open, regular hours. One of the busier days at locations near parks and recreation areas.
  • Labor Day: Open, regular hours. End-of-summer crowds pick up in the evening at most locations.

No special menu changes on these days. Same lineup, same prices.

Does Cookout Drive-Thru Stay Open on Holidays?

This is the question most holiday hours pages skip. Here is the real breakdown:

  • On open holidays: Yes. Drive-thru runs the same hours as the lobby. On some nights, it stays open 30 to 60 minutes longer than dine-in.
  • On Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve: Drive-thru closes at the same time as the lobby, usually earlier than on a regular night.
  • On Christmas Day, Thanksgiving, and Easter: Drive-thru is closed. No service, no exceptions at standard locations.
SituationDrive-Thru Open?
Regular holiday (July 4th, Labor Day)Yes, full hours
Christmas EveYes, closes early (6 to 8 PM)
New Year’s EveYes, closes slightly early
Christmas DayNo
Thanksgiving DayNo
Easter SundayNo

Does Cookout Dine-In Close Earlier Than Drive-Thru?

Yes, on most nights, not just holidays.

Lobby seating closes between 11:00 PM and midnight at most locations. After that, only the drive-thru stays open until 3:00 AM or 4:00 AM.

On holiday nights with shorter hours, both close at the same early time. Don’t assume the drive-thru is running just because the lobby lights are off.

Is Cookout Open on New Year’s Eve?

Yes, but expect an earlier close than usual.

Most Cookout locations close one to two hours early on New Year’s Eve. That puts closing time between 1:00 AM and 2:00 AM instead of the usual 3:00 AM or 4:00 AM. Big city locations near downtown areas sometimes stay open longer. Most others do not. New Year’s Eve is one of the best nights for a late night shake run. Browse the full Cookout milkshake menu and pick your flavor before you go.

  • New Year’s Eve: Open, closes between 1:00 AM and 2:00 AM at most locations
  • New Year’s Day: Open, regular hours from 10:30 AM

How Do I Check Cookout Hours Near Me?

Three ways to confirm your local Cookout hours in under two minutes:

Google Maps: Search Cookout near me. Google pulls real-time data directly from location listings. This shows the current open or closed status and today’s exact hours.

Official Cookout Website: Go to cookout.com/locations. Enter your ZIP code or city. You’ll see posted hours for your nearest location.

Call the restaurant directly: This works best on Christmas Eve, Thanksgiving Eve, and New Year’s Eve. Hours shift based on staffing. A one-minute call saves a wasted trip.

Avoid relying on third-party apps. Many pull default hours and don’t update for holidays.

Do Cookout Holiday Hours Vary by State?

Yes. Cookout operates across 15 southeastern states, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, and Kentucky.

Each location sets its own schedule based on:

  • Local traffic and demand
  • Staffing availability
  • City ordinances and local regulations
  • Proximity to universities or major highways

A Cook Out near UNC Chapel Hill may stay open until 4:30 AM on a holiday weekend. A rural location in western Virginia may close at midnight. The closure rules for Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter stay consistent, but shortened-hour timing varies by location.

Use cookout.com/locations to find your nearest store and confirm posted hours before any holiday visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cookout closes on three holidays every year: Christmas Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Easter Sunday. Every other holiday runs on regular or slightly shortened hours.

Yes. Cook Out runs full regular hours on Black Friday. It’s one of the busier post-Thanksgiving days at many locations.

Yes. Regular hours apply on Veterans Day with no changes. Most locations run the standard 10:30 AM to 3:00 AM schedule that day.

Yes. Martin Luther King Jr. Day runs on a normal schedule at all locations.

No. The menu stays the same year-round. Same trays, same milkshakes, same prices. No holiday specials.

It depends on your location and the delivery partner. On open holidays, DoorDash and Uber Eats may still fulfill orders. On Christmas Day, Thanksgiving, and Easter, delivery is unavailable because the restaurant is closed.

Most locations close between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM on Christmas Eve. Some shut down as early as 5:00 PM. Call ahead to confirm your specific location.

On regular holidays, yes. Drive-thru often stays open 30 to 60 minutes longer than the lobby. On Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, both close at the same earlier time.

Cookout Holiday Hours: Know Before You Go

Three days off per year: Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter. That is Cook Out’s full closure list.

Every other holiday, you’re good to go. Go earlier on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Both days bring earlier closings than the posted regular schedule.

Before any holiday visit, open Google Maps, search your nearest Cook Out, and check today’s hours. Takes 20 seconds. Saves you a drive every time.