Hardee’s Locations 2026 — Which States Have Hardee’s?

Whether you are planning a road trip through the South, checking if your hometown still has one, or trying to figure out why there is no Hardee’s anywhere near you on the West Coast — this guide has the answer. Here is everything you need to know about Hardee’s locations in the United States: how many exist, exactly which states have them, which states do not, how to find one near you, and what happened with the recent wave of closures.

QUICK ANSWER

How Many Hardee’s Locations Are There?

As of 2025, there are approximately 1,500–1,565 Hardee’s locations across the United States, operating in 31 states. The chain is concentrated in the Southeast and Midwest. North Carolina has the most locations (~200+), followed by Virginia and Tennessee. There is no Hardee’s in California, New York, or most of New England — those markets are served by Hardee’s sister brand, Carl’s Jr.

How to Find a Hardee’s Near You

The fastest way to find a Hardee’s location near you is through the official Hardee’s location finder. Here are your three best options:

Option 1 — Official Hardee’s Website (Most Accurate)

Go to hardees.com/locations and enter your city, state, or zip code. This is the most up-to-date source — it reflects current hours, drive-thru availability, and whether a specific location offers dine-in, carryout, or delivery. Always verify with the official site before driving, especially in areas that recently experienced closures.

Option 2 — Google Maps

Search “Hardee’s near me” on Google Maps for the fastest result with real-time hours, user reviews, and directions. Google Maps pulls from the official business listings and is updated regularly. It also shows you whether a location is currently open based on your local time.

Option 3 — Hardee’s App

Download the Hardee’s app (available on iOS and Android) for location search plus the added benefit of accessing current deals, My Rewards™ points, and mobile ordering. The app’s built-in location finder shows nearby restaurants with real-time hours. Check our Hardee’s coupons and deals page for current app-exclusive offers before you visit.

How Many Hardee’s Locations Exist in the US?

The number of Hardee’s locations has shifted in recent years due to closures and new openings. Here is the current picture based on verified third-party location data:

Note: Location counts vary slightly across data sources due to timing of data collection and whether temporarily closed locations are included. The most reliable current count is always hardees.com/locations.

At its peak in the 1990s, Hardee’s operated over 3,000 US locations. The current footprint of approximately 1,500 reflects decades of franchise consolidation, market exits, and the 2025 ARC Burger closures. Despite the smaller footprint, Hardee’s remains concentrated in 31 states and over 1,252 cities, maintaining a strong presence in the Southeast and Midwest.

Which States Have Hardee’s? Complete List by State

There are Hardee’s restaurants in 31 states and territories in the United States, with North Carolina having the most at approximately 204 locations — about 13% of all US Hardee’s restaurants. Here is the complete breakdown:

Top States by Number of Hardee’s Locations

All States With Hardee’s Locations

Beyond the top 10, Hardee’s also operates in the following states:

Southeast: Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana

Midwest: Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin

Mid-Atlantic / Northeast: Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey

Great Plains / Mountain: Oklahoma, Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota

Note: Exact state-level availability may have changed due to late-2025 closures. Always confirm at hardees.com/locations.

Which States Do NOT Have Hardee’s?

This is one of the most commonly searched questions about Hardee’s — and the answer surprises many people, especially those who grew up in the South and then moved to a major West Coast or Northeast city.

States With NO Hardee’s: California, Oregon, Washington, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Hawaii, Alaska, Nevada, Montana, Idaho, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona.

That is roughly 18–19 states with no Hardee’s presence at all. Here is why — and what you can go to instead:

Why No Hardee’s on the West Coast?

California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah fall entirely within Carl’s Jr. territory. When CKE Restaurants acquired Hardee’s in 1997, the company made a deliberate decision to keep each brand in its existing geographic region rather than overlap them. Carl’s Jr. had already built deep roots on the West Coast since 1941 — competing against yourself makes no business sense. So if you are in California and craving a charbroiled Angus beef burger, Carl’s Jr. serves the same core menu as Hardee’s, including the Famous Star® equivalent. For a full breakdown, see our Hardee’s vs Carl’s Jr. guide.

Why No Hardee’s in New York or New England?

States without a Hardee’s location include Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and New York — all within the East Coast and New England region. These states also do not have Carl’s Jr. locations. The Northeast has historically been dominated by local and regional chains — Hardee’s never successfully established franchise infrastructure in these markets during its expansion years, and neither brand has made a serious push into New England to date.

What Can You Order Instead?

Recent Hardee’s Closures — What Happened in 2025?

If you have noticed a Hardee’s near you suddenly closed, you are not imagining things. By the end of 2025, 77 Hardee’s locations tied to a single franchisee — ARC Burger — shut their doors across eight states. The closures stemmed from a dispute between Hardee’s corporate and ARC Burger, with court filings indicating the operator fell behind on required payments including royalties and advertising fees.

Which States Were Affected?

8 States affected by ARC Burger closures (end of 2025): Alabama, Florida, and 6 additional states named in court documents. These closures were clustered rather than scattered — meaning some counties and small towns lost their only Hardee’s overnight.

Why This Matters for Customers

For customers, that can mean longer drives for familiar menu items or higher prices at limited alternatives. For employees, it meant job transitions and uncertainty. If your regular Hardee’s location has closed, the best way to find the next nearest open location is through hardees.com/locations — it reflects only currently operating restaurants.

Is Hardee’s Going Out of Business?

No. The 77-location ARC Burger closure was a franchise dispute — not a chain-wide failure. Hardee’s continues to operate approximately 1,554 locations across 31 states. The brand remains one of the largest fast-food burger chains in the American Southeast and Midwest. These closures represent less than 5% of the total chain footprint and were specific to one franchisee’s contractual failures — not a reflection of the brand’s overall health.

In fact, in January 2026, Hardee’s was named an Official Quick Service Restaurant Partner of NASCAR, joining 23XI Racing as a primary partner — not the kind of partnership a chain makes when it is struggling.

Hardee’s Hours — What Time Do Locations Open and Close?

Hardee’s hours vary by location and franchise operator, but most US restaurants follow this general schedule:

Some Hardee’s locations — particularly those near highways, truck stops, and 24-hour service areas — operate around the clock. For exact hours at your specific location, use the official Hardee’s location finder which shows live hours. For a full breakdown including holiday hours, see our complete Hardee’s hours guide.

Does Hardee’s Have Drive-Thru?

Yes — the vast majority of Hardee’s locations have a drive-thru window. Drive-thru is actually central to Hardee’s business model, particularly for breakfast service. Most standalone Hardee’s restaurants include:

• A standard single-lane drive-thru window
• Drive-thru available during all open hours including early breakfast (6:00 AM)
• Mobile order pickup via drive-thru at participating locations

To confirm drive-thru availability at a specific location, check the official Hardee’s location finder — each listing shows available services including drive-thru, dine-in, and carryout.

Hardee’s locations inside malls, food courts, airports, or travel plazas may operate as counter-service only without a traditional drive-thru.

Hardee’s Delivery — DoorDash, Uber Eats & More

Many Hardee’s locations now offer delivery through third-party platforms, making it possible to get Hardee’s burgers and breakfast biscuits delivered directly to your door even if you are not near a physical location.

Available Delivery Platforms

Delivery availability depends entirely on your location and which third-party platforms operate in your area. Not every Hardee’s restaurant is enrolled in delivery services — rural locations in particular may not have delivery available. The easiest way to check is to open DoorDash or Uber Eats and search for Hardee’s using your current address.

Hardee’s International Locations

Hardee’s operates internationally under the CKE Restaurants umbrella. While the US footprint is concentrated in the Southeast and Midwest, the international presence is notably strong in the Middle East and parts of Asia.

Interestingly, Hardee’s international presence is significantly larger than many Americans realize. The brand is particularly well-established in Pakistan and the Gulf states, where it competes directly with McDonald’s and KFC as a premium fast-food option. International Hardee’s locations serve the same core charbroiled burger menu with some regional adaptations to local tastes and dietary requirements.

Bottom Line

Hardee’s operates approximately 1,500+ US locations concentrated in the Southeast and Midwest — with North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee leading in location count. If you are on the West Coast or in New England and cannot find one, that is by design — Carl’s Jr. serves the West Coast with the same menu, and neither brand has a significant Northeast presence.

For the fastest way to find your nearest open Hardee’s, use hardees.com/locations directly. For everything on the menu once you get there, see the complete Hardee’s menu with prices. And before you visit, check our Hardee’s coupons page for current deals that could save you $1–$3 on your order.