Sierra Vista, Arizona: First McDonald's Drive-Thru

Opened in January 1975; restaurant bulldozed in 1999. Current restaurant has "World's First McDonald's Drive-Thru" under the Golden Arches sign, a historical plaque, and an indoor display that includes the original fiberglass Ronald McDonald drive-thru greeter.

Address:: 1802 E. Fry Blvd, Sierra Vista, AZ
Directions:: From AZ-90 turn west at the stoplight onto E. Fry Blvd. Drive 1.5 miles. The Mcdonald's will be on the left.
RA Rates:: Worth a Detour

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Fiberglass Ronald McDonald.

First McDonald's Drive-Thru

Be sure to go inside the restaurant to see the fiberglass Ronald McDonald that served as the drive-up ordering speaker for this first-of-its-kind drive-thru. Very cool indeed!

[Luv2RV, 06/01/2023]

First McDonald's Drive Thru.

First McDonald's Drive-Thru

The building has been updated -- very nice, very clean McDonald's. Easy to find.

[Michael Cordeiro, 04/16/2021]

First McDonald's Drive-Thru window

I was stationed at Ft. Huachuca, AZ in Sierra Vista when this happened. The reason for the drive-thru was because the fort commander at the time didn't want us GIs to be seen in town in our fatigues. We weren't allowed to be seen in public with them on. McDonald's owner got around this by creating the first drive-thru window so the GIs wouldn't violate the fort commander's orders. I lived in the area for a few years and was happy to see the town growing and GIs in camo's all over the place.

[Ira Woolery, 11/11/2005]

First McDonald's Drive-Thru window

My hometown, Sierra Vista, AZ, is home to the first McDonald's drive-thru in the world. The G.I. 's at Fort Huachuca were in a hurry and didn't have enough time to eat inside. Growing up, though, nobody made a big deal about it being the first or even knew about it. Now they have pictures on the wall inside commemorating it and recently they've started playing it up more.

[John Keough, 09/18/2004]

The first McD's drive-thru window opened on Jan. 24, 1975. The original restaurant was demolished in May 1999 to make way for a brandy-new McDonald's and parking lot.