McDonald's opened its first drive-through restaurant in Sierra Vista, Arizona, in 1975.
The location was near Fort Huachuca, a U.S. Army installation, and the drive-through was designed partly to serve soldiers who could not leave their vehicles while wearing military clothing. This practical situation helped McDonald's test a service format that later became central to its brand.
Drive-through ordering changed how customers interacted with the company. Instead of entering the restaurant, customers could order and collect food from a vehicle, reinforcing McDonald's image of speed and convenience.
The first drive-through should not be confused with the chain's earlier walk-up windows or other curb-service experiments. Sierra Vista is specifically associated with the first McDonald's drive-through, while later restaurants developed more elaborate lanes, menu boards, and two-window systems.