McDonald's used the name Drive-Thru for its restaurant service in the United States when the format was introduced.
The first McDonald's drive-through opened in 1975 at a restaurant near Fort Huachuca, Arizona. The location served soldiers from the nearby military base, who could not easily leave their vehicles while wearing required equipment. A drive-through window allowed customers to order and collect food without entering the restaurant.
The service became an important part of McDonald's operational and visual identity. Signs, menu boards, speaker systems, and lane markings made the drive-through a recognizable brand feature, especially as car-based dining expanded in the United States.
International McDonald's markets later used related names, including McDrive in some countries. That variation can cause confusion, but the standard American term associated with the original service is Drive-Thru. The spelling with a hyphen and capitalized brand styling is commonly used by McDonald's.