National Drive-Thru Day

Joan Agie
Dec 22, 2023 By Joan Agie
Originally Published on Feb 15, 2022
Fact-checked by Amanpreet Kaur
Have a party in your car on National Drive-Thru Day.

Where is National Drive-Thru Day celebrated?

 This day is celebrated across America.

Who is National Drive-Thru Day celebrated by?

 This day can be celebrated by anyone looking to pick up a meal through a fast, easy, and convenient method. It is one of the most convenient eat-on-the-go options that's feeding a huge section of the population.

When did National Drive-Thru Day first start?

 National Drive-Thru Day was first celebrated in 2002.

Who started National Drive-Thru Day?

 This national day was started by the drive-thru chain Jack in the Box.

History And Timeline

A drive-thru is a service that customers can access without leaving their vehicle, by placing your order through a microphone and picking it up at the order window. During very busy times, customers need to park at a designated parking spot and their order will be brought to them.

They can be especially useful in the mornings when you need coffee shops to pick up your wake-me-up brew. Here is a brief history of how this convenient service began.

First Drive-In Set Up

Motorists were able to order food at the Pig Stand, located on the highway to Fort Worth, just outside Dallas. They could drive into the parking lot place their order and wait to be served.

1921

First Drive-Thru Set Up

The City Center Bank in Syracuse, New York, was the first drive-thru set up.

1928

First Drive-Thru In Missouri

Popular restaurant Red's Giant Hamburg opened a drive-thru in Springfield, Missouri.

1947

First Drive-Thru In San Diego

Jack in the Box, a fast-food restaurant, opened initially only as a drive-thru service in San Diego.

1951

McDonald's Started Drive-Thrus

The first McDonald's drive-thru is launched in Sierra Vista, Arizona.

1975

Traditions And Customs

 What better way to celebrate this day than a visit to your favorite drive-thru restaurant.

Ways To Celebrate National Drive-Thru Day

Many restaurants and drive-thrus offer deals and specials to help you celebrate this day. Look out for promotions for free fast food, drinks, or free in-store refills being offered on this day. Some of these offers include free chicken fingers offered by Wendy's, while Burger King also offers coupons on its phone app.

You can also sign up for coupons that you can enjoy throughout the year, such as the birthday freebie offered by Arby's, and Del Taco is another outlet that offers a birthday freebie. You can also participate in different events and earn free food.

Sign up for the DD perks program at Dunkin Donuts to earn free drinks. To celebrate this national day, Jack in the Box offers free milkshakes.

You can also try a new drive-thru on this day. For example, instead of just a drive-thru restaurant, you can visit the local pharmacy drive-thru.

Facts And Stats

  • According to reports, about 70% of fast food is sold through drive-thru windows so it's no wonder that there is a national day for it.
  • The drive-thru is fast expanding, from food to other business options such as liquor stores, law firms, gun stores, and art galleries. So the celebrations for this national day can only get bigger.
  • By the '80s, drive-thrus became so popular that they had an impact on the way cars were being designed, such as cup holders for takeaway drinks. This day recognizes such major changes.

What fast food restaurant created the drive-thru?

In-n-Out Burger first created the drive-thru in 1948.

What are some economic benefits from National Drive-Thru Day?

The biggest economic benefit from National Drive-Thru Day is to boost sales through the promotions that are offered.

What is the importance of National Drive-Thru Day?

This day is important to restaurants and it highlights a way they can expand their business more easily. From, a customer's perspective, this day celebrates convenience.

What are some disadvantages of National Drive-Thru Day?

Some of the disadvantages of this day are most restaurants serve fast food through their drive-through window so the food choice is not very healthy. With other businesses, such as a law firm or a pharmacy, a drive-thru reduces personal interaction which in some cases is necessary, especially during a pandemic.

When Is This Day Celebrated

  • Thursday, July 23, 2020
  • Friday, July 23, 2021
  • Saturday, July 23, 2022
  • Sunday, July 23, 2023
  • Tuesday, July 23, 2024

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Written by Joan Agie

Bachelor of Science specializing in Human Anatomy

Joan Agie picture

Joan AgieBachelor of Science specializing in Human Anatomy

With 3+ years of research and content writing experience across several niches, especially on education, technology, and business topics. Joan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Anatomy from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria, and has worked as a researcher and writer for organizations across Nigeria, the US, the UK, and Germany. Joan enjoys meditation, watching movies, and learning new languages in her free time.

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Fact-checked by Amanpreet Kaur

Bachelor of Business Administration, Masters of Business Administration specializing in Accounting and Finance

Amanpreet Kaur picture

Amanpreet KaurBachelor of Business Administration, Masters of Business Administration specializing in Accounting and Finance

Amanpreet has a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in Business Administration from the Birla Institute of Technology and Xavier Institute of Social Service respectively, coupled with her internships at Decimal Point Analytics and the Royal Bank of Scotland, has equipped her with the necessary skills to analyze complex data and present insights in an easy-to-understand format. Her paper on the impact of COVID-19 on CSR programs has received high commendation.

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