In-N-Out Burger, founded in 1948 in Baldwin Park, California, has grown from a single drive-thru hamburger stand to a beloved regional fast-food chain with over 380 locations across seven states. Known for its commitment to quality and resistance to rapid expansion, In-N-Out has maintained a strategic approach to opening new locations while preserving its core values and cult following.
Historical Expansion
Timeline of State Entries
Year
State
First Location
Notable Details
1948
California
Baldwin Park
Original location, drive-thru only
1992
Nevada
Las Vegas
First expansion outside California
2000
Arizona
Phoenix
Marked entry into the Southwest market
2008
Utah
Washington City
First location in the Mountain region
2011
Texas
Frisco
Largest expansion outside California
2015
Oregon
Medford
Entry into the Pacific Northwest
2020
Colorado
Colorado Springs
Most recent state addition
2023
Idaho
Meridian
Opened at the end of last year
Current Locations by State
As of 2024, here’s the breakdown of In-N-Out locations by state:
State
Number of Locations
Population Served
Locations per Million Residents
California
267
39.5 million
6.76
Texas
41
29.5 million
1.39
Arizona
33
7.4 million
4.46
Nevada
21
3.1 million
6.77
Utah
12
3.3 million
3.64
Oregon
7
4.2 million
1.67
Colorado
4
5.8 million
0.69
Idaho
1
1.79 million
1.79
Location Strategy
In-N-Out employs a methodical approach to selecting new locations, adhering to several key principles:
Distribution Center Proximity
All restaurants must be within a day’s drive (300 miles) of distribution facilities
Ensures fresh ingredients and maintains quality control
Market Saturation
Gradual expansion within markets
Avoids cannibalization of existing locations
Property Ownership
Company typically owns rather than leases properties
Provides long-term stability and control
Distribution Center Locations
Center Location
Year Opened
States Served
Maximum Restaurant Range
Baldwin Park, CA
1948
Southern California
300 miles
Lathrop, CA
2006
Northern California, Oregon
300 miles
Phoenix, AZ
2001
Arizona, Nevada
300 miles
Dallas, TX
2011
Texas
300 miles
Colorado Springs, CO
2020
Colorado, Utah
300 miles
Restaurant Format and Design
In-N-Out maintains consistent design elements across all locations:
Standard Features
Drive-thru service
Indoor seating capacity: 65-80 people
Outdoor patio seating
Distinctive white and red color scheme
Palm tree designs (where climate permits)
Location Types
Type
Percentage of Total
Typical Square Footage
Average Daily Transactions
Standard
70%
3,000
1,500
High Volume
20%
3,500
2,000
Urban
10%
2,500
1,800
Economic Impact
Employment Statistics
State
Total Employees
Average Wage
Economic Impact (Millions USD)
California
15,000
$16.20/hr
$450
Texas
2,500
$15.50/hr
$75
Arizona
1,800
$15.00/hr
$54
Nevada
1,200
$15.75/hr
$36
Utah
700
$14.75/hr
$21
Oregon
400
$15.25/hr
$12
Colorado
250
$16.00/hr
$7.5
Local Economic Benefits
Job creation
Tax revenue generation
Increased property values
Tourism attraction
Future Expansion Plans
In-N-Out has announced plans for significant expansion:
Tennessee Expansion
First location planned for Nashville area by 2026
New distribution center under construction
Initial plans for 8-10 locations statewide
Potential Future States
Idaho
New Mexico
Oklahoma
Customer Response and Regional Variations
Customer Satisfaction Metrics
State
Average Wait Time (minutes)
Customer Satisfaction Score
Most Popular Menu Item
California
15
4.8/5
Double-Double
Texas
18
4.7/5
Animal Style Fries
Arizona
14
4.8/5
3×3 Burger
Nevada
16
4.7/5
Double-Double
Utah
17
4.6/5
Cheeseburger
Oregon
20
4.5/5
Double-Double
Colorado
22
4.4/5
Animal Style Burger
Regional Menu Adaptations
While the core menu remains consistent, some regional variations exist:
Extra drink options in hotter climates
Larger dining areas in colder states
Extended hours in tourist-heavy locations
Additional Facts and Figures
Average restaurant size: 3,000 square feet
Typical lot size requirement: 45,000-65,000 square feet
Average distance between locations: 15 miles
Typical investment per new location: $1.5-2 million
Average annual revenue per location: $4.5 million
Company-wide annual revenue: Approximately $1.1 billion
Restaurant Performance Metrics
Metric
Industry Average
In-N-Out Average
Daily Customers
800
1,500
Revenue per Square Foot
$341
$1,500
Employee Turnover Rate
150%
30%
Average Order Value
$8.50
$12.75
In-N-Out’s measured approach to expansion, focusing on quality over quantity, has created a unique position in the fast-food industry. As the company continues to grow, it maintains its commitment to its founding principles while adapting to new markets and customer expectations. The careful selection of locations, combined with consistent quality and customer service, ensures that each new In-N-Out restaurant becomes a valued addition to its community.
In-N-Out Drive-Thru Locations
Drive-Thru Coverage Statistics
State
Total Locations
Locations with Drive-Thru
Percentage
California
267
266
99.6%
Texas
41
41
100%
Arizona
33
33
100%
Nevada
21
21
100%
Utah
12
12
100%
Oregon
7
7
100%
Colorado
4
4
100%
Idaho
1
1
100%
*Note: Only one location in California (Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco) lacks a drive-thru due to urban space constraints.
Drive-Thru Configuration Types
Standard Drive-Thru Layouts
Configuration Type
Percentage of Locations
Average Throughput (cars/hour)
Single Lane Traditional
40%
70
Dual Lane Y-Configuration
35%
120
Dual Lane Side-by-Side
15%
110
Extended Single Lane
10%
85
Regional Drive-Thru Characteristics
California Drive-Thru Locations
Average lot size: 45,000 sq ft
Typical queue capacity: 15-20 vehicles
Double lane prevalence: 60% of locations
Texas Drive-Thru Locations
Average lot size: 52,000 sq ft
Typical queue capacity: 18-25 vehicles
Double lane prevalence: 70% of locations
Arizona Drive-Thru Locations
Average lot size: 48,000 sq ft
Typical queue capacity: 15-22 vehicles
Double lane prevalence: 65% of locations
Drive-Thru Location Performance Metrics
State
Average Daily Drive-Thru Transactions
Peak Hour Capacity
Average Wait Time
California
950
150 cars
14.5 minutes
Texas
1,100
165 cars
15.2 minutes
Arizona
975
155 cars
13.8 minutes
Nevada
925
145 cars
14.1 minutes
Utah
900
140 cars
16.7 minutes
Oregon
850
135 cars
17.3 minutes
Colorado
825
130 cars
18.1 minutes
Urban vs. Suburban Drive-Thru Locations
Urban Locations (15% of total)
Average lot size: 35,000 sq ft
Typical queue capacity: 10-15 vehicles
Often feature compact designs
Higher percentage of dual lanes to manage volume
Suburban Locations (85% of total)
Average lot size: 50,000 sq ft
Typical queue capacity: 18-25 vehicles
More spacious layouts
Mix of single and dual lanes
Drive-Thru Location Design Standards
Minimum Requirements for New Locations
Lot size: 45,000 sq ft minimum
Street frontage: 150 ft minimum
Queue capacity: 15 vehicles minimum
Escape lane width: 9 ft minimum
Optimal Design Elements
Corner lot preference
Multiple entry/exit points
Separate drive-thru and parking lot traffic flows
Special Drive-Thru Configurations
Highway-Adjacent Locations
30% of all locations
Enhanced queue capacity (25+ vehicles)
Multiple menu board stations
Dedicated overflow lanes
Shopping Center Locations
25% of all locations
Integrated traffic flow with shopping center
Often feature wrapped queue designs
Shared parking arrangements
Drive-Thru Location Site Selection Criteria
Criterion
Requirement
Importance Rating
Traffic Count
25,000+ vehicles daily
Critical
Corner Lot
Preferred
High
Distance from Competition
1.5 miles minimum
Medium
Population Density
30,000 within 3 miles
High
Median Income
$50,000+ in trade area
Medium
Historic Drive-Thru Locations
Notable Historic Sites
Original Baldwin Park location (1948)
First In-N-Out drive-thru
Established the blueprint for future locations
Historical marker present
Pasadena location (1952)
First with expanded queue design
Template for modern layouts
Future Drive-Thru Location Plans
Tennessee Expansion (Planned)
8-10 locations by 2026
All featuring drive-thru service
Enhanced designs based on learnings from existing states
Potential Future State Locations
Idaho: 5-7 planned drive-thru locations
New Mexico: 6-8 planned drive-thru locations
Oklahoma: 8-10 planned drive-thru locations
Drive-Thru Location Challenges and Solutions
Challenge
Affected Locations
Solution Implemented
Limited Space
Urban (15%)
Compact designs, vertical stacking
High Volume
Tourist Areas (20%)
Dual lanes, expanded queue capacity
Weather
Cold Climate States
Heated ordering areas, covered queues
Local Regulations
Varies by Municipality
Custom designs meeting local codes
Economic Impact of Drive-Thru Locations
Employment at Drive-Thru Locations
Average of 10-12 employees dedicated to drive-thru operations per shift
Specialized training for drive-thru positions
Higher wages for drive-thru specialists (+$1/hour on average)
Revenue Generation
Drive-thru sales: 65-70% of total revenue per location
Average daily drive-thru transactions: 975
Peak hour capacity: 150 cars per hour
Conclusion
In-N-Out’s drive-thru locations represent a carefully planned and executed network of restaurants that prioritize efficiency, customer service, and consistency. With 99.7% of all locations featuring drive-thru service, it remains a core component of the company’s business model and customer experience. As In-N-Out continues to expand, its drive-thru locations will undoubtedly evolve while maintaining the high standards that have made them iconic in the fast-food industry.
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