Average time in drive-through lanes

The average time spent by drivers in drive-through service lanes at major national fast-food brands, from entering the drive-through lane to ordering, and from ordering to collecting food and exiting the lane.

* Figures represent national average times in minutes and seconds, which can vary widely depending on location, time of day, number of vehicles in line, and other factors. "Wait to order" time is the amount of time from when the customer enters the drive-through to when they begin placing their order. "Order to exit" time is the amount of time it took for the customer to place their order until they exit the drive-through with their food. "Total time" may not fully add up to "wait to order" and "order to exit" times due to rounding. Only national chains with outlets in the San Joaquin Valley are included in this chart.
Chart: Tim Sheehan / Central Valley Journalism CollaborativeSource: 25th Annual Intouch Insight Drive-Thru 2025 Study