You probably think you can’t throw a rock in this country without hitting a Golden Arch. Honestly, you’re not that far off. If you’ve ever wondered how many McDonalds in the US actually exist while sitting in a drive-thru line, the answer is a moving target that tells a massive story about American hunger and corporate strategy.
As of early 2026, there are approximately 13,850 McDonald's restaurants operating across the United States.
That number might sound like a lot—and it is—but it’s actually part of a very deliberate "second wind" for the company. For years, the count hovered right around 13,500. People thought Mickey D’s had reached "peak burger." They were wrong. The company is currently in the middle of its most aggressive expansion since the 1990s. They aren't just flipping burgers; they're fundamentally rewriting the map of American fast food.
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The State-by-State Breakdown: Where the Burgers Live
It is a common misconception that New York or Illinois has the most locations because of their history or population density. Not quite. If you want to find the true capital of the Golden Arches, you have to look at the Sun Belt.
Texas currently holds the crown with over 1,250 locations.
California is a razor-thin second, usually fluctuating within ten stores of Texas depending on which franchises opened their doors this month. Florida rounds out the top three. It’s no coincidence that these are the fastest-growing states in terms of population. McDonald's follows the people. Specifically, they follow the people who need a quick breakfast before a long commute on a Texas highway.
The Numbers That Matter
- Texas: ~1,250
- California: ~1,240
- Florida: ~900
- Illinois: ~645
- Ohio: ~620
Illinois is an interesting case. It’s the home of the global headquarters in Chicago, yet it’s fourth on the list. You’d think they’d be everywhere there, but the brand is shifting focus toward "under-developed" suburban and rural markets where land is cheaper and drive-thru demand is higher.
Why the Number is Growing Again
For a long time, McDonald's was actually shrinking its footprint. Between 2014 and 2020, they closed more stores than they opened. They were trimming the fat, getting rid of underperforming mall locations and "express" versions that didn't have drive-thrus.
Then everything changed.
The "Accelerating the Arches" plan kicked in. The company realized that in a post-2020 world, the drive-thru is king. They stopped caring about having a counter inside a downtown skyscraper and started obsessing over "CosMc’s" and digital-only footprints. They have publically stated a goal of reaching 50,000 global locations by 2027, and about 900 of those new builds are earmarked for the US market.
Basically, they’ve realized there are still "food deserts" where people want a Quarter Pounder but have to drive fifteen minutes to get one. They’re filling those gaps with surgical precision.
The Density Myth
Is there a McDonald's on every corner? Not quite. But if you’re in a major metro area, you’re rarely more than three miles from one.
The city with the most locations? Houston, Texas. Houston has over 125 McDonald's restaurants within its city limits. Chicago is second with about 102. What’s wild is that the density isn't just about people; it's about traffic patterns. Data shows that McDonald's real estate team looks for the "morning side" of the road—the side people are on when they’re heading to work and craving a McMuffin.
Digital-First and Smaller Footprints
The how many McDonalds in the US question is getting harder to answer because of "ghost" versions. Have you seen those tiny, automated buildings popping up? Some of the newest additions to the store count aren't even full-service restaurants.
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They are small-format, delivery-and-carryout-only spots.
They don't have playplaces. They don't have dining rooms. They barely have windows. By stripping away the "restaurant" part, they can squeeze a McDonald's into a tiny lot that would have been impossible ten years ago. This is how they plan to keep the number ticking upward even in "saturated" markets.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Franchise
One of the biggest nuances people miss is who actually owns these 13,850 stores. McDonald's Corporation is essentially a real estate company. They own the land and the buildings, but over 95% of those US locations are operated by independent franchisees.
These aren't just corporate drones; they are local business owners who pay rent to the "Mother Ship."
This is why the number of stores matters so much to the stock price. More stores means more rent collected, regardless of whether the store sells one Big Mac or a million. It’s a low-risk, high-reward growth model that has allowed them to survive while other chains struggle.
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How to Use This Information
If you’re a business owner or just a curious consumer, there are a few takeaways from the way McDonald's maps out the country:
- Watch the Sun Belt: If McDonald's is building three new stores in a specific North Carolina suburb, that’s a massive signal that the area is about to explode in value.
- The Drive-Thru is the Business: If you are looking at retail trends, notice that McDonald's is moving away from foot traffic and toward vehicle access.
- App Loyalty is the New Real Estate: They are using their 150 million+ loyalty members to decide where to build. If they see a thousand people in a certain zip code opening the app but no store nearby, they build one.
Finding the Nearest Golden Arch
If you need to verify the exact count in your specific town, the most accurate way isn't actually Google Maps—it's the McDonald's Store Locator on their official site. It updates in real-time as franchises open or close for renovation.
Next Steps for You: Check your local municipal planning board's public records if you want to see if a new location is coming to your neighborhood. McDonald's often files permits under subsidiary names or "real estate holding" titles months before the sign goes up. You can also monitor the company's quarterly earnings reports, which provide the most up-to-date "net new" store counts for the domestic market.