Who says you have to drive a car to satisfy your craving for a Big Mac?
No matter where you live, there’s a pretty good chance that there’s a McDonald’s nearby. And, save for the fortunate few who live within walking distance of the closest Golden Arches, we all need a ride to get our favorite McValue meals and McCrispy Strips.
The most common way to get to McDonald’s is by car, of course, but if you’ve ever considered pulling up to the restaurant in an alternative, throwback type of transportation, you might be in luck—at least at one McDonald’s outpost. That’s right, there’s a McDonald’s location that welcomes customers on horseback, and it even offers a place to park your steed.
Keep reading to find out which McDonald’s location has horse parking and where else you might encounter this unusual parking setup.
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Which McDonald’s has horse parking?
The McDonald’s in Dundalk, Ontario, in the southern part of the Canadian province, has horse parking in addition to regular vehicle parking. You might think the restaurant has been there for decades, but in fact, it’s surprisingly new. It’s less than a year old, having just opened at the end of 2024, marking a particularly special occasion in the small, rural township.
Why does this McDonald’s have horse parking?
Dundalk, Ontario, is home to a sizable Mennonite community, which explains why the new McDonald’s has horse parking. Mennonites are a religious group of Anabaptist Christians who adhere to several strict beliefs and rules, including nonviolence, community, service and a simplistic lifestyle. While that simple lifestyle means driving a horse-and-buggy for transportation instead of a car, it doesn’t mean Mennonites can’t enjoy McDonald’s!
Do any communities in the U.S. have McDonald’s with horse parking?
Yes! McDonald’s locations in areas across the United States with large populations of Mennonites and Amish have horse parking. Reddit users have cited McDonald’s locations with horse parking in parts of Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania, where there are robust Amish communities.
Can you take a horse through the drive-thru?
McDonald’s welcomes guests arriving via horse-and-buggy, but you’ll want to park and order inside. McDonald’s drive-thrus aren’t designed for horses, and in fact, horses are strictly prohibited. If you want to visit the drive-thru at any McDonald’s, you’ll have to do so by car.
What else is prohibited at the drive-thru?
It’s not just horses that are prohibited from using the McDonald’s drive-thru. According to McDonald’s, the “drive-thru is for people in motor vehicles only.” The reason is simple: safety. Pedestrians, cyclists and anyone else not in a motor vehicle can get hurt due to limited visibility by people in cars going through the drive-thru. Plus, it can be difficult to carry food and drinks if you’re not in a car! Prohibited modes of transportation in the drive-thru include:
- Horses
- Bicycles
- Electric bicycles
- Roller-skates
- Rollerblades
- Walking
- Scooters
- Skateboards
If you’re using one of the above to get to McD’s, play it safe and order inside.
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Sources:
- Reddit: “McDonalds horse parking”
- Reddit: “This McDonald’s I went to has horse parking”
- Reddit: “McDonald’s Dundalk is finally open”
- McDonald’s: “What are your service policies for Drive Thru lanes?”
