My kingdom for a Sonic Drive-In

Greenbriar added a drive thru? Awesome!

There are two Taco Bell drive throughs in Vienna - one near Tysons and one in the town. Used to be a KFC in Vienna but it closed recently. There is a Burger King in Falls Church City. Arby's has one in Merrifield.

Its a factor of land value more than strict zoning. There used to be more drive-throughs on 1/2 acre lots in close-in areas, but they've mostly been consolidated into larger developments.

Merrifield has a drive-through Wendy's and a drive-through Panda Express at the gas station and sweetwater tavern corner of Gallows/50. I really miss the late-night drive-through taco bell, though. Sigh. The McDonald's on the East side of Gallows just North of 50 has a drive-through. Annandale has a bunch too.

I just moved to Arlington and was a little excited to see a Wendy's, McD's, KFC AND Taco Bell drive-through all within a mile of my house. I got a lot of tacos the first month till the novelty wore off.

I think the problem is that none of them are close to either 66 or the Toll Road and you can't see them from the road. It isn't like you're on 70 coming through MD and there is a sign with gas/food/lodging at each exit.

For the record....

Exit at Centerville Rd - north and south there are drive through places. If you go south, in the Shoppers Food Warehouse shopping center is a drive thru Starbucks. Head north and you will hit Taco Bell and Wendys on the left. This is the first exit past 28 when you leave the airport. Chick Fil A is in front of Target in Reston - you would exit at FFX Cty Parkway, turn left then you will see Target on the right - get on Sunset Hills and CFA is on the left.

Other than that, the closer you get to the beltway, the farther away from the freeways the food gets. I've made that drive and there isn't anything else until you get on 95 and are pretty close to the airport. I can only assume it's due to space and traffic.

Do you have a smartphone with like google maps or something? Use it - it has saved my life on more than one occasion.

The Starbucks in Greenbriar shopping center on Rte 50 just added a drive through, I was just there today. Just look for the giant hole in the ground where McDonalds used to be and you'll find it.

What's the deal with McDonalds in the Pan Am shopping center NOT having a drive through? It isn't like space is tight in that giant parking lot that is rarely filled?

And there's a Chik-fil-a drive-thru at Fairfax Circle and another Starbucks drive-thru at Route 29 near the intersection with Main St./236 in Fairfax City.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not looking at advice about my eating habits, just wondering if anyone has an idea if they are zoned out. Thanks for satisfying my curiousity.

They are not "zoned out" as there are drive-through Starbucks, Chik-fil-a, Asian food, etc. options in Fairfax County.

Where? I have not been able to find any. Just McDonalds, sigh. I would love to get my Starbucks fix on the go

www.starbucks.com

Go to the bottom of the screen and click on Store Locator.

Type in your location and check off the box next to Drive-Thru and click on the green box with the magnifying glass to search.

Thanks!

Love the drive-thru Starbucks on Columbia Pike in Falls Church!

Anonymous wrote:I don't think they're necessarily zoned out, but just the way Fairfax County is zoned, it makes it more difficult to just zip into one unless you know specifically where it is. The Starbucks at Herndon Clocktower has a drive-through.

Ok, great, thanks. Good to know. I guess I will have to keep searching in my neck of the woods. Any drive through Starbucks or sandwich shops near Fairfax or Fair Oaks?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not looking at advice about my eating habits, just wondering if anyone has an idea if they are zoned out. Thanks for satisfying my curiousity.

They are not "zoned out" as there are drive-through Starbucks, Chik-fil-a, Asian food, etc. options in Fairfax County.

Where? I have not been able to find any. Just McDonalds, sigh. I would love to get my Starbucks fix on the go

www.starbucks.com

Go to the bottom of the screen and click on Store Locator.

Type in your location and check off the box next to Drive-Thru and click on the green box with the magnifying glass to search.

I don't think they're necessarily zoned out, but just the way Fairfax County is zoned, it makes it more difficult to just zip into one unless you know specifically where it is. The Starbucks at Herndon Clocktower has a drive-through.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not looking at advice about my eating habits, just wondering if anyone has an idea if they are zoned out. Thanks for satisfying my curiousity.

They are not "zoned out" as there are drive-through Starbucks, Chik-fil-a, Asian food, etc. options in Fairfax County.

Where? I have not been able to find any. Just McDonalds, sigh. I would love to get my Starbucks fix on the go

By "where" I don't mean give me all the addresses. I am wondering if they are in the newer areas as opposed to the more established towns. In the areas we have lived (along the blue and orange lines) it seems like most of the quick food non-McDs places are walk ups.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not looking at advice about my eating habits, just wondering if anyone has an idea if they are zoned out. Thanks for satisfying my curiousity.

They are not "zoned out" as there are drive-through Starbucks, Chik-fil-a, Asian food, etc. options in Fairfax County.

Where? I have not been able to find any. Just McDonalds, sigh. I would love to get my Starbucks fix on the go

Anonymous wrote:I am not looking at advice about my eating habits, just wondering if anyone has an idea if they are zoned out. Thanks for satisfying my curiousity.

They are not "zoned out" as there are drive-through Starbucks, Chik-fil-a, Asian food, etc. options in Fairfax County.

I have a really strange question. Is there a zoning law in Fairfax County banning or severly limiting drive through restaurants?

The reason I ask is that I had a day of crazy driving between two airports, BWI and Dulles with my kids in tow. Even though they ate beforehand they got very hungry in the middle of all the driving. I was on a strict time limit so I thought I would hit a drive through.

It took me forever to find one on the path I was driving. (Mcdonalds)

Then I realized that I almost never see drive throughs around here, with the exception of a handful of McDonalds and the very occasional Wendy's. When I go to the outlying areas like Woodbridge I can find a good variety, but not in Fairfax County.

In all the other parts of the country I have lived in there is always a good variety, including Starbucks, Arbys, Chik-fil-a, Asian food, and various mom and pop drive through coffee stands. I would love to have another option on days like today when we are on the go that does not involve getting my kids unloaded, herded in and out and strapped back into the car.

Before moving back here I never thought how convenient it is to have a drive through choice that does not consist of burgers, nuggets and fries, such as turkey sandwiches or veggie paninis (plus my ice latte).

I am not looking at advice about my eating habits, just wondering if anyone has an idea if they are zoned out. Thanks for satisfying my curiousity.