Study Ranks Michigan Drive-Thrus Among The Slowest In America

Ever sat in a drive-thru forever, staring at the car ahead of you, frustration building as you wonder what’s taking so long? Well, Michigan—this could be the answer.

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A new study from Sudoku Bliss (yes, the online puzzle site—stay with me) set out to find which states have the slowest drive-thrus. Why? Apparently, some of their users admitted to passing the time waiting in line by playing sudoku. So they decided to dig deeper, surveying fast food fans across 40 states about which drive-thrus felt the slowest and why.

Here’s a closer look at what the study revealed about Michigan’s drive-thru experience.

What the Study Found About Michigan Drive-Thrus

The findings:

• Michigan ranks No. 1 for the most understaffed drive-thrus in the U.S.
• Michigan is No. 7 for slowest drive-thrus overall
• Michigan comes in at No. 10 for longest food preparation times
• The most complained-about chain in Michigan is Tim Horton’s

READ MORE: These are Michigan's Top Fast Food Inventions

Michigan Tops List of Understaffed Drive-Thrus: See the Top 10

Curious which other states are also struggling with understaffed drive-thrus? Here are the top ten states with the most understaffed drive-thrus:

1. Michigan
2. Ohio
3. Maine
4. Nebraska
5. Massachusetts
6. Minnesota
7. Idaho
8. Iowa
9. Oregon
10. West Virginia

👇BELOW: THESE ARE MICHIGAN'S FAVORITE FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS👇

States With the Slowest Drive-Thru Service

When it comes to slowest drive-thru service, Michigan ranks No. 7, but other states top the list. Here are the ten states with the slowest drive-thru speeds nationwide:

1. California
2. Connecticut
3. New Mexico
4. Washington
5. New York
6. Maryland
7. Michigan
8. Illinois
9. Missouri
10. Massachusetts

Of course, sitting in a long drive-thru line isn’t anyone’s idea of fun. But it’s worth remembering: the “fast” in fast food doesn’t happen by magic. Behind every speaker box and drive-thru window is a crew trying to keep up—often while short-staffed. Fast food jobs at restaurants aren’t exactly easy or glamorous.

READ MORE: It's Finally Happening—More Hot 'N Restaurants to Open in Michigan

They can mean long hours, stressful shifts, and pay that hasn’t kept up with rising costs. Add in ongoing labor shortages and it’s not hard to see why service isn’t always as speedy as we’d like. And really—if it were your child or friend behind that fast food window, how would you want them to be treated?”

So while long waits are frustrating, maybe the next time you’re stuck in a line waiting on your nuggets and fries, take a deep breath… or hey, fire up an online puzzle.