Maryland’s First McDonald’s On-The-Go Location is Now Open

McDonald’s has opened its newest restaurant at 11710 Rockville Pike in North Bethesda, located in the former Arby’s site, which closed its last Montgomery County location in May 2021.

This location, which started construction last fall, appears to be part of McDonald’s new “On the Go” concept, which includes a smaller/limited lobby and focuses primarily on delivery and pick-up services.

It’s now available for ordering via the McDonald’s app and is open 24 hours. This new location shifts the focus to delivery, drive-thru, and pick-up– contrasting sharply with the previous McDonald’s less than a half mile away that this location replaces, which did not offer a drive-thru option.

A McDonald’s-based social media account, McFranchisee, shared details about the first “On the Go” concept that opened in Los Angeles in December 2024:

“1st ever…

This week a @McDonalds in Los Angeles (I wonder why…🤔) opened up the first ‘on the go’ $mcd.

It appears to be:
Drive thru focused
No lobby
Mobile pickup window
McDelivery lockers

The lockers are a big deal because they have not been approved for the US system, despite international markets having them. I’m a huge fan. It’s interesting they have a separate pickup window for mobile orders vs just including them in lockers with delivery orders.

I love the innovation, there are some sites this would work very well at. Full restaurants will still have their place but it’s nice to have this as an option.”

Restaurant Business Online reported on the concept, stating, “One of the bigger innovations is a group of food lockers exclusively for delivery orders. Lockers are increasingly common in restaurants and McDonald’s uses them in international markets, but this is the first test of them in the U.S. Mobile orders, meanwhile, are picked up in a separate window.”

The new North Bethesda location will implement these service innovations as part of McDonald’s ongoing efforts to enhance customer convenience through delivery and mobile order technology with the possibility for outdoor tables for customers to sit and eat.