# Farthest one can be from a McDonald's in the lower 48: 145 miles **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 28, 2009, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farthest-one-can-be-from-a-mcdonalds-in-the-lower-48-145-miles/511910 "2009-09-28T22:33:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2009, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farthest-one-can-be-from-a-mcdonalds-in-the-lower-48-145-miles/511910/1 "2009-09-28T22:33:41Z")
Check out this map of [McDonald’s ubiquity](http://strangemaps.wordpress.com/2009/09/26/413-the-mcfarthest-place-145-mi-to-the-nearest-big-mac/) to see just how deeply they’ve penetrated the nation. Of course, the 145 miles is by road. If one could fly, it would only be 107 miles. I’m not a McDonald’s hater, but this map makes me sad. Sometimes I just want to be further away than that from fast food. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2009, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farthest-one-can-be-from-a-mcdonalds-in-the-lower-48-145-miles/511910/2 "2009-09-28T22:49:49Z")
The little square in the east is curious. Where is that, Virginia? Probably a county or two. Here’s something even more depressing to consider: that’s just McDonald’s. McD’s is the most ubiquitous, sure, but even in those dark patches there’s probably quite a few other fast food chains instead. If it’s any consolation, they’re likely to be much better quality than McD’s. Styrofoam would be better quality than McD’s. ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2009, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farthest-one-can-be-from-a-mcdonalds-in-the-lower-48-145-miles/511910/3 "2009-09-28T23:17:10Z")
That’s just about the right spot to be the [Monongahela National Forest](http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=monongahela%20forest&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl) in West Virginia. In fact, I’d bet a lot of the empty spaces, especially out West, are national parks/forests. Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2009, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farthest-one-can-be-from-a-mcdonalds-in-the-lower-48-145-miles/511910/4 "2009-09-28T23:21:16Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > The little square in the east is curious. Where is that, Virginia? Probably a county or two. I think it’s mostly in West Virginia, around the Monongahela National Forest, though part may be in Virginia, on the other side of the Allegheny Mountains. ETA: I see **Mtgman** got there first. ---
**Author:** ![whole\_bean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@whole\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whole_bean)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2009, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farthest-one-can-be-from-a-mcdonalds-in-the-lower-48-145-miles/511910/5 "2009-09-28T23:36:45Z")
good news is, if you’re lost in the wilderness, at most, you’re only 140 some odd miles from civilization ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2009, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farthest-one-can-be-from-a-mcdonalds-in-the-lower-48-145-miles/511910/6 "2009-09-28T23:46:58Z")
> [@Mtgman](#): > > That’s just about the right spot to be the [Monongahela National Forest](http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=monongahela%20forest&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl) in West Virginia. In fact, I’d bet a lot of the empty spaces, especially out West, are national parks/forests. > > Enjoy, > Steven Aha, thanks. That makes sense. I figured it had to be some kind of artificial boundary. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farthest-one-can-be-from-a-mcdonalds-in-the-lower-48-145-miles/511910/7 "2009-09-29T00:17:18Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > I think it’s mostly in West Virginia, around the Monongahela National Forest, though part may be in Virginia, on the other side of the Allegheny Mountains. > > ETA: I see **Mtgman** got there first. For the record ('cuz I’ve been there) Mon National Forest is absolutely breathtaking. Only about 45 minutes from where I currently live, though when I last visited, I lived several hours away, near Baltimore. ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farthest-one-can-be-from-a-mcdonalds-in-the-lower-48-145-miles/511910/8 "2009-09-29T00:40:11Z")
I can definitely tell which one is ours; still there are places in Canyonlands that are only about 50 miles in a straight line, but would take you 12 hours to drive out. If you were down on the river, it would be two days. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farthest-one-can-be-from-a-mcdonalds-in-the-lower-48-145-miles/511910/9 "2009-09-29T00:45:23Z")
> [@Mtgman](#): > > Haven’t seen a Starbucks, but here’s [an animated map showing Wal-Mart’s spread](http://projects.flowingdata.com/walmart/) from their first store through 2006. > > Enjoy, > Steven That was kind of cool. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farthest-one-can-be-from-a-mcdonalds-in-the-lower-48-145-miles/511910/10 "2009-09-29T01:00:36Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > That was kind of cool. Scary. But cool. ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farthest-one-can-be-from-a-mcdonalds-in-the-lower-48-145-miles/511910/11 "2009-09-29T01:52:32Z")
> [@Mtgman](#): > > Haven’t seen a Starbucks, but here’s [an animated map showing Wal-Mart’s spread](http://projects.flowingdata.com/walmart/) from their first store through 2006. > > Enjoy, > Steven That was cool. A little sad, but totally cool. On second look, there’s not much out west. ROOM FOR CAPITALIST GROWTH! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![palindromemordnilap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@palindromemordnilap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/palindromemordnilap)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farthest-one-can-be-from-a-mcdonalds-in-the-lower-48-145-miles/511910/12 "2009-09-29T13:37:40Z")
Starbucks worldwide map circa 2006 - If I understand correctly, this includes only company owned and operated stores, not franchises. That might explain why thre are no SBux shown in China, e.g., although I recall they opened a bunch of locations there some years ago. [http://maker.geocommons.com/maps/82](http://maker.geocommons.com/maps/82) ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farthest-one-can-be-from-a-mcdonalds-in-the-lower-48-145-miles/511910/13 "2009-09-29T13:54:00Z")
Cool. I love maps like this, and often think about how far I can get from various “things.” Last month we travelled to the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. After Port Townsend, we drove some 150 miles by road down through Queets, without passing a McDonalds (or a WalMart, or a Starbucks . . .) I was impressed. Very nice to know you can still get that far away from “civilization.” ---
**Author:** ![Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uosdwis_R.Dewoh)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farthest-one-can-be-from-a-mcdonalds-in-the-lower-48-145-miles/511910/14 "2009-09-29T14:02:44Z")
You don’t like it, move to [del]Russia[/del] North Korea. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farthest-one-can-be-from-a-mcdonalds-in-the-lower-48-145-miles/511910/15 "2009-09-29T15:39:21Z")
According to Wikipedia there are no McDonald’s in Nunavut, so you have options besides North Korea. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farthest-one-can-be-from-a-mcdonalds-in-the-lower-48-145-miles/511910/16 "2009-09-29T15:43:40Z")
Thanks, I am now inspired to try and buy some land in South Dakota, it would be pretty cool to have my house exactly on the spot.