Dairy Queen Locations – Find a DQ Near You (Updated 2026)
Dairy Queen is one of America’s most iconic fast-food chains, loved for its Blizzard Treats, soft-serve cones, and a full menu of burgers, chicken strips, and hot dogs. As of 2026, Dairy Queen locations span 4,176+ restaurants across 49 U.S. states — and over 7,700 worldwide in more than 20 countries.
The only U.S. state without a single DQ? Vermont.
Quick Reference: Dairy Queen at a Glance
| Category | Details (2026) |
|---|---|
| Total U.S. Locations | 4,176+ restaurants |
| States with Presence | 49 states and territories |
| Top 3 States | Texas (528), Ohio (~250+), Illinois (~250+) |
| Global Locations | 7,700+ in 20+ countries |
| Headquarters | Bloomington, Minnesota |
| Founded | June 22, 1940 — Joliet, Illinois |
| Parent Company | Berkshire Hathaway |
All Dairy Queen Locations — State-by-State Coverage
| State | Locations | Major Cities/Regions |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 528 | Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth, Lubbock, Amarillo |
| Ohio | 250+ | Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo, Akron |
| Illinois | 250+ | Chicago metro, Springfield, Peoria, Rockford, Champaign |
| Minnesota | 200+ | Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth, Rochester, Mankato |
| Indiana | 150+ | Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, South Bend, Evansville, Bloomington |
| Michigan | 150+ | Detroit metro, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Flint, Ann Arbor |
| Oklahoma | 130+ | Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Norman, Broken Arrow, Edmond |
| Kansas | 100+ | Wichita, Kansas City, Overland Park, Topeka, Lawrence |
| Missouri | 100+ | St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, Columbia, Jefferson City |
| Iowa | 90+ | Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Sioux City, Iowa City |
| Wisconsin | 90+ | Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha, Appleton |
| Nebraska | 80+ | Omaha, Lincoln, Bellevue, Grand Island, Kearney |
| Pennsylvania | 80+ | Philadelphia suburbs, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie, Harrisburg |
| Georgia | 80+ | Atlanta metro, Savannah, Augusta, Macon, Columbus |
| Florida | 75+ | Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, Pensacola, Tallahassee |
| Colorado | 70+ | Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora, Fort Collins, Boulder |
| California | 60+ | Los Angeles, Fresno, Sacramento, San Diego, Bakersfield |
| Virginia | 87+ | Richmond, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Roanoke, Northern VA |
| North Carolina | 60+ | Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham, Fayetteville |
| Washington | 50+ | Seattle metro, Spokane, Tacoma, Yakima, Tri-Cities |
| Arizona | 55+ | Phoenix/Maricopa metro, Tucson, Flagstaff, Mesa, Tempe |
| Kentucky | 80+ | Louisville, Lexington, Bowling Green, Owensboro, Covington |
| Tennessee | 70+ | Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Clarksville |
| Alabama | 60+ | Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery, Mobile, Tuscaloosa |
| South Dakota | 40+ | Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Aberdeen, Watertown, Brookings |
| North Dakota | 30+ | Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot, Dickinson |
| New York | 70+ | Buffalo, Syracuse, Albany, Rochester (limited NYC presence) |
| Arkansas | 60+ | Little Rock, Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Jonesboro, Conway |
| Mississippi | 50+ | Jackson, Gulfport, Biloxi, Hattiesburg, Meridian |
| Hawaii | 5+ | Honolulu, Maui, Hilo |
| Alaska | 5+ | Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau |
| Vermont | 0 | No Dairy Queen locations |
Dairy Queen Headquarters Location
Dairy Queen headquarters is located in Bloomington, Minnesota. The full parent company — International Dairy Queen, Inc. (IDQ) — operates out of Bloomington and oversees all U.S. and international franchise operations.
IDQ is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, acquired by Warren Buffett’s company in 1998.
The Bloomington HQ manages:
- Franchise development and approvals
- Menu innovation and R&D
- National marketing campaigns
- International expansion strategy
How to Find a Dairy Queen Near You
Official DQ Store Locator
Go to Dairy Queen Location Locator and search by:
- ZIP code
- City or state
- Current location (GPS-based)
Google Maps
Search “Dairy Queen near me” for:
- Directions and estimated drive time
- Live hours and busy times
- Customer reviews and photos
- Drive-thru confirmation
DQ Mobile App (iOS & Android)
The DQ app lets you:
- Find nearby Dairy Queen locations with GPS
- Order ahead for pickup
- Access the Blizzard Fan Club for deals
- Earn and redeem DQ Rewards points
Best Time to Visit
| Time | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| 10 AM – 12 PM | Low crowds, fresh morning prep |
| 12 PM – 2 PM | Lunch rush — busiest window |
| 2 PM – 5 PM | Quietest part of the day |
| 7 PM – 9 PM | Evening dessert crowd picks up |
| After 9:30 PM | Drive-thru only at most locations |
What to Expect at Any Dairy Queen Location
Signature Menu Items
- Blizzard Treats (30+ flavors, served upside-down)
- DQ Soft Serve Cones — plain or dipped
- Stackburgers
- Chicken Strip Basket
- DQ Cakes and Ice Cream Cakes
- Dilly Bars
- Orange Julius (select locations)
- Banana Splits
Hours at a Glance
Most Dairy Queen locations operate from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily. Drive-thru windows often stay open 30 to 60 minutes past lobby closing.
Only 15–20% of DQ locations serve breakfast (mostly Grill & Chill restaurants in Texas, Florida, and California) — typically 6:00 AM to 10:30 AM.
Service Options
| Service | Availability |
|---|---|
| Drive-thru | 95%+ of locations |
| Dine-in | Most Grill & Chill restaurants |
| Delivery | DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub |
| Mobile ordering | Via DQ app |
| Catering | Select locations |
| Breakfast | Grill & Chill only (15–20% of stores) |
Popular Dairy Queen Locations by City
Texas
Houston: 40+ locations across Harris County and suburbs Dallas-Fort Worth: 35+ restaurants spanning the metroplex San Antonio: 25+ locations, including suburbs and Loop 410 corridor
Texas is DQ’s biggest market by far — with 528 locations, it holds about 13% of all U.S. stores.
Midwest
Columbus, OH: 20+ locations, Chicago metro, IL: 30+ locations across Cook County and suburbs, Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN: 25+ locations — fitting, given Minnesota is where DQ grew its roots
Southeast
Atlanta metro, GA: 30+ locations inside I-285 and surrounding suburbs Jacksonville, FL: 10+ locations Charlotte, NC: 12+ locations metro-wide
Southwest & West
Phoenix/Maricopa, AZ: 55+ locations — one of the densest DQ metros in the country. Los Angeles, CA: 14+ locations. Sacramento/Fresno, CA: Active expansion market through 2027
New & Upcoming Dairy Queen Locations
Expansion Markets (2025–2027)
DQ’s parent company, American Dairy Queen Corp. (ADQ), is actively offering cash incentives to new and existing franchisees to open DQ Grill & Chill locations in underserved markets. Target cities include:
- Fresno, CA, and Sacramento, CA
- Tulsa, OK
- Greenville, SC
- Syracuse, NY, and Greensboro, NC
- Baltimore, MD
- Manhattan, NYC, and downtown Chicago (longer-term targets per CEO Troy Bader)
International Growth
DQ has signed deals to open 187 new restaurants in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and Qatar by 2034. The brand is targeting $10 billion in global sales by 2030, up from $6.4 billion in 2024.
China remains the largest international market, and Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines) continues to grow. Mexico has 300+ locations.
FAQs
How many Dairy Queen locations are there in the U.S.?
Over 4,176 restaurants across 49 states as of 2026.
Which state has the most Dairy Queen locations?
Texas leads with 528 locations — about 13% of all U.S. stores.
Is there a Dairy Queen in every state?
No. Vermont is the only U.S. state without a single Dairy Queen location.
What is the best way to find a Dairy Queen near me?
Use the official store locator at dairyqueen.com or search “Dairy Queen near me” on Google Maps.
What are Dairy Queen’s typical hours?
Most locations are open 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Drive-thru often runs until 10:30–11:00 PM. Hours vary by franchise.
Does Dairy Queen serve breakfast?
Only at select Grill & Chill locations — mainly in Texas, Florida, and California. About 15–20% of U.S. stores offer a breakfast menu.
How many Dairy Queens are there worldwide?
Over 7,700 restaurants in more than 20 countries, including the U.S., Canada, China, Thailand, Mexico, and the Philippines.
Final Thoughts
From a single soft-serve stand in Illinois to 7,700+ restaurants worldwide, Dairy Queen has built one of the most recognizable names in fast food. The U.S. presence alone spans 49 states and over 4,000 locations — making it one of the most accessible chains in the country.
With active expansion in underserved cities, cash incentives for new franchisees, and aggressive international growth targets, finding a Dairy Queen location near you is only going to get easier in the years ahead.