MYNORTHWEST NEWS

One WA city has the fifth-worst McDonald’s ice cream machine reliability in the U.S.

Jul 20, 2026, 4:00 PM

mcdonald's ice cream...

A sign sits in front of a McDonald's restaurant on May 13, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo: Scott Olson, Getty Images)

(Photo: Scott Olson, Getty Images)

Many people across the state celebrated National Ice Cream Day on Sunday by visiting their local McDonald’s for an ice cream. For those in Puyallup, this is never a reliable option.

According to Action Network, an insights & analytics company for sports betting and prediction markets, Puyallup has the fifth-worst odds of any U.S. city for McDonald’s to have a working ice cream machine. According to the survey, Puyallup has a 37.6% chance of an ice cream machine not working across its multiple McDonald’s locations.

In comparison, the worst performing city in the U.S. for ice cream reliability at McDonald’s is Cleveland, Tennessee (46.9% fail rate).

Puyallup has five McDonald’s within the city, located at 17301 Meridian E., 304 2nd St. N.E., 4603 S. Meridian, 731 Shaw Rd., and 804 S. Hill Park Dr.

“In honor of National Ice Cream Day, we analyzed nearly six years of reported machine status across 492 cities and all 50 states to find out how McLucky each location is,” the study read. “This makes [Puyallup] the least reliable location in Washington.”

Another WA city boasts second-best ice cream machine rate in the country

In contrast, Yakima is the safest bet for a working ice cream machine within Washington, with a reported downtime rate of just 2.8% — the second-most reliable city in America.

“Nationally, the machine is down about 10.4% of the time,” the study claimed.

For Seattle, it sits right at the national average rate at 10.6%. Tacoma is closer to Puyallup’s number at 25.5%.

“Washington ranks 30th of 51 states overall, with the machine down 20.0% of the time statewide,” the study read.

To view an interactive map tracking every city’s McDonald’s ice cream machine reliability across all 50 states, click here.

Follow Frank Sumrall on X. Send news tips here.

MyNorthwest News

missing vulnerable person kent...

Frank Sumrall

Kent police searching for vulnerable adult missing since July 12

The Kent Police Department issued a "missing vulnerable adult" alert after a resident went missing in early July.

45 minutes ago

fire seattle warehouse investigators...

Lexi Herda, KIRO 7 News

Investigators say fire that destroyed Seattle warehouse was set on purpose

Investigators determined that a fire that destroyed a warehouse in Seattle’s Industrial District was intentionally set.

1 hour ago

Justice Department -fall city...

Julia Dallas

‘A lengthy sentence is warranted’: 27-year-old Fall City man sentenced for child sex abuse images after prior molestation conviction

A 27-year-old man, who is a former resident of Fall City, was sentenced for possessing child sex abuse images.

2 hours ago

Seattle City Light...

Frank Lenzi

Council approves 9.5% Seattle City Light rate hikes, puts transit tax on November ballot

Seattle City Light customers are about to see their monthly electricity bills go up.

12 hours ago

tumwater...

James Lynch

5-month-old dies after vehicle catches fire in Tumwater driveway with three children inside

An infant was killed in a vehicle fire in Tumwater Tuesday.

13 hours ago

world cup (2)...

James Lynch

17 arrested, 12 guns seized: inside Operation Red Card, the quiet crackdown behind Seattle’s World Cup

Seattle police and federal agents are revealing details about Operation Red Card, a crackdown on crime during Seattle’s World Cup matches.

14 hours ago

One WA city has the fifth-worst McDonald’s ice cream machine reliability in the U.S.