Regional fast-food chains continue to grow carefully in the West even as many national brands pursue faster, broader expansion. In-N-Out Burger is the latest example, with six new city-level projects moving forward while one proposed California location in Palm Springs remains delayed. The split outcome shows how expansion can depend not just on demand, but on local planning and design rules.
In-N-Out’s next wave is already taking shape
In-N-Out has identified six “Opening Soon” locations on its official store locator: Commerce, Stockton and Irvine in California; San Tan Valley in Arizona; St. George in Utah; and Twin Falls in Idaho. The company’s locations page shows confirmed addresses for at least four of those sites, including 6233 Telegraph Ave. in Commerce, 10537 Trinity Pkwy. in Stockton, 33375 N. Gary Rd. in San Tan Valley, and 4643 S. Pioneer Rd. in St. George. In Twin Falls, the chain separately confirmed in a July 22, 2026 press release that the restaurant at 1965 Blue Lakes Blvd. North would begin serving customers on July 24.
That Twin Falls announcement provides the clearest official opening date among the six cities. In-N-Out said the Idaho restaurant would employ about 90 associates when it opened, underscoring that at least one of the six projects has already moved from pipeline status to active operations. The company has not published one consolidated rollout schedule showing when each of the other listed locations will open.
What is confirmed is the scale of the current push. California accounts for three of the six city additions, while Arizona, Utah and Idaho each account for one. The company’s official materials also state that In-N-Out now operates in 10 states and is still pursuing gradual growth tied to its supply system rather than a national buildout at once.
Palm Springs is the outlier in California
Palm Springs is not on that “Opening Soon” list, and city proceedings show why. According to KESQ, the Palm Springs Planning Commission reviewed updated plans on July 6, 2026 for a proposed In-N-Out at 1801 E. Palm Canyon Drive in Smoke Tree Village, but did not grant final approval after nearly three hours of discussion. NBC Palm Springs reported the commission voted 5-0 to approve revised design conditions while still requiring one more review before final architectural sign-off.
That means Palm Springs is in a different position from the six cities where In-N-Out is already publicly signaling near-term expansion. Local officials are not rejecting the project outright, but they are also not allowing it to move ahead unchanged. City discussion has centered on whether the building design is distinctive enough for Palm Springs rather than whether the restaurant can operate there at all.
Some details remain unresolved. The company has not released a public opening date for Palm Springs, and local coverage indicates the timeline is now uncertain. The proposal has been under city review since 2024, and while nearby Coachella Valley residents already have access to In-N-Out locations in Rancho Mirage and Thousand Palms, Palm Springs would still mark a notable addition inside the city itself.
Design standards, not demand, are driving the delay
The Palm Springs holdup is rooted in architecture and site design, according to local reporting and city records. KESQ said commissioners and residents argued the revised proposal still looked too much like a standard In-N-Out rather than a project tailored to Palm Springs. NBC Palm Springs reported commissioners asked for squarer building lines, changes to decorative exterior elements, and thicker landscaping to reduce headlight glare on nearby homes.
That local review process has unfolded against In-N-Out’s broader strategy of controlled expansion. The company states in its media materials that it only builds stores within a single-day drive of its in-house patty-making facilities so ingredients can be delivered fresh and never frozen. That policy helps explain why the six advancing cities are all in states where the chain already operates and supports a pattern of infill growth rather than long-distance leaps.
For customers, the practical takeaway is straightforward. New In-N-Out restaurants are moving ahead in six named cities, but Palm Springs residents should expect more design review before construction can proceed there. The company has said it is willing to consider the city’s requested changes, and the next step in Palm Springs is another architectural review rather than a confirmed opening date.