Celebrating the Quintessential American Drive-In Movie Theater – Local Drive-In’s and Must-See Gems Across the US

Jun 6, 2024

There’s nothing that reads more quintessentially American than a good ol’ fashioned Drive-In Movie theatre. There’s just something so charming and exciting about hooking up a speaker to your car, or tuning in the radio to a special channel, and watching a movie on a gigantic screen with the stars overhead! Today, we’re celebrating the great American Drive-In theatre with some of our favorite local drive-in options in both Wisconsin and Illinois, as well as must-see gems across the United States that make a fantastic summer road trip stop. With less than 400 theatres in operation as of 2024, it’s vital that we help support these businesses and keep them alive for generations to come!

Do you have any movies of visiting a drive-in theatre with your family? Is your favorite drive-in still operating? Let us know in the comments!

Best Best Local Drive-Ins

Drive-Ins Across the Country to Explore On Your Road Trip

Blue Grass Drive-In Theater in Blue Grass Iowa – This is a wonderful multi-screen drive-in celebrating its 9th year in business! Purchase tickets online and order concessions right to your car to enjoy during one of their double feature family movie nights!
Elko Drive-In in Elko New Market, Minnesota – Conveniently located just 30 minutes drive from Minneapolis, this charming single-screen venue has been open since 1964, and continues to offer a variety of family favorites, summer blockbuster hits, and first-run movie premieres!
Ever Green Drive-In Theatre Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania – This vintage theatre is a 3-screen drive-in offering a variety of movie options for just $10 cash admission, with options for all-ages visitors. Arrive before sundown to get the best spot, as movies start promptly when the sun sets.
Ford-Wyoming Drive-In, Dearborn Michigan – This is one of the country’s largest operating drive-in theatres, and it offers multiple theatre screens and showings. It’s also pet friendly provided your pets remain on leash when outside of your vehicle. Prices are per vehicle, regardless of number of occupants, but single-occupant vehicles will enjoy an $11 voucher towards concessions on the house.
Hull’s Drive-In Lexington Virginia – This non-profit movie theater has been in operation since 1950, and was saved from closure in 1999/2000 by a group of impassioned locals who founded the Hull’s Angels nonprofit to keep the lights on for years to come! It offers a variety of double and single feature movies from retro and classic film to new and blockbuster hits!
Park Place Drive-In Theatre in Marion, Virginia – The 240 car theater was first opened in 1954 and remained operational until 1983. In May of 2000, the theatre reopened for seasonal showings and has been a family favorite since! There’s a puttputt golf course, an arcade and Hershey’s ice cream stand!
Shankweiler’s Drive-In Theatre Orefield Pennsylvania – This single-screen vintage drive-in is located just an hour outside Philadelphia, and is known as “America’s oldest drive-in”, operating since 1934!
Starlite Drive-in, Litchfield, Minnesota – One of only four remaining drive-ins in the state, this theatre opened its doors in 1956 and has been delighting families for generations! It’s reopening signals the start to summer for locals, and offers two screens for its guests to enjoy with plenty of options new and old!
Stars & Stripes Dr-veIn in New Braunfels Texas– With three screens of movies to choose from, including first-run movies, you and your family will have a blast here! There’s also a fantastic vintage inspired cafe with plenty of traditional movie drive-in snacks to enjoy. They’re also open rain or shine, making it a great activity to get out of the house and do something unique with the family!
Sunset Drive-In San Luis Obispo California This theatre is one of the very few remaining drive-ins across all of California. It first opened its doors in 1950, and continues to remain independently owned and operated, providing plenty of nostalgia during its single-screen double feature evening shows. Stop by the snack bar for a blast from the past, or bring your own snacks and drinks if you’re on a budget.
The Family Drive-In Theatre in Stephens City, Virginia – This family-run mid-century vintage gem is the only drive-in still operating in the DC Metro area! For a trip down memory lane, you’ll even get to use the classic car speakers, which we really think makes for a special experience the whole family can enjoy. Arrive early with your fidgety kids and let them get the wiggles out on the theatre playground before the movie starts, and you’ll be all set for a relaxing movie night

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