29 Classic Drive-In Movie Theaters to Visit for Old-Fashioned Fun

Modern technology is great. You’ve got Snapchat filters, talking cars, and even robotic vacuums! But sometimes, nothing beats a little old-fashioned fun. Gather the family in the car and buckle up for a drive-in movie under the star-speckled sunroof. Here’s our list of some popular drive-in movie theater locations where you can host your next family movie night!
Alabama
411 Twin Drive-In Theatre & Grill (Centre, AL)
Centre’s 411 Twin Drive-In was built in 1953, and is a piece of the town’s history. It’s gotten a few upgrades since then, including a second screen and an improved concession stand. Grab a cheeseburger or bar-b-que combo and catch a double feature every weekend all year round, or seven nights a week all summer!
Blue Moon Drive-In Theater (Gu-Win, AL)
The Blue Moon Drive-In is an outdoor theater located in the tiny town of Gu-Win (aptly named for its location between Guin and Winfield). The theater plays double features on both of its screens and can fit up to 250 cars. Bring your little ones, because children under six get in for free!
King Drive-In (Russellville, AL)
Since 1949, King Drive-In has been bringing double and triple features to Alabama moviegoers, and more than 70 years later, there’s no sign that this Russellville fixture is slowing down. So stop by an ATM (King Drive-In is cash only) and bring the family out for a fun evening.
Arkansas
Kenda Drive-In (Marshall, AR)
The Kenda Drive-In, located in Marshall, has been a local family attraction since 1966. They play double features Fridays and Saturdays, and single films on Sundays. Tickets are only $6 for anyone 12 and up, and kids under 12 are free!
112 Drive-In (Fayetteville, AR)
The 112 Drive-In is open through the spring and summer, from about mid-March through September, and this will be their 40th season entertaining Fayetteville with outdoor movies. Note that it’s a cash only venue – and bring extra, because you don’t want to miss out on their deep fried Oreos, Honey Buns, and Twinkies.
Florida
Silver Moon Drive-In Theatre (Lakeland, FL)
When the Silver Moon Drive-In originally opened in 1948, moviegoers could catch a film for 35 cents. Today, you can see a double feature seven nights a week for $7 for adults and $2 for kiddos. Stream the audio through your FM car radio, or rent a radio for $2. Visit on Saturday or Sunday mornings when it transforms into a Swap Shop marketplace “where most anything can be bought or sold!”
Ruskin Family Drive-In (Ruskin, FL)
The Ruskin Family Drive-In is open year round, with its single screen playing double features in rain or shine. Get a combo meal from their grill or bring your own dinner with a $5 food permit, and let your little ones burn off some energy in the designated play area while you relax and watch the movie.
Ocala Drive-In (Ocala, FL)
Rain or shine, seven nights a week, the Ocala Drive-In provides hundreds of guests with affordable entertainment. This classic drive-in features two screens, and a ticket ($6 for adults, $3 for children 6-12, FREE for kids 5 and under) gives you access to the double-feature on the screen you select. You can even get your concessions delivered to your vehicle by ordering online!
Georgia
Starlight Drive-In (Atlanta, GA)
Located in the outskirts of Atlanta, the Starlight Drive-In Theatre has four screens and a state-of-the-art digital projection system. This theatre shows double features seven days a week, serves up classic movie theatre food and Mexican food, and transforms into a flea market every weekend from 6 am to 3 pm.
Swan Drive-In (Blue Ridge, GA)
Opened in 1955, the Swan Drive-In offers double features with a ticket price of $8 for adults, $5 for kids under 12, and free for kids under 3. The theater is pet-friendly, so feel free to treat Fido to a flick!
Mississippi
Iuka Drive-In (Iuka, MS)
If you’re in Mississippi, you don’t want to miss out on the Iuka Drive-In – because it’s Mississippi’s only remaining drive-in theater! Open during Mississippi’s warmer months, the theater shows double features for $9, or free for anyone under 12. Make sure to grab a cheeseburger, nachos, or other meal from their concession stand to support the state’s last of its kind!
North Carolina
Badin Road Drive-In Theater (Albemarle, NC)
Open seasonally, the Badin Road Drive-In features two screens, a stocked concession stand, WiFi, and a playground for the kids. The theater opens for the season in March, and the movies cue up once the sun goes down.
Raleigh Road Outdoor Theatre (Henderson, NC)
Henderson’s Raleigh Road Outdoor Theatre is open year-round, with an expanded schedule during the spring and summer months. Enjoy a double feature in your car, or bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets to lounge under the stars. For added convenience, this theatre allows you to purchase from the snack bar online, so you can focus on the film!
Eden Drive-In (Eden, NC)
Open seasonally, the Eden Drive-In delights moviegoers with double features each weekend. For just $7 per person ($5 for children ages 6-11, FREE for children under 6), you’ll get access to two movies under the stars. Make sure to bring money, though, because the Eden Drive-In is a cash-only business!
Hound’s Drive-In (Kings Mountain, NC)
If you live near Kings Mountain, Hound’s Drive-In is a must-visit for a night of nostalgia under the stars. The theater charges $20 per car and allows you to purchase your tickets ahead of time. Talk about a convenient bargain! Hound’s features three massive screens. It’s also pet friendly and offers free jump starts if your battery is drained after your double feature. We’ll teach you how to avoid that below, though!
Ohio
Midway Drive-In Theater (Ravenna, OH)
The Midway Drive-In, located midway between the cities of Ravenna and Kent, was built in 1955 and is open seasonally today. Unlike many drive-ins, Midway charges $20 per carload rather than requiring individual tickets. For $150, you can buy a book of passes that comes with 11 movie passes and three vouchers for a large popcorn!
Starlite Drive-In Theater (Amelia, OH)
Open seasonally, the Starlite Drive-In will celebrate its 73rd anniversary this summer. Come hungry and visit their concession stand (they sell a grilled cheese donut!) or bring your own food and pay the $5 food permit.
South Carolina
Highway 21 Drive-In (Beaufort, SC)
The Highway 21 Drive-In in Beaufort shows double features Friday through Sunday, all year round. Adults get in for $7, kids ages 5 to 12 get in for $3, and anyone under 4 is free. With two screens, guests have four total movies to choose from each night!
Monetta Drive-In Theatre (Monetta, SC)
The Monetta Drive-In Theatre, lovingly called “The Big Mo,” plays double features every weekend from March through November. Because it’s the only drive-in in the area (and you can’t beat two movies for $9!) this theatre has been known to sell out. Arrive early!
Tennessee
Birdsong Drive-In Theater (Camden, TN)
Open Friday and Saturday nights from spring until fall, the Birdsong Drive-In Theater offers double features and sometimes even triple features on their two screens.
Pro-tip: If you “like” and share their Facebook posts, you have a chance to snag free movie passes!
Stardust Drive-In Theatre (Watertown, TN)
The Parkway Drive-In is open every weekend from March through November, and seven nights a week from Memorial Day Weekend through mid-August. The box office opens at 6:00, and the movies start at dusk. Come early to get a good spot, and grab their bar-b-que sandwich and fried pickles while you wait for showtime!
The StateLine Drive-In (Elizabethton, TN)
This family-owned theater has been around since 1947, providing locals with weekend entertainment every April through September. With only a single screen, the StateLine normally offers one feature a night, but on special weekends, be on the lookout for double features. Tickets are $6 for adults and $2 for children 11 and under. Just make sure to bring cash because all transactions at the box office and concession stand must be in cash.
Pink Cadillac Drive-In (Centerville, TN)
If you live in Hickman County or nearby, you’re in luck! The Pink Cadillac Drive-In shows movies (rain or shine) Friday through Monday during the summer months. The price of admission is $9 for adults, but kids 12 and under get in free. So be on the lookout for the right movies for a fun family outing!
Malco Summer Drive-In (Memphis, TN)
During the warmest months of the year, the Malco Summer Drive-In opens to Memphis residents, and with four screens of double-features, there’s a normally a movie for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re looking for a weekend outing or something to do on a random weeknight, the Malco is open seven days a week. Tickets can be purchased online for $20 per vehicle.
Texas
Galaxy Drive-In Movie Theatre (Ennis, TX)
The Galaxy Drive-In stands out among others because it features not one, not two, but seven movie screens! It’s open Thursday through Sunday, and a ticket to their double features runs $7 for adults and $4 for kids.
Stars & Stripes Drive-In Theatre (New Braunfels, TX)
The New Braunfels Stars & Stripes Drive-In is open year-round, showing double features on three screens every night of the week! It features a playground for children, as well as a retro ‘50s-themed café serving up a variety of cinema snacks.
Town & Country Drive-In (Abilene, TX)
When it first opened in 1956, the Town & Country was referred to as “The Biggest Drive-In Theatre in Texas.” After a period of being shutdown for two decades, it was resurrected and now provides everyone in the area with a blast from the past. The Town & Country is open Thursday through Sunday, and tickets are available at the box office.
Virginia
Goochland Drive-In Theater (Hadensville, VA)
Unlike many of the other drive-ins around the country, the Goochland Drive-In wasn’t established decades ago. Actually, it was built only a few years ago, when two busy parents realized their young children were not cut out for quiet movie theaters and cramped movie theater seats! The family-oriented theater is open from spring until fall, and shows double features on two screens.
Hull’s Drive-In (Lexington, VA)
There is no drive-in quite like Lexington’s Hull’s Drive-In, because it’s the nation’s very first non-profit, community-owned drive-in theater. Many of the ticket takers and concession stand workers are actually volunteers! Catch a double feature every weekend from spring through fall – and if you love the experience, donations are always welcome!
Don’t let your drive-in drain your battery!
As soon as you’ve planned a night at the drive-in, your next step may be Googling, “how to watch a drive-in movie without draining car battery.” Luckily, drive-ins use FM radio to stream the sound into your vehicle. Don’t end the night with a call for roadside assistance! Instead, avoid draining your car battery while watching a double-feature by making sure your key is turned to the accessory position, rather than the on position.
To really ensure your car battery isn’t zapped, consider bringing a portable radio (and a few extra batteries!) with you instead. Some theaters even offer portable radios for rent, typically for just a few dollars.
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