We’ve entered the season in which humming cicadas, delectable snacks and sticky air combine to gift Hoosiers a favorite summer tradition: nights at the drive-in theater.
Nearly 20 such establishments still operate in Indiana, offering blockbusters and retro films while satisfying cravings for deep-fried munchies and all manner of sweet delights.
Find the complete list of drive-in theaters and what to know below. And make sure to have some cash on hand. Some theaters require it, and others add a surcharge to credit cards.
Check Facebook and the theaters’ websites for information on how to listen to the movie, when to arrive, if your dog can accompany you, and whether you can bring your own snacks.
Happy movie watching!
Auburn Garrett Drive-In (Garrett)
1014 State Road 8 in Garrett. Check the Auburn Garrett Drive In on Facebook and auburngarrettdrivein.com for updates.
$10 adults, $5 ages 5-11, free ages 4 and under.
The theater north of Fort Wayne has been a mainstay since 1951, although it has changed its name a few times — from the Tri-Hi Drive-In to the Garrett Drive-In to its current moniker.
Bel-Acre Drive-In (Versailles)
337 N. U.S. Highway 421 in Versailles. Check the Bel-Acre Drive-In on Facebook and belacredrivein.com for showtimes. 812-621-6797.
$10 adults, $5 ages 5-11 along with seniors and active U.S. military with ID. Free ages 4 and under. $30 carload Sundays.
Open since 1952, the drive-in was formerly known as the Bel-Air. It’s currently in the midst of adding designated camping sites and recreational activities for families, according to its website.
Centerbrook Drive-In (Martinsville)
6735 State Road 67 North in Martinsville. Check Centerbrook Drive-In on Facebook and centerbrookdrivein.com for showtimes. 317-831-1526.
$10 adults, $5 ages 6-12, free ages 5 and under.
Watch the screen light up in the midst of a Southern Indiana landscape of hills and trees. The popcorn, fried mushrooms and funnel cake fries loaded with powdered sugar come highly recommended.
Cinema 67 (Spencer)
2037 State Road 67 in Spencer. Check Cinema 67 Drive In Theater on Facebook and cinema67.com for showtimes. 812-879-4240.
$9 adults, $5 ages 5-11, free ages 4 and under.
Named for the nearby state road, the drive-in is a community gathering place that serves up a menu of traditional favorites. Its website hosts a standing list that extols the virtues of nights watching movies outdoors.
Georgetown Drive-In (Georgetown)
8200 State Road 64 in Georgetown. Check Georgetown Drive-In on Facebook and georgetowndrivein.com for showtimes. 812-951-2616.
$12 adults, $7 ages 6-12, free ages 5 and under. Cash only at box office.
You’ll find a few of those nostalgic window speakers along with a playground in this spot that opened in 1951. Enjoy the traditional drive-in concessions and an expanded menu on weekends.
Holiday Drive-In Theatre (Mitchell)
1055 State Road 37 in Mitchell. Check Holiday Drive In Theater Mitchell IN on Facebook and holidaydrivein.biz for showtimes.
$10 adults, $5 ages 6-12, free ages 5 and under.
Be sure to order a steakburger, cooked the old-fashioned way on the grill. If you don’t feel like a burger, try the chicken, fish, tenderloins, French fries or soft-serve ice cream.
Holiday Drive-In (Rockport)
646 N. State Road 161 in Rockport. Check Holiday Drive-In on Facebook and holidaydrivein.com for showtimes. 812-649-2857.
$12 adults, $6 ages 4-11.
Just east of Evansville, the Holiday opened in 1955 and has grown steadily since then, adding more screens to its current count of six. The concession menu boasts all-American favorites, including hamburgers, onion rings and ice cream bars.
Hummel Drive-In (Winchester)
2870 E. State Road 32 in Winchester. Check Hummel Drive-In on Facebook and hummeldrivein.com for showtimes. 765-546-8223.
$10 adults, $5 ages 5-10, free ages 4 and under. Cash only.
After the Airline Twin Drive-In closed in 2014, Shawn and Pauletta Hummel bought it and gave it a new life. The couple’s purchase kept the decades-old icon alive. What to eat? Try a pizza burger or walking taco.
Huntington Twin Drive-In (Goodrich)
1291 Condit St. in Huntington. Check GQT Huntington Twin Drive-In on Facebook and gqtmovies.com/gqt-huntington-twin-drive-in for showtimes. 260-356-2924.
$7 adults, $3 kids
Look for favorites like hot dogs, candy and walking tacos.
Lake Shore Drive-In Theatre (Monticello)
100 Rickey Road in Monticello. Check Lake Shore Drive-In Theatre on Facebook and monticellomovies.com for showtimes. 574-583-0311.
$12 adults, $6 ages 4-12, free ages 3 and under.
Funnel cakes, popcorn chicken, cheese sticks and other concession fare are on the menu for the outdoor theater that’s been part of the community fabric for about seven decades.
Melody Drive-In (Knox)
7055 S. U.S. Highway 35 in Knox. Check Melody Drive-In Theatre on Facebook and melodydrivein.com for showtimes. 574-772-2042.
$10 adults, $7 ages 62 and up, $5 kids ages 5-11, free ages 4 and under.
Up in the northern half of the state, Melody has all the eats to satisfy. Make sure the double-cheeseburgers and breadsticks are on your radar — they’re customer favorites.
Moon Lite Drive-In (Terre Haute)
5056 N. Lafayette St. in Terre Haute. Check Moon Lite Drive-In Theater – Terre Haute on Facebook and moonliteth.com for showtimes. 812-244-1275.
Single-feature nights: $6 adults, $3 ages 6-12, free ages 5 and under. Double-feature nights: $8 adults, $4 ages 6-12, free ages 5 and under.
This drive-in on the north side of Terre Haute programs nights with single-feature showings in addition to the traditional two-film nights. Check their Facebook page for special events, like community yard sales.
Skyline Drive-In Theatre (Shelbyville)
3986 E. Michigan Road in Shelbyville. Check The Skyline Drive-In on Facebook and theskylinedrivein.com for showtimes.
$10 adults, $5 ages 6-12, free ages 5 and under or $30 per carload.
Keep on the lookout for special events like August’s Super Monster Movie Fest. As a foodie’s paradise, the drive-in serves up a fried catfish sandwich, macaroni and cheese, and more.
Starlite Drive-In (Bloomington)
7640 S. Old State Road 37 in Bloomington. Check Starlite Drive-In Theater on Facebook and starlitebloomington.com for showtimes. 812-824-2277.
Double-feature nights: $10 adults. $8 military, veterans, students and ages 60 and up. $5 ages 6-12, free ages 5. Check Facebook for special showings.
In addition to first-run movies, be sure to take advantage of retro movie nights. This summer’s schedule includes “Spaceballs,” “Blues Brothers,” “Footloose” and “Hunger Games.”
Tibbs Drive-In Theatre (Indianapolis)
480 S. Tibbs Ave. in Indianapolis. Check The Tibbs Drive-In on Facebook and tibbsdriveintheatre.com for showtimes. 317-243-3810.
$12 adults, $6 ages 4-12
The only drive-in theater left inside Indianapolis’ city limits has four screens and a reputation for friendly staff with good movie choices.
Tri-Way Drive-In Theatre (Plymouth)
4400 Michigan Road in Plymouth. Check Tri-Way Drive-In Theatre on Facebook and triwaydrivein.com for showtimes.
$10 adults, $8 ages 4-11, free ages 3 and under. Cash only.
Named for its location on U.S. 31 between U.S. 6 and U.S. 30, the drive-in opened in 1953. The woman who submitted the winning name received a year’s pass to the theater for her family.
13-24 Drive-In (Wabash)
890 N. State Road 13 in Wabash. Check 13-24 Drive In on Facebook and honeywellarts.org/drive-in for showtimes. 260-563-1102.
$7 adults, $5 kids ages 12 and under on Fridays and Saturdays. $25 carload of four or more. $10 carloads for Thursday retro reels.
Among the throwback films showing this year are “Pitch Perfect” and “Twister.” The theater was named before its 1951 opening for the intersection where it resides — State Road 13 and Federal Road 24, now called the Hoosier Heartland Highway.
49’er Drive-in Theatre (Valparaiso)
675 N. Calumet Avenue in Valparaiso. Check 49’er Drive-In Theatre on Facebook and 49erdrivein.com for showtimes. 219-462-6122.
$12 adults, $6 ages 5-11, free ages 4 and under.
A quintessentially Hoosier summer day starts with hours in the sun at Indiana Dunes National Park and then a 15-minute drive to the 49’er Drive-in in time for nightfall. The theater opened in 1956 and played “The Seven Little Foys,” starring Bob Hope, as its first movie, according to newspaper archives.
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Contact IndyStar reporter Domenica Bongiovanni at 317-444-7339 or d.bongiovanni@indystar.com. Sign up here for the newsletter she curates about things to do and ways to explore Indianapolis. Find her on Facebook, Instagram or X: @domenicareports.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: 18 drive-in theaters in Indiana where you can see new and retro movies
Reporting by Domenica Bongiovanni, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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