How to Be the Ideal Drive-in Movie Patron

Drive-in movie theaters may seem like a relic of the past, but there are actually still around 300 scattered throughout the country. Whether you want to relive your childhood of cramming into the way-back of your parents’ station wagon, or are going to one for the first time, there are a few things you should know to prepare you for the experience.


Turn off your lights (all of them)
Light ruins the movie experience for everyone, just like at indoor theaters. Dim your headlights before entering the car lot (especially if you’re arriving late or leaving early), and turn them off completely once you’ve found a parking spot.

Also, be sure to turn off your car’s dome lights, as they can be distracting to others as well. If you need light inside your car, bring a flashlight or use your phone. And avoid putting your foot on the brake pedal so those bright red tail lights don’t blind people behind you.

Shut off your car and use a portable radio
If you can help it, turn off your car completely during the movie, especially if it has daytime running headlights. The sound of your engine is distracting and so is your car’s exhaust. That means you need to dress according to the weather and plan ahead. Wear light, comfortable clothing if it’s hot out so you don’t have to run the car and crank the A/C. If it’s cold, dress warmly and bring some blankets. You can always run the A/C or heater during intermission.

A lot of drive-ins use FM radio to deliver the movie sound, but you don’t want to drain your car’s battery using the stereo. So bring a battery-powered portable radio or boombox instead. You’ll be able to hear the movie no matter how you situate yourself.

Be mindful of other people’s view
Since drive-ins are outdoors and filled with various vehicle types, the theater has a lot less control over how well everyone can see the screen. That’s why it’s imperative you take other people’s views into consideration. Bringing massive vehicles like vans and lifted trucks is the equivalent of wearing a hilariously over-sized top hat to a normal movie theater.

If you want to back into your space and open up the rear hatch of your SUV or hatchback car, use something to tie down the hatch door so it doesn’t open up past the top of your vehicle. And as tempting as it may be, don’t climb onto the roof of your car to watch the flick.

Many people don’t even sit in their cars at the drive-in. You can park further back in your space and bring camping chairs or folding lawn chairs to set up in your parking space just in front of your car. Just be sure to keep the space between cars clear so your neighbors and other passersby have room to walk through.

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