In the 1950s, the United States was home to more than 4,000 drive-in movie theaters offering Americans movie magic from the comfort of their vehicles. Today, there are fewer than 300 still operating—but Pennsylvania is the state with the most drive-in movie theaters, with about two dozen still screening movies under the stars. And six of those drive-ins can be found in Eastern Pennsylvania.
We’ve mapped the drive-in theaters in Eastern Pennsylvania, including those in the Lehigh Valley and Northeastern Pennsylvania. Make a plan to catch a movie at one this summer!
What to know about visiting a drive-in movie theater
Most drive-in theaters operate in a similar fashion—you arrive before dusk to watch a feature from your car or from lawn chairs set up next to your car, with the movie usually starting around the time darkness begins to fall.
The screen plays the film, and you can access sound through your car radio or through a portable radio, set to a specific station. (Smartphone apps that play radio stations typically do not work!) If you don’t have a car radio or a portable radio, you can often rent a radio at the box office for a small fee.
Most theaters also usually play double features, meaning you can watch two films for one admission price. And you can use the intermission between the two films to grab some delicious eats—think your favorite fried foods, burgers, hot dogs, candy, and snacks—from the concession stand!
Drive-in movie theaters in the Lehigh Valley
Shankweiler’s Drive-In Theatre—Orefield (Lehigh County)
Not only is Pennsylvania home to the most drive-in theaters still showing movies to audiences, but it’s also home to the oldest. The Lehigh Valley’s Shankweiler’s Drive-In Theatre originally opened in 1934 as the second drive-in theater in the U.S. and is now the oldest drive-in theater still in operation. But it doesn’t only have cinema history to its name—just this year, Shankweiler’s was named the best drive-in theater in the country by USA Today.
You can visit Shankweiler’s to see a double feature for just $12 for adults. Kids ages 4 to 12 are $8, and children 3 and under are free. Check out the concession stand for classics like cheeseburgers, french fries, and funnel cakes, as well as vegetarian options like veggie dogs.
Plus, while many drive-in theaters operate seasonally, Shankweiler’s is open year-round! You can visit the drive-in every day in the summer and on weekends during the colder months.
Becky’s Drive-In—Walnutport (Northampton County)
Walnutport’s Becky’s Drive-In, which first opened in 1946, has previously been voted the best drive-in theater in the region by readers of The Morning Call, and has also been listed among the 10 best drive-in theaters in the country by USA Today. The family-run theater charges $12 general admission for adults and $8 for kids ages 4 to 12. Kids 3 and younger are free!
Becky’s always shows double features; both are usually family-friendly films, though you can also often see adult-oriented movies, too.
Drive-in movie theaters in Northeastern Pennsylvania
Circle Drive-In—Dickson City (Lackawanna County)
Not far from Scranton, Dickson City’s Circle Drive-In treats audiences to new movies as well as classics on its two screens. It also hosts fun events like the annual “Christmas in July,” where the theater shows “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” Double feature movie admission is $9.50 for adults, $7.50 for kids ages 3 to 12, and free for children 2 and under.
The drive-in is also home to the largest flea market and farmers market in Northeastern Pennsylvania every Sunday during the warmer months, with a $1 entry fee per car.
Garden Drive-In—Hunlock Creek (Luzerne County)
At Luzerne County’s Garden Drive-In, two screens show double features, meaning you can see two movies for the $7 entry fee. (Kids ages 2 and under are free.) The drive-in also hosts a flea market every Sunday.
Many drive-in theaters offer a retro experience down to cash-only admissions and concessions, but Garden Drive-In takes credit cards, and you can even order from the concession stand online. (We’re partial to deep-fried pickle spears.)
Moonlite Drive-In—West Wyoming (Luzerne County)
The Moonlite Drive-In, which is open every season except winter, plays both new and retro films on its single 100-foot screen. It shows double features on weekends, with a low entry fee of $8 for adults and $5 for kids ages 3 to 11. Children 2 and under are free.
Most drive-in theaters require that guests purchase tickets at the box office, but Moonlite also offers online ticket sales. Be sure to grab a walking taco at the concession stand.
Outside of movies, the Moonlite Drive-In also hosts community events like festivals and craft fairs.
The Mahoning Drive-in Theater—Lehighton (Carbon County)
The Mahoning Drive-In Theater in the Pocono Mountains dates to 1949, and celebrates that history by screening classic movies on 35mm film—the last remaining drive-in theater playing movies exclusively on film rather than switching to digital! As a result, the theater is a beloved institution for folks wanting the classic film experience. Visitors come to watch cult classics and older movies. The drive-in also regularly hosts other events like concerts and craft markets.
Admission is $12, $5 for kids ages 5 to 12, and free for kids 4 and under. On Thursdays, the theater shows single movies, so you’ll pay less. You can also pay extra to stay the night in your vehicle or camp on the grounds in a tent (where you’ll often have access to extended, late-night programming)! The drive-in takes credit cards, but vendors at events often do not.
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
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