Drive-in cinemas once defined summer nights across the United States. Now, a new generation of hotels, campgrounds and glamping sites is bringing that tradition back.
These unusual properties allow travellers to stay overnight near giant outdoor screens. Some even let guests watch films from vintage trailers, hotel rooms or RVs.
As summer approaches its final weeks, these destinations offer a memorable way to enjoy one of America’s most nostalgic pastimes.
The first US drive-in cinema opened in 1933. However, the format became hugely popular after the Second World War. Rising car ownership, suburban growth and the baby boom helped drive the number of cinemas to almost 5,000 by the late 1950s.
Today, far fewer drive-ins remain. Nevertheless, their appeal continues to attract younger visitors as well as longtime fans. Drive-in historian April Wright says the experience has always involved more than watching a film. Instead, families and friends gather together and create memories around the movie.
Several properties across the country now take that idea a step further by combining overnight stays with outdoor cinema.
1. Frontier Drive-Inn – Colorado
The Frontier Drive-Inn in Center, Colorado, combines a historic drive-in with a modern outdoor hotel.
The property originally opened as a drive-in cinema in 1955. The cinema eventually closed, but its original screen and roadside sign survived.
The owners preserved both features during the property’s redevelopment. Today, guests can stay in Quonset-style yurts and vintage trailers.
Rather than watching films from their cars, visitors gather on blankets and lawn chairs beneath the stars. The programme also focuses on popular cult classics and nostalgic favourites.
The San Luis Valley’s dark skies add another attraction to the experience.
2. Best Western Movie Manor – Colorado
About 15 miles from the Frontier, the Best Western Movie Manor offers another unusual drive-in experience.
The motel sits beside the historic Star Drive-In Theatre, which opened in 1955. Many rooms face one of the cinema’s two screens.
As a result, guests can watch films directly from their beds through large windows. The motel also sends the film’s audio into the rooms.
Visitors can also watch from their cars outside.
The motel names its rooms after famous actors, including Cary Grant and Robert De Niro. Meanwhile, the Star Drive-In continues seasonal screenings from spring through September.
3. Sutherlin/Umpqua Valley KOA Holiday – Oregon
This Oregon campground occupies the former site of the Cloverleaf Drive-In.
The original 100-foot screen remained after the cinema closed. When the current owners purchased the property in 2006, they decided to preserve it.
Later, they added a digital projector and an FM transmitter. Therefore, the campground could once again host outdoor movie nights.
Today, the site shows films on many weekends. Some RV spaces face the screen directly, allowing guests to watch from their vehicles.
Tent campers can also bring blankets or chairs to the viewing area near the screen.
4. Hotel Caravana at Four Brothers Drive-In – New York
Four Brothers Drive-In offers a more modern take on the classic drive-in.
The Hudson Valley cinema opened in 2013, decades after most American drive-ins disappeared. Since then, the family-run attraction has added mini-golf, fire pits and Hotel Caravana.
Guests can sleep in vintage trailers located inside the cinema grounds. They can also pitch tents and enjoy the drive-in atmosphere throughout their stay.
The combination of camping, outdoor movies and classic trailers creates a relaxed summer getaway.
5. Ofland Escalante – Utah
Ofland Escalante sits along Scenic Byway 12 in southern Utah. The property occupies a former drive-in site within the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
Visitors can spend their days hiking, exploring slot canyons and visiting nearby national parks. Then, after sunset, they can return to the property for a movie.
The site features vintage cars parked in front of the screen. Guests can choose a car, collect complimentary popcorn and sweets, and watch the film beneath the desert sky.
Overnight options include renovated vintage Airstreams and modern cabins.
6. Tiger Drive-In – Georgia
The Tiger Drive-In offers another chance to combine cinema with camping.
The Georgia drive-in opened in 1954 before closing during the 1980s. After sitting abandoned for around two decades, it reopened in 2004.
Today, visitors can watch films before spending the night on the same grounds.
Three vintage 1960s campervans offer a particularly distinctive experience. Each campervan has a private deck that faces the screen.
Guests can also choose traditional tent camping or bring an RV.
These destinations show how the drive-in cinema continues to evolve in the US. Although the golden age of drive-ins has passed, the basic appeal remains strong. People still enjoy gathering outdoors, watching movies and spending time with friends and family.
However, these properties add another element: the chance to stay overnight. From Colorado’s mountains and Utah’s desert landscapes to Georgia’s countryside and New York’s Hudson Valley, travellers can now experience drive-in cinema in new ways.
For anyone looking for a memorable summer escape, these six destinations offer something different from a traditional hotel stay. More importantly, they bring an iconic piece of American entertainment history back to life.
