Hey guys,

I'm thinking about celebrating my birthday by going to a drive-in theatre. Never been to one and there's only one in Jersey, and it only plays family films, so I'm planning to drive a bit to find a theater that has some horror playing.

Is there anything I should be aware of or prepare to make this the best experience possible? Are certain types of vehicles ideal?

Would you be going with your girlfriend / wife, or with friends? Are you over 21? How many people would be going in your group? Children?

There are three large advantages to a drive in: 1) You can take your own drinks / snacks; 2) it’s a great place to take kids because if they get tired they can just crawl into the backseat and go to sleep; and 3) normally you get two movies for the price of one (one newer release, one older release).

As for your vehicle, some take pickup trucks and park backwards, then lay out in the bed. I like to just take my car and sit in it, though take a few portable chairs in case you end up wanting to sit beside the vehicle. Also have a bottle of Windex and some paper towels in order to make sure the windshield is spotless – you are watching a movie through it, you don’t want any spots or dirt. And keep in mind that chances are that the drive-in will be sending the audio through an FM radio station – any modern car radio will work just fine.

Check out the website of the theater you are going to – find out when the movie is scheduled to start (sometime after dusk of course). Try to get there at least twenty minutes early in order to get a decent to good spot.

There is a drive-in about five miles from my house, I go there once a month every month or two when they are open (April through October). They are actually opening up for the season this weekend:

Screen 1: Night at the Museum / Eragon
Screen 2: Ghost Rider / Casino Royal

Adults $5, kids 4 to 12 are $3.

i love drive - ins. i have only been a few times. but it is so much fun.

i absolutely love the drive in. i grew up going to the drive in with my family, it turned into a high school drinking spot, and now its just a great place to catch a double feature.

im to young to have ever gone but when i was really young(late 70's) there was a drive in, in elgin/streamwood il that showed xxx movies. i remember my mom made me close my eyes every time we drove past...even though you wouldnt see anything from the street.

cheers,

jj

I have 3 within 20 minles of me, I really enjoy them.

My advice (actually already mentioned in post 2)...
1. if you have an SUV, bring a bunch of blankets and lay in the back with the hatch open. I always see people bring lawn chairs, and when it rains, they have to run to their car.
2. bring Pizza or KFC, and your own drinks. dont forget paper plates and garbage bags.
3. bring your own TP or baby wipes, because the bathrooms are always disgusting.

It was always a bucket of KFC when our family went when I was young. Not too many drive-ins around here anymore though.

I wish there was one near me, the nearest one is about 1 hour away

1. If the sound goes off... honk your horn
2. If something really cool happens on screen, like a head blowing up or eye poked out...honk you horn
3. Bring a crowbar in case you accidently lock the friends you snuck in the trunk and can't find the key
4. Don't eat the hot dogs
5. If there are speakers, find a pole with one that doesn't work and then park where you can see it and laugh at everybody as they pull up and park next to it.
6. Toss your empty beer bottles where you won't accidently run over them when leaving
7. Please remember to replace the speaker on the post before leaving the theater
8. Roll your pot before you go

I tend to avoid the one near me. The clientèle there are right out of "The Hills Have Eyes".

Proven fact: Taking a girl on a "proper" date to the drive-in will get you some. Thank the lord that I drive a truck!

Also a great place to make a kid

They just might be. Utah ain't that far from the movie's setting.

As for Drive-Ins...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drive-in_theater

A great resource for all your Drive-In needs.

Have fun.

So it was your family's fault the bathrooms were disgusting!

Wow, truer words were never spoken...

it was the cole slaw that did it...

We have a local drive in. Hamburgers to die for.

Just go and enjoy it. Our's has a specific frequency you can tune your car radio into to hear the movie.

Went this past Friday. Saw Grindhouse. I had a ton of fun. It was cold though and I didn't have blankets and I discovered that 3 people in a car sucks for the person in the backseat.

I've been wanting to go for a few years, once I realized there was one pretty close to where I live. I've been waiting for them to fix the main entrance, though, as my car would have a tough time getting through the massive holes. I'll have to double check that it's one that uses the radio, as I've got a pretty decent setup in my car.