One of our family’s favorite summer adventures is an annual trip to the drive-in movie theater.
If our schedules allow, we try to squeeze a few more trips in if possible, because we have so much fun!
I’m sharing tips and what items to pack for the drive-in movie to help you have a great experience.
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Drive-in movies are perfect for a date night or hanging out with friends and family.
Great memories guaranteed!
The drive-in is also an affordable way for families to see two first-run movies. The success of an awesome night at the drive-in comes down to a little prep work before you go.
Here is what is on our packing list to bring to the Drive-In Movie Theater
1. Folding Chairs
Depending on the temperatures, you will most likely want to sit outside of your vehicle.
We bring camping chairs and we’ve also taken out the bench seat from our minivan in years past too. I know that it sounds pretty redneckish, but it’s very comfortable.
You can also set up a great area for kids in the back of a minivan. If you have a truck, bring an air mattress and pillows for supreme comfort.
I’m also a big fan of air loungers because they pack small and they are super comfortable.
2. Pack a Cooler with drinks
We pack drinks for the kids, water, ice tea or soft drinks, and a thermos of coffee with some creamer for the 2nd movie.
Trust me when I say that you will need something to help you stay awake, especially for the second movie.
Many of the second movies don’t even begin until around 11:30.
3. Dinner & Snacks
We typically bring pizza with us and at other times we have fed our family before but everyone is instantly hungry as soon as we arrive anyway.
Hot and Ready Little Caesars is always a fast option or we have called a pizza chain ahead of time that is near the drive-in and just picked it up on the way in so that it’s still warm.
You will also need time to mobilize everything you are bringing so who really wants to cook and clean dinner before?
You’re staying up late so it’s all about the carbs. You can’t go wrong with popcorn, pretzels, and chips.
If you are opting for healthier options you might need to do a little prepping before you go.
The Dollar Tree is a great place to stop for movie theater-style candies or you can purchase a candy mix on Amazon.
We typically let everyone pick out one of their favorites and then have a few snacks like Twizzlers for sharing.
Extra Money for Concession Snacks
**Please note that some drive-ins do charge a fee if you bring your own food because they make money off of their concession sales.
The concession sales help keep the drive-in theaters in operation. Please buy from the concession stand if you can afford to.
4. Plates, Napkins, and Plastic Cups
These come in handy for serving meals and snacks. Baby wipes are also great for serving popcorn or smaller candies.
Baby wipes are also a great idea for sticky fingers and spills.
5. Portable Radio
Save your car battery and make sure that you test your batteries before you go. If you don’t want to deal with finding batteries opt for a solar-powered radio.
6. Sports stuff to play with before it gets dark
You need to get there early if you want a good spot at the drive-in.
Having a glow in the dark football or frisbee, etc makes the time fly by with kids.
Your kids will also instantly make new friends to play with.
A portable cornhole set is also a nice idea for the adults while they wait.
7. Bug Spray
Better safe than sorry. You don’t want to take home mosquitos bites as a souvenir. Make sure that you pack bug spray!
If you are bringing a baby, consider purchasing a stroller mosquito net to protect them from the bugs.
8. A Snuggie and Multiple Blankets
This is a place where you can wear your Snuggie with pride because you are not freezing your booty off.
Weather can be deceptive and a warm day still makes for a really cool night.
9. Sweatshirts and jeans or your favorite- stretchy yoga pants
….because you will be consuming a week’s worth of calories in one evening and it makes you feel less guilty when your pants aren’t cutting off the oxygen. Before the movie starts, you might want to go ahead and help change your younger kids into pajamas.
10. A portable DVD player, Tablet, or Cell Phone with Kids Movies
Just in case your 2nd movie is PG-13 or too scary or violent for small children, you can have them watch another movie in the opposite direction of your car.
You might want to bring earbuds for them too.
11. Bring Plastic Bags for Garbage
You will accumulate trash pretty quickly and it’s easier to keep your vehicle clean if you have bags handy for trash.
12. You can still bring your baby if you have one
When our kids were really little, we just brought their portable crib with us.
It’s a great option if you have a baby and you need to get out and don’t want to pay for a sitter.
13. Flashlight
It gets dark really quick when you are trying to find your car from the bathroom.
Bring a real flashlight or make sure that you have the flashlight app on your phone.
14. Glow Necklaces & Glow Sticks
Just because they are fun. Glow necklaces and glow sticks are an easy and inexpensive way to make the drive in a little more magical. Glow sticks can also help you track your kids easier when it gets dark.
15. Bring Rope
Some drive-ins theaters supply rope for vehicles to tie down their trunks. It doesn’t hurt to have some just in case you plan on viewing the movie from the back of your vehicle. Clothesline rope also works.
16. Check your screen # for each movie
This is important if you are visiting a multiple-screen drive-in. There is a chance that your 1st and 2nd movies will be played on different screens.
Drive-In Movie Packing List
Use the packing list above so that you don’t forget any drive-in movie essentials.
Local Drive-In Theaters Near Cincinnati
We have a few options in the Cincinnati Metro for drive-in movies.
Starlite Drive-In Theatre
2255 OH-125, Amelia, OH
Holiday Auto Theatre
1816 Old Oxford Rd, Hamilton, OH
Find a Drive-In Theater Near You
Use this search to find the closest drive-in movie theater to you.
Additional Summer Articles to Check Out
Create Your Own Summer Bucket List – Free Printable
Tips for Creating Your #BestSummer
Did I leave anything out?
Leave me a comment and let me know what you bring to the drive-in.
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John Ravi
Hi Nendra,
It has been a while since I went to a movie with my friends, and I am looking forward to a relaxing movie experience with my friends. I think drive-in will be a great day out. I will definitely be sharing this idea with them, and I think they will love it too. I really look forward to going out for a day out with them and having a great day out with them. Thanks a lot for sharing this amazing idea with us, it was a great read!
Lucinda
Pillows! Towels for the inevitable spills in the van. Jumper cables. Our drive-in offers a battery jumper for folks who drain their battery. But, we bring portable radios with back-up batteries. Our drive-in has the audio boxes to attach to your vehicle window but they stopped using those during this pandemic. Also, our local drive-in allows small grills. So, we grill too! Of course, the concession stand has the best popcorn and super cheap hotdogs (the kids prefer their hotdogs over our grilled brats). Sometimes, the car line for our local drive-in is about a mile long at 6 pm and the drive doesn’t open until 7:30 pm with first movie at dusk! It is very popular!
Nedra McDaniel
Hi Richard- We don’t sneak in food and actually pay the fee to bring our food AND also support the concession stand.
My article states –
EXTRA MONEY FOR CONCESSION SNACKS
**Please note that some drive-ins do charge a fee if you bring your own food because they make money off of their concession sales.
The concession sales help keep the drive-in theaters in operation. Please buy from the concession stand if you can afford to.
richard schiefer
Seriously why do you think drive-Ins closed all over.Because of cheap people like you sneaking your own food in.Remember these are mostly family owned and operated for 6 months a year.The film distributors take from70-90% of the admissions.So they make their livelihood on the concessions.Think about this and stop telling people to bring their own snacks and drinks.Nothing more embarrassing then getting escorted out and not getting your money back because you decided to sneak in food
Lindie
I never thought about taking radios with us. One thing we love to do is bring a full/queen sized air matress to put in the bed of the truck. We also get small cleaning supply or craft supply caddies to put our snacks and drink bottle in.
Nedra McDaniel
That’s a great idea!
Brandy
I have also purchased a baby stroller bug net, they fit perfectly around your door, so there are lots of bugs and pesky mosquitoes it’s perfect for air flow!
Nancy | MapandFamily
Being a Brit I’ve never been to a drive-in movie but it’s on our list for a US family road trip!
Nedra McDaniel
Ha! We still crack up over that!
Erika
Don’t forget gas station sausages/hot dogs, because “animal parts makes me so delicious”!LOL!
P.N.G.Gurupprasad
I think a blow-in pillow is required
Shannan B
Just stumbled across your blog and LOVE it. I too am a local blogger and it was great to find this post. Our family loves attending the drive in and these tips were spot on.
Donielle @ Grand Rapids Natural Living
How fun! I’ve only been to the drive-in once, but I’m sure my kids would love it! Might just have to look in to that……
Looks like you sure had fun!
Larry
Had a great time. Brought back memories when I was a kid when my parents took me to the Drive-in.