Most of the 293 drive-in theaters in the United States shut down for winter. The season usually runs April through October, maybe stretching into November for a Halloween screening. But about a dozen drive-ins stay open all year, and a few more run extended seasons that cover most of the calendar.

If you’re itching for a drive-in movie outside of the typical season, here’s where to go.

Alabama (4 year-round)

Alabama leads the country with four year-round drive-ins:

  • 411 Twin Drive-In in Centre — two screens, double features Friday through Sunday, expanding to nightly in summer. The on-site grill is a big draw.
  • Grand River Drive-In in Leeds — four screens, playground, dog park, mini-golf, and a bar. Open Friday through Sunday year-round, about 20 minutes east of Birmingham.
  • VIP Star-Lite Drive-In west of Dothan — four screens holding 800 cars. One of the largest drive-ins in the Southeast.
  • WarHouse Drive-In in Demopolis — a single-screen operation open Friday and Saturday nights. Known for funnel cakes and fried Oreos at the concession stand.

California (3 year-round)

California’s mild climate keeps several drive-ins running through winter:

  • Capitol Drive-In in San Jose — six screens, the largest drive-in in the Bay Area. Doubles as the Capitol Flea Market during the day.
  • South Bay Drive-In in Imperial Beach — three screens near San Diego, nightly in summer and weekends in winter. Also hosts a swap meet.
  • Smith’s Ranch Drive-In in Twentynine Palms — a single screen near Joshua Tree National Park, running since 1954. Weekend-only in the off-season.

Florida (1 year-round + others with long seasons)

  • Joy-Lan Drive-In in Dade City — open since Halloween night 1950 and running year-round ever since. Halfway between Tampa and Orlando, with a flea market on the property.

Florida’s other drive-ins, including the Ruskin and Silver Moon, run nearly year-round thanks to the climate.

Georgia (2 year-round)

  • Jesup Drive-In in Jesup — a single screen in southeast Georgia, open year-round on weekends.
  • Swan Drive-In in Blue Ridge — up in the north Georgia mountains, open year-round despite the cooler climate.

North Carolina (1 year-round)

Washington (1 year-round)

  • Blue Fox Drive-In in Oak Harbor — on Whidbey Island in Puget Sound, one of the few year-round drive-ins in the Pacific Northwest.

Honorable Mentions

A few drive-ins don’t technically run year-round but come close:

  • Ford Wyoming Drive-In in Dearborn, Michigan — the largest drive-in in the country with five screens and 2,500-car capacity. Operates through Michigan winters, which is no small feat.
  • Several Texas drive-ins, including the Showboat in Hockley and Stars and Stripes in New Braunfels, run most of the year thanks to the warm climate.

Why Go in the Off-Season?

Winter and early spring drive-in visits have their perks. Crowds are thin, so you’ll have your pick of spots. Sunsets come earlier, which means the movie starts earlier and you get home at a reasonable hour. And there’s something genuinely cozy about watching a movie in your car on a cold night with the heater running and hot chocolate from the concession stand.

Find a year-round drive-in near you →