In the 1950s and 1960s, drive-in theaters in the US peaked at over 4,000. However, with multiplex and home entertainment, numbers declined. Today, a few hundred drive-ins exist in the US.
The Largest and Smallest Drive-ins
The Ford Wyoming Drive-in in Michigan is the largest, holding 3,000 cars. The Spud Drive-in in Idaho is the smallest, with space for 75 vehicles.
State Rankings and Trends
New York leads with 30 drive-ins. Pennsylvania and Ohio rank second and third with 29 and 24.
In 2020, there were 549 drive-in screens, down from 848 in 1995. Around 350 drive-ins operate. Since the pandemic, they have added bars, mini-golf and dog parks, becoming entertainment destinations.
The first drive-in opened in 1933 in New Jersey. By the mid-1950s over 4000 operated across America.