Drive-in Theater History and Statistics
In the 1950s and 1960s, drive-in theaters in the US peaked at over 4,000. By the 1980s, around 1,000 remained. Today, a few hundred drive-ins exist in the US.
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.
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. Currently, AMC, Regal and Cinemark have the most.
Drive-in Theater Resurgence During Pandemic
Now around 350 drive-ins operate. Since the pandemic, they added bars, mini-golf and dog parks, becoming entertainment destinations.
State Ranking for Drive-in Theaters
New York has the most drive-in theaters in the USA with 30 outdoor movie theaters. Pennsylvania and Ohio come second and third with 29 and 24 drive-in movie theaters.